Scope – PosAbility Magazine | Disability Magazine

Top 5 disability inclusive books – National Storytelling Week

posabilitymagazine — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:39:03 +0000

Dan White is the author of the brilliant Department of Ability comic book, featuring a cast of superheroes whose impairments are their greatest superpower. Dan shares with national disability charity, Scope, his list of the top five books that feature disability for #NationalStorytellingWeek.

Disability in literary form is rare. I have searched, read and reviewed as many books as I could find that include it. Here is a list of my champion books. So, buckle up and, as my daughter Emily says to me as her wheelchair passes out of the house, “let’s roll!”

5. ‘Mr Millet’s farm’ by Catherine Lord

I had to include this. Catherine is the great undiscovered children’s author. So far wrongly ignored by mainstream publishers, Mr Millet’s farm is colourful and unique. Catherine writes with complete charm and understands both her subject and the little eyes who read it. It’s the story of Raj, a wheelchair and the different animals that
reside on the farm. The moral of the story is that it’s great to be unique and be who you are. The book aims to help raise awareness of disabilities from a young age.

Complete with wonderful, colourful illustrations, Mr Millet’s farm is perfect to read together with your children. It is an utterly beautiful book on acceptance and deserves a wider audience.

4. ‘Synthesis: Weave’ by Deane Saunders-Stowe

Disability Sci-fi? Yes! Science fiction is the most imaginative of all genres. To imagine a world that does not exist takes a special mind. And to integrate disability makes that mind even more incredible. It shows a world in the future where disability and wheelchairs still have issues, but things have moved on. For instance, plasma limbs (spoiler alert), the uses of magic and the dangers of machine ethics give the book massive depth and the fact it has a wheelchair user climbing a mountain on the front cover sold it to me almost instantly!

3. ‘The Christmasaurus’ by Tom Fletcher

Well, I was sold on this because of the Christmas aspect! But the gem of this book is the fact that the main character uses a wheelchair. However, his disability is only broached almost a quarter of the way through and then it is dealt with swiftly and to the point. Scope gave me this book to review and I consumed it all the way home from London. It was generally laugh out loud funny, the main character William is hilarious and a character in his own right. You feel relaxed around his story and therefore laugh at his wheelchair accidents. You also get a darn good Christmas story to boot, with a dinosaur!

Tom has a talent for writing for kids that also sucks in the adult reader. Never have I felt more comfortable laughing out loud on the packed 5.30 from Waterloo. Diversity? Inclusion? Laughs? Nailed it.

2. ‘The Art of Disability’ by David Proud

David is a good friend of mine and an author to boot, however, that relationship has no bearing on his book being included here. Essentially a guide book for media types, The Art of Disability is a painstakingly sourced and written piece on the power of representation, it’s importance and how inclusion can be achieved in the wider media world. David, a wheelchair user, knows his stuff. His investigations into the industry, his tips and his knowledge are evident.

Each chapter is easily digestible and informative for disabled people wanting to break into the industry. David is passionate and his experience, talent and knowledge ooze from the book. Full of quotes and humour this is essential for any disabled talent or any uninformed media executive.

1. ‘The Spiral Cage’ by Al Davison

Easily the winner, a graphic novel of such diverse beauty and power. I have re-read it constantly and it has had a huge impact on my work. Al the author gives you his life of being born with Spina Bifida from birth to present day in a series of incredible, stark, beautiful black and white images. The variant styles and text absorb you totally. Imagery is paramount and here Al uses many styles to illustrate his life from an era where being born differently meant different attitudes.

We see his formative years, his doctors, bullies, love and dreams being played in powerful, dedicated art. It is unashamedly raw both in language and style, but it is essential to read. Sadly, out of print, but with a sequel in the works and a reprint hopeful, Al’s book needs to have a resurgence, especially today when it is more relevant than ever. The Spiral Cage is unlike any book on disability and that is what stands it out from anything else. It is so unique that people who buy comics for entertainment need to purchase this, as it will tell them something about life.

Scope also ran a Twitter poll which showed that 3 in 4 people want to see more inclusion of disability in literature.

To find out more about stories at Scope, head to the Scope Stories Hub to get involved in activities for National Storytelling Week.

One small step to create long lasting legacy of Paralympics, urges Revitalise

posabilitymagazine — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:56:28 +0000

Study by disabled people’s charity reveals need for small changes from all to create lasting difference

With memories of the most successful Paralympic Games of all time still fresh in everyone’s mind, a quiz designed to engage non-disabled people in a light-hearted conversation about respect for disabled people revealed that a majority of non-disabled people had no problem using facilities set aside for the needs of disabled people.

The Saint or Sinner Quiz, rolled out by national disabled people’s charity Revitalise to coincide with the Paralympics, found that 6 out of 10 (57%) non-disabled people use disabled toilets and are showing no signs of stopping, with 1 in 5 (17%) saying they had “done it loads of times and really don’t see any harm in it”. The study also found that more than 1 in 10 (12%) non-disabled people use disabled parking spaces either sometimes or habitually.

