Marian Mathieson marian.mathieson@dcpublishing.co.uk
ENABLE MAGAZINE www.enablemagazine.co.uk
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Welcome
h, summer. Flowers blooming, sun shining, the satisfying thwack of rubber on string as the sound of people playing tennis nearby drifts over the garden fence… Summer and sport go hand in hand, and we’re delighted to have UK wheelchair tennis number one – the unstoppable Lucy Shuker – grace our cover and pages this issue. I loved chatting to Lucy to find out more about her career, her goals, and why she thinks inclusive sport is so important.
Continuing the summer theme, this issue we highlight our favourite accessible days out and activities, along with offering a round-up of some top summer reads by disabled authors. There’s a special focus on managing your condition and medication in high temperatures too.
And if the weather forecast doesn’t deliver, there’s plenty more to keep you occupied in this edition: whether that’s learning about how disabled people might get into space in the future, to finding out about the experiences of carers at different life stages, or re ecting on the impact of lockdown on children’s language development.
From managing the diagnosis of a long-term health condition to getting a deeper understanding of disability hate crime, at Enable we’re not afraid to tackle the big issues. If there’s something you’d like to read about in a future issue, please drop me an email and let me know –this is your magazine, after all!
Have a great summer.
Till next issue –
12 CARING ACROSS GENERATIONS
We speak to three carers –from eight to 68 – to learn how their experiences differ, and what support they’ve benefitted from.
29 A LIFE SENTENCE?
Kerry Riches shares her experiences of being diagnosed with MS, and we learn how you can adapt to your ‘new normal’ after a diagnosis.
an Amazon Echo Show worth £90. See page 46
What's inside
Interview
08 COURTING SUCCESS
At the top of her game for more than two decades, Lucy Shuker chats to Editor Melissa Holmes about all things tennis, sport and inclusion.
11 MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY
She’s got the jokes, the timing, and zero patience for ableist nonsense. Fats Timbo opens up to Kate Stevenson about how she’s living life fearlessly.
3 THE FINAL FRONTIER?
Editor Melissa Holmes talks to Glyn Hayes about his involvement with the European Space Agency’s Fly study, which is considering if disabled people could go into space.
66 WELCOMING US
We speak to the founder of WelcoMe, which helps retailers deliver inclusive customer service.
Health
23 KEEP YOUR COOL
Top tips for keeping cool this summer.
29 A LIFE SENTENCE?
Advocate Kerry iches shares her experiences of being diagnosed with MS, and we learn more about how to adapt to your ‘new normal’.
34 UNSEEN STRUGGLES
Three people share their experiences of life with OCD
43 MOVE YOUR WAY
Discovering bowls, tai chi and tennis as fun, inclusive ways to get moving.
Motoring
56 HONDA HR V
uirkily stylish and well finished, the Honda H - is an interesting small SU contender. Our reviewer takes it for a spin.
29
56
Life
15 STOP THE HATE
Disability Hate Crime is one of the least reported forms of hate crime in the UK. We learn more about it and ask: What can be done to improve the situation?
18 FLYING THE NEST
When do you know the time is right for your disabled child to move out? What do parent carers need to consider, what support is available, and what impact it can have on the family?
20 400,000 VOICES: STOLEN BY COVID
Five years on from the first Covid lockdown, Kate Stevenson speaks to language expert Jane Harris about the generation of children who were silenced by the pandemic.
41 PRODUCT PICKS
Whether it’s wellbeing-enhancing kids’ dolls or hilarious stoma bag covers, we highlight our favourite disabilityfriendly products.
48 STRESS-FREE STAYCATIONS
Forget airport stress this summer and explore the UK. From sandy beaches to historic castles, here’s how to plan accessible adventures for all.
51 SUMMER READS
Our Editor’s pick of the best books by disabled authors to read this summer – whether it s poolside fiction or an engaging memoir.
53 THE DIARY
Disability Pride parades, colourful, in atable artworks, or Motability Scheme Live – what will go in your diary over the next couple of months?
Care
12 CARING ACROSS GENERATIONS
Editor Melissa Holmes speaks to three carers –aged eight to 68 – to learn how their experiences differ and what support they’ve benefited from.
32 CARE TECH
Technology is making an enormous difference to the lives of disabled people and their carers. We find out how apps and tech can help reduce stress, increase safety and give carers time to focus on connection rather than logistics and routines.
Voices
26 TAKE PRIDE
This issue, Samatha Renke shares her feelings around Disability Pride Month, which takes place in July.
38 MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
Columnist Tim ushby-Smith re ects on a major milestone in his journey as a disabled person – 20 years since he became paraplegic due to a spinal cord injury.
Employment
59 SEEN, NOT SIDELINED
Editor Melissa Holmes talks to oey Nichols, who works for autism-friendly social enterprise Harry Specters.
61 SUPPORT WITHOUT DIAGNOSIS?
Evenbreak founder Jane Hatton shares her expertise: do you need a diagnosis to obtain in-work support?
63 WHAT’S NEXT?
From writing the perfect CV to interview preparation and graduate careers fairs, we look at the options and support open to disabled graduates.
Finance
54 MONEY SENSE
Supporting people with learning disabilities to have a good relationship with money, thanks to advocacy services, banking support and budgeting advice.
News
AS THIS ISSUE WENT to print, it became clear there would be no U-turn over planned government cuts to disability benefits. Despite the threat of MPs rebelling, PM Keir Starmer seems unlikely to make any concessions, telling the press: “We’ve got to reform the welfare system.” However, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has stated the bill will include “non-negotiable”
Government looks set to go ahead with cuts ASSISTED DYING BILL PASSES VOTE
2 MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End-ofLife) Bill at its Third eading. The Bill, which passed with a majority of 2 , means that terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have less than six months to live would be able to apply for an assisted death.
Safeguards will be put in place, including applications being subject to approval by two doctors and a panel including a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. The House of Lords will vote on the Bill at the end of this year, so we can expect to see the first legalised euthanasia cases in 2029.
Dr Elizabeth Corcoran, Chair of Down’s Syndrome esearch Foundation UK, responded: “We are profoundly saddened that MPs have voted in favour of the Bill . Increased di culties now lie ahead for the Down’s Syndrome
protections for the most vulnerable benefits recipients.
A DWP review into the planned cuts and changes to PIP criteria outlined: “We estimate there will be an additional 2 0,000 people (including 0,000 children) in relative poverty after health and disability benefit reforms after housing costs in 202 0.” The bill is expected to be voted on in early July.
INCLUSIVE SPORT PROGRAMME FOR SEND PUPILS
240,000 PUPILS WITH SPECIAL educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are set to benefit from an England-wide programme to improve access to PE and school sports. The Inclusion 2028 programme aims to work with 0 outh Sport Trust schools, providing expert training to help teachers create and deliver inclusive lessons that meet the diverse needs of all pupils.
Throughout the programme, schools will host events inspired by the Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games, alongside the launch of 600 new extracurricular clubs offering pupils the opportunity to take part in inclusive sports like tennis, boccia and archery. education.activityalliance.org.uk
community. This vote turns the principles of healthcare on its head.” Disability ights UK said: “We are devastated to hear of the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill. We will continue to work with Not Dead et, DPAC, Inclusion London and others to campaign against the Bill, highlighting ableism and inequality, inadequate protections, unsatisfactory Bill process and lack of engagement with Disabled people.”
Broadcaster Esther antzen, who has terminal cancer, welcomed the news, telling BBC adio ’s Today programme that the introduction of a multidisciplinary panel to consider each application, makes it: “so rigorous and so safe. And, in other countries around the world which we’ve looked at because they’ve had assisted dying legalised for some time, it has not produced coercion.”
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COURTING SUCCESS
QTell us more about how you got involved in wheelchair tennis.
A: After my injury, I was leaving hospital [Lucy was involved in a motorbike accident when she was 21, and was paralysed from the chest down , and I needed to buy my first day chair. I went to a wheelchair company which was owned by Pete Norfolk – he was known as The Quadfather, and was one of the top wheelchair tennis players in the world.
While talking with him, he asked if I’d been involved in sports, and I said I’d played badminton to a high level. He asked if I’d tried tennis, and he ended
up lending me one of his old tennis chairs. I jumped in – it was almost like rehab; just playing with friends and family, getting to find me again. It wasn’t to become a Paralympian. I started to play more and more, and got better and better. Then I qualified for my first Paralympics. The rest, I suppose, is history!
Q: You’re a sporting role model. How does that feel?
A: This year I met a Japanese girl who has a similar disability to me. Her words were: ‘You are one of my idols’. It’s lovely to hear that I’ve potentially been a role model to some people, because
At the top of her game for more than two decades, Lucy Shuker is a sporting icon and in uential role odel ditor elissa ol es aught up with u to hat all things tennis, sport and in lusion
I’m really passionate about making the sport inclusive for everyone.
Q: At 45, you’re at the top of your game, with no plans of retiring soon. What are your goals now?
A: The ultimate dream for any Paralympian athlete is to win a gold medal. I’ve got two bronze and one silver, but I’d love to win a gold, and I’d also love to win a Grand Slam [at the time of going to print, Lucy had strong hopes of qualifying for Wimbledon 2025]. But there are things I aim for – whether I achieve them or not – that keep me going.
Q: Wheelchair tennis is an intensely physical and emotional game. How do you keep pushing through?
A: I think tennis is one of those really tough sports where there are a lot of lows, and a few highs. I have a really good team around me in terms of my partner, my coach, my sports psychologist... When I hit those tough times, they ask me: ‘Why do you keep putting yourself through this?’. There are some tough times, but I love playing tennis. I also know I’m privileged to be in this position – not many people get to play a sport for a living and have the experiences I’ve had in terms of Paralympics and Grand Slams.
Q: What achievements are you most proud of in your career so far?
A: I always say the first medal we won in London, because it was the unexpected medal, and it was at the home Games [Lucy secured a bronze medal playing doubles alongside Jordanne Whiley at the 2012 Paralympics – they became the first women ever to win a medal for Great Britain in wheelchair tennis]. Then to get to the Paralympic final in Tokyo – we lost the gold medal, but we won a silver. And then it’s got to be being the agbearer, because the reason you’re chosen isn’t just sporting success; other factors are taken into consideration too.
Q: Yes, tell us more about being o e to arr t e a or ea at the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony last year.
A: It was unbelievable. You’re nominated by the head of wheelchair tennis in the UK. It then goes to the British Paralympic Association, and they shortlist three people, then the British Paralympic athletes get to vote. It’s nice to know my teammates – some I’d never met before – voted for me to lead Paralympics GB out at the opening ceremony alongside wheelchair basketball Paralympian Terry Bywater. It was an incredible experience – a real honour.
Q: You’re very busy training and travelling the world to compete. Do ou e er to a re e t o our achievements?
A: Not often! As athletes, we’re quite harsh on ourselves and always striving
It’s about how you get up every time you’re knocked down
for that next high. In my career, there have been times where I’ve questioned why I’m doing it and if I still want to do it. Ultimately, I love wheelchair tennis which keeps me going.
o o ou ta o u e competitive and motivated?
A: Every time I step on court, I want to be better than I was yesterday. You’re learning and pushing yourself; trying to be better. It’s not necessarily going
to be making massive changes, just that 1%, but nutrition is a massive part of it in terms of recovery. I’m also very fortunate to be in this position. I don’t take it for granted and I’m still striving for my goals.
Q: What advice would you give to somebody who’s recently become disabled?
A: Life’s a journey. It’s not always going to be easy, but it’s about how you get up every time you’re knocked down. I always say, try sport – it has so many good benefits. Say yes to trying stuff, rather than being worried about maybe failing. We all fail at stuff and it’s a case of trying again. Pick yourself up and try again.
ASSISTED PERFORMANCES
• CHILLED
• AUDIO DESCRIBED
• CAPTIONED
• RELAXED
•PERFORMANCES WITH INTEGRATED BSL INTERPRETER
NEW SEASON ANNOUNCED
BORN WITH TEETH
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
MACBETH
KING LEAR
THE BFG
THE FORSYTE SAGA
PARTS 1 & 2
ALL IS BUT FANTASY
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND
HENRY V
Main Character Energy
She’s got the jokes, the timing, and zero patience for ableist nonsense. Fats Timbo opens up to Kate Stevenson about how she’s living life fearlessly
Fats Timbo doesn’t just walk into a room – she owns it. As a comedian, author, content creator, and proud little person, Fats is ipping the script on disability, one viral skit at a time.
“Interviews are like my therapy,” she jokes to me at the start of our chat. “I get to vent about everything I’ve gone through and, hopefully, someone out there hears it and feels less alone.”
That’s Fats in a nutshell: funny, fierce, and intentional.
JOKE’S ON YOU
Born with achondroplasia, the rising comedy star spent her early years caught between being celebrated at home and judged in public. “I used to think I was ‘special’ because my parents told me that. They always made it feel like I had a superpower,” she laughs. “Then I stepped outside, and the world had a lot to say about me… Mostly rubbish!” That mix of feeling special at home and being judged outside inspired her honest comedy and bold storytelling.
“My biggest issue with my condition is other people’s attitudes,” she shrugs. “It’s not how I feel or look – it’s how people treat me.”
Her viral skits on social media hilariously call out the everyday microaggressions she and many other disabled people face. In one, a woman asks: “Were you born like that?” Fats answers with a deadpan: “Yeah.” The comedy lands because it’s real. “I just thought, let me show people how ridiculous it sounds,” explains Fats. “When people laugh, they re ect.
Maybe next time, they’ll think before speaking.”
A COMIC FORCE
But her work is not just punchlines and viral videos. Fats is also the host of Unfiltered Women, IT ’s first disabled-led chat show. “It can be nerve-wracking to be part of something so powerful,” she says. “But I’m walking so others can run. People have never seen this representation – and it’s about time.” Fats is candid about the responsibility of being one of the few disabled voices in major media spaces. “I used to feel the pressure of representing a whole community,” she admits. “But these days, I remind myself that there are only 24 hours in a day. I can only do so much. I just try to do my best, and leave space for others.”
I’m not just funny for a disabled person. I’m funny. Full stop
She doesn’t want to be boxed into “disability content” either. Her comedy cuts across race, culture, gender, and life itself. “I’m a Black, British, Sierra Leonean woman who’s also disabled. There are a lot of ways I can connect to people,” points out Fats. “I’m not just funny for a disabled person. I’m funny. Full stop.”
With her debut book launching and a wedding around the corner (“Please
pray for my sanity!”), Fats is just getting started. So she invites you to laugh, learn, and rethink what inclusion really looks like.
And if you’re not ready for that? She’ll be the first to turn it into a skit.
CARING ACROSS GENERATIONS
Editor Melissa Holmes speaks to three carers – from eight to 68 – to learn how their e perien es di er and what support the ve benefited ro
SUZANNE’S STORY
Suzanne Bourne is co-founder of carers charity Mobilise. She became a carer after her husband Matt was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 22 years ago, but it took her a while to realise she actually was a carer! “Matt was 31 when he was diagnosed, so it was a bit of a shock,” she explains. “It gradually built from making his packed lunch to getting him dressed, to feeding him his breakfast and doing personal care… A lot of what I was doing was making sure he could still go to work. This was all with two small children, a household to run, working part-time – trying to keep all the plates spinning.” Suzanne admits she “burnt out”, so went to the doctor who said they’d add her to their carers’ register. “It was only then that I realised, ‘This is a thing – I’m doing more than other people’. Until then I’d really felt like I was failing at life, when the other mums were rocking it!”
Juggling caring and raising children alongside working and ensuring older family members are ok has been a balancing act for Suzanne, who says: “It’s a bit of a rollercoaster.” She’s also struggled to look after her own health: “Finding time in the day to exercise for example has been di cult. I had a knee injury at one point, but I couldn’t sit around and recover –someone’s got to cook the tea! But you’ve got to address it. ou can’t just keep doing your best. You have to take time for yourself – even if that’s just to do some stretching.”
Asking for help and being able to accept help has been vital for Suzanne, who advises other carers: “Find your tribe; that support network around you that understands. ou might have different people for different things: people that can help you practically, people that can help you emotionally, and others that are going through a similar thing.”
Mobilise: mobiliseonline.co.uk
You can’t just keep doing your best. You have to take time for yourself Suzanne
CHARLOTTE’S STORY
At eight years old, Charlotte is a young carer for her sister Poppy, three, who has Rett Syndrome. This rare disorder causes a progressive loss of motor skills and language.
Charlotte cares for Poppy by pushing her in her wheelchair when they’re out and about, feeding Poppy or helping her drink when she needs extra support, or helping her access toys. When asked how it feels to help her sister, Charlotte told me: “It feels nice. Some of the time I don’t know what to do, but it doesn’t really feel like an extra job because I get to help and play with her.”
Mum Rhiannon asks what it’s like to be Poppy’s big sister. “Sometimes it feels a bit hard,” admits Charlotte. “But most of the time I’m quite happy to help.”
Rhiannon describes the girls’ relationship as being extra special. “Not many kids would know how to communicate with a non-verbal kid,” says Rhiannon, “or how to
help somebody who doesn’t have functional use of their hands.”
How does Rhiannon feel about the way in which things have changed for her, as a parent? “I watch my eight-year-old take care of her sister in a way that most kids don’t learn how to do until they become parents themselves. That’s amazing and I’m so proud of her. But, on the other side, I see the relationship some of her friends have with their siblings, and I find it really hard not to get upset about that.”
“She handles it so well,” explains Rhiannon. “She seems so happy and capable to help her sister. 90% of the time she initiates helping her without us asking. But I do have these worries in my head.”
It doesn’t really feel like an extra job because I get to help and I get to play with her
EILEEN’S STORY
Eileen was in her late sixties when her elderly mother moved into her home. Unable to look after herself due to dementia and frailty, Eileen felt Iris would be better living with her. “I know what mum needs and wants,” explains Maureen. “She did everything for me growing up, so I felt I should do the same for her when she couldn’t look after herself anymore.”
Iris moved into the family lounge, which impacted on the time Eileen could spend with her husband and friends. “I couldn’t manage her on the stairs, so we made do with the downstairs toilet and a wheeled commode,” she explains. “At first it was manageable but, as mum became more unwell, moving her became too hard.” Support from Occupational Therapy showed Eileen how to lift correctly, but – even with this professional help, and adaptive
equipment – she damaged her back and pelvic oor.
Used to being a provider, Eileen was cooking, feeding and providing personal care for her mother: “It took so much out of me,” she admits. “I barely slept and, as mum got worse, it became harder to cope.” Eileen had regular visits from Age UK to talk about issues like Power of Attorney, and just to have someone to chat to. “That helped me feel less isolated.”
After a year of 24/7 care at Eileen’s, Iris moved into a care home. “I did everything I could for mum,” reveals Eileen, “but in the end it was too much. It’s impacted my long-term health; we had family fall-outs over it. But now I can visit mum every day and see she’s being looked after. I know I’ve made the best decision for both of us.”
Age UK: ageuk.org.uk Carers Trust: carers.org
STOP THE HATE
Disability Hate Crime (DHC) is one of the least reported forms of hate crime in the UK. We learn more about it and ask: What can be done to improve the situation? Trigger warning: the content of this article may be upsetting for some readers
According to the Home O ce, 11, 1 disability hate crimes were recorded by police in 202 2 across England and Wales. So what is disability hate crime (DHC)? Stop Hate UK say: “A hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility and prejudice towards a person’s identity or perceived identity.” This encompasses disability, race, religion faith, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
Everyone has the right to be who they are but, sadly, some people refuse to ‘live and let live’. DHC can take many forms, and it can cause serious physical and psychological harm – whether that’s suffering actual injuries or having to live with the way these crimes can chip away at hard-won everyday freedoms –like getting the bus, shopping alone, or using social media – the loss of which can lead to increased social isolation.
ABLEIST ABUSE
DHC can include verbal or physical abuse, online abuse, threatening behaviour, stalking, harassment, and damage to property. A clear example of a disability hate crime might be an individual kicking away someone’s walking aid while ableist slurs are shouted, attacks on assistance animals, someone with Down Syndrome being spat at in the street, or a caregiver exploiting a learning disabled person’s vulnerability by befriending them and stealing from them… Or worse.
Hate crimes can be carried out by anyone – strangers, partners, family members and caregivers. The Ann Craft Trust, which works to safeguard adults, highlights: “In a study conducted by the National Autistic Society in 2014, 49% of adults with autism reported they had been abused by someone they thought of as a friend.”
SKEWED FIGURES
The number of people impacted by DHC could be as much as three times higher than o cial figures state. In fact, a survey carried out by United Response found that 70.1% of respondents didn’t report the hate crime they experienced to police or other authorities.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has stated that many disabled people prefer to report incidents to
A hate crime is motivated by hostility and prejudice towards a person’s identity
third party services, like helplines and charities such as Stop Hate UK, rather than to the police. There’s also an understanding that some people might not understand what constitutes a crime, especially since DHC came into law in the UK as part of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, so it’s still relatively ‘new’ legislation.
As well as this, there are other issues that skew the numbers and stop people from reporting DHC. These can include fear, distrust of the authorities, or the exhausting emotional toll of reliving traumatic experiences by having to report them. Not to mention the low chance of a conviction ever happening: according to Leonard Cheshire, out of 10,740 disability hate crime reports across England and Wales in 2022 2 , only 132 cases (1.2%) resulted in a charge or CPS referral.
POOR RELATION
While the CPS has made commitments to tackle hate crime, it seems disability is still treated as a ‘poor relation’ compared to other forms. Proving the ‘hostility’ requirement in court is challenging. Meanwhile, in cases of ‘mate crime’, victims may fear reporting due to worries around retaliation or not being able to access support safely.
So what can be done to help this underreporting? Education is key, because many people who’ve been a victim of hate crime may not realise it’s a crime. Understanding what DHC is, learning examples of it, and knowing what to do if or when it happens is really important.
If something’s happened to you that’s left you feeling scared, isolated or unable to go about your usual
routine, or you’ve witnessed something (perhaps bullying on the bus, or nasty comments online), then you need to speak to someone. our first port of call should be the police on 999 (in an emergency) or 101. Alternatively, you can report online at True Vision (reportit.org.uk) – a website run by the police specifically for hate crimes, or contact an organisation like Stop Hate UK, who can also provide additional support and signposting. If you’re a victim or bystander/witness, it’s also helpful to keep a log of anything that happens.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
A number of organisations are working hard to help combat DHC, improve awareness, and lobby for better laws, including United Response. Last year, the charity carried out a large-scale survey on disability hate crime on public transport, highlighting stories of survivors to shift public attitudes and develop a number of policy suggestions. These suggestions included improving disability awareness training for authorities, hiring dedicated disability staff at all police services, ensuring all victims of hate crime have the same legal protection, improving signposting for DHC, and improving accessibility for victims of hate crime.
According to Leonard Cheshire