Revitalise is citing a study by the charity Scope in the run-up to the Rio Games, which found that even though 78% of disabled people thought the 2012 London Paralympics had a positive effect on people’s attitudes to disability, only 19% thought Britain was a better place to be disabled than it was four years ago. Revitalise is therefore calling for positive action to preserve the Paralympic legacy in order to reverse this trend.

In March this year a House of Lords Select Committee Report* made 54 separate recommendations to the Government in order to strengthen the Equality Act, but so far the Government has acted on only one. In July this year the Equality and Human Rights Commission alleged that disabled people were still being treated like “second class citizens”, while Revitalise’s own research has added weight to the argument that society is only paying lip service to the needs of disabled people.

In a recent study of visitor attractions, Revitalise found that a fifth (20%) of the UK’s most visited attractions were not fully accessible from outside and just 17% had all their staff trained in disability awareness. The charity also found similar problems on the high street, where over half (55%) of disabled people had experienced negative or unwelcoming treatment from shop staff.

Most recently, in August 2015 Revitalise discovered that only three football clubs in the Premiership – the world’s richest football league – had the recommended number of spaces for wheelchair users, in accordance with guidelines that have been in existence for well over 10 years.

The charity believes that the aftermath of the successful Rio Paralympics presents the perfect opportunity for non-disabled people to contribute to the Paralympic legacy and add to the groundswell of pressure on policy-makers to back up the good intentions of the Equality Act with meaningful legislation.

To achieve this, Revitalise is urging non-disabled people to take on board the philosophy of Team GB, whose success is based on many small improvements adding up to one seismic change. So, the charity suggests, if non-disabled people simply make one or more small adjustment to their own habits, they will be helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society for disabled people.

Revitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds commented:

“We’ve just witnessed the most successful Paralympic Games of all time and legacy is now the word on everyone’s lips. Our Saint or Sinner Quiz was designed to explore the habits of non-disabled people and help them do their bit to keep the Paralympic flame burning.

“In the six years since the launch of the Equality Act it is very disheartening to find that when it comes to making society more open and accessible for disabled people, those with the power to enforce change seem to have made so little progress. Disabled people face a huge number of barriers – from physical access to transport to employment – which already obstruct them from playing a more meaningful role in society, so it is doubly disheartening to find disabled people are also being held back by something as simple as access to a toilet or parking space.

“So, in the warm glow of the Rio Games, if we as individuals can just make one or more small adjustment to our habits, we will be going a long way towards creating a better, more respectful world for disabled people and truly keeping the Paralympic legacy alive!”

Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people and carers. Revitalise provides short breaks, with 24-hour nurse-led care on-call and personal support, at three accessible centres in Chigwell in Essex, Southampton and Southport. Each centre offers a wide range of accessible activities and excursions in a holiday environment. For more information please visit revitalise.org.uk.

London Marathon competitor achieves personal best fundraising for Mobility Choice and Scope

posabilitymagazine — Wed, 04 May 2016 14:49:16 +0000

London Marathon competitor, Tom Dixon, 36, is celebrating after completing the 2016 event in a personal best time whilst raising vital funds for disability charities Mobility Choice and Scope.

Tom from Amersham, South Bucks, finished the race in 2 hours 58 minutes – his fastest time yet by 12 mins and under the elusive three hours he has been seeking for five years.

Tom competed in his first London Marathon in 2000, aged 20 and has since entered the Dublin, Edinburgh and New York Marathons as a well as a couple of Ultra Marathons with distances over 50km. He has trained hard across the winter months with the Chiltern Harriers in preparation for the London event, competing in club cross-country competitions to test his limits.

Tom comments: “Once the marathon started, all my pre-race nerves disappeared. The crowds were great right from the off, and as I was up the front with many Club and Championship runners, it was a pretty serious atmosphere. I didn’t get carried away early, but remained focused on my race plan. The most incredible parts were the crowds at Cutty Sark and at Tower Bridge. You couldn’t cram any more people in and the noise was like a wall. I found myself smiling all the way over Tower Bridge, it was so incredible.”

In 2008, Tom began using running competitions as a way of fund raising for disability charities. He had just begun working for Scope having been inspired to do so by his aunt, previously a Director of Scope in Wales and a tireless disability campaigner. In 2013, Tom joined charity Mobility Choice as a trustee. He has been able to use his knowledge of disability fundraising to support the charity and The Mobility Roadshow – an annual mobility and accessible vehicle test-drive event for people with disabilities that is organised by Mobility Choice.

Tom explains, “The Mobility Roadshow is a fantastic event giving people with disabilities the opportunity to try accessible equipment, test drive adapted vehicles and enhance their own independence. I would love as many people as possible to continue to benefit from this annual event.”

Despite being in pain at the 18th mile, Tom says remembering the two charities he was raising money for allowed him to dig deep and remain focussed on his race plan. He continues, “I knew friends and family were there to support me at 22, 23 and 25 miles and that really kept me going – it was quite emotional. Coming up towards the finish, I knew I’d given it my all, I was so proud. It was a huge relief to finish but a huge sense of accomplishment and pride – especially as I finished in my best time yet.”

Tom concludes: “Today, my thighs are in pieces – going down stairs is agony! My toes aren’t much better, but it was so worth it! I’m really pleased to have been part of this amazing event and all the better that I’ve raised money for two brilliant disability charities.”

To help Tom Dixon raise funds for Mobility Choice and Scope:
www.justgiving.com/Thomas-Dixon8

For more information on Mobility Choice and The Mobility Roadshow 2016
(Silverstone, Northants, 26-28th May): www.themobilityroadshow.co.uk
For information on Scope: www.scope.org.uk

Vote Emily Davison for National Diversity Award

posabilitymagazine — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:53:17 +0000

Emily Davison, visually impaired writer, journalist, campaigner, YouTuber and Masters Degree Student, has been nominated as Disability Role Model in the National Diversity Awards.

21 year old Emily was diagnosed with a rare congenital condition known as Septo Optic Dysplasia, leaving her severely sight impaired and with a complex endocrine illness.

For the past 4 years Emily has been working on her blog, journalist articles and with charities and organisations to change perceptions towards disability. She aims to make an impact online and through social media platforms, and in 2012 founded her own fashion and lifestyle blog and YouTube channel called Fashioneyesta.

Emily is a profound voice in the visually impaired community, researching resources to make fashion accessible, and aiming to end the stigma around disability. She relays positive messages to her bloggers and followers of combining fashion and beauty with sight loss. She has also written for publications including The Guardian, The Huffington Post and various charity blogs, covering topics surrounding disability, culture and diversity. Furthermore she is a regular fashion and beauty contributor for RNIB‘s Insight Radio.

Emily is extremely passionate about campaigning and empowering others, working with charities such as Scope, Guide Dogs, RNIB and Blind Children UK.

These are just some of the reasons why Emily truley deserves a National Diversity Award. Vote for Emily now: https://nominate.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/Nominate/Endorse/29814?name=Emily%20Davison.

Marks & Spencer launch clothing range for disabled children

posabilitymagazine — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:15:05 +0000

Major UK retailer Marks & Spencer have created much excitement within the special needs community with their launch of clothing for children with special needs. This exciting development to the M&S children’s clothing range comes after customer requests for such ranges to be available to buy at affordable prices. They have become the first mainstream retailer to launch a clothing range meeting the needs of disabled children.

Working with disability charity Scope, Marks & Spencer’s have launched the range exclusively to online. The range includes bodysuits and sleep suits in additional larger sizes and a variety of colours to choose from. The clothing range is available online, however within hours of its launch items were low in stock or out of stock. At present the link appears as unavailable due to stock shortages, however the range will be back in stock soon and customers are encouraged to check the website regularly.

The clothing range is proving to be highly popular with parents of children with disabilities, with a gap in the market place for affordable kids clothing to suit their needs. Well done Marks & Spencer’s.

Parent of child with disability publishes book to help parents

posabilitymagazine — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:47:00 +0000

I published a book so others can walk this road with me. . .

Disability charity Scope have shared through social media a story of mum, Rachel, who has a son with severe cerebral palsy. Rachel writes a blog and has now published a book called “The Skies I’m Under”, aimed at helping parents who have children with disabilities. Rachel looks at both finding out about her son’s disabilities and how her family overcame their difficulties and moved forward.

Finding out your child has a disability can be very hard and stressful for parents to cope with and move on from, this book provides an outlook of Rachel’s personal experiences, which may be able to help parents of children with disabilities facing similar situations and future generations of parents.

Rachel is doing a Q&A on Scope’s community this week. Rachel is available to answer any questions you may have and to tell you a little bit more about her new book. Here Rachel will talk about her experiences at the time of diagnosis.

Find out more about Rachel’s book and how to access her Q&A here!

PosAbility Gets Involved with Scope’s A – Z of sex and disability

posabilitymagazine — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:12:32 +0000

As part of their End the Awkward campaign, Scope have been producing an A – Z of sex and disability. Each letter has been designed into a naughty icon and clicking on these letters will reveal real-life experiences of love and sex with a disability. It has been a great way to dispel myths and address sexual issues openly and frankly through people with disabilities sharing their experiences and offering advice on how to talk about those ‘awkward’ issues and how to achieve a sexual experience that will please all parties!

Last issue our very own Mik Scarlet wrote an article for PosAbility on his experiences of sex with a spinal cord injury. And Scope have used this article as the X for X rated.

Read this fantastic blog at www.scope.org.uk/awkward/a-z

By Rosalind Tulloch

To find out more about Ros, or the rest of the PosAbility team visit the Meet The Team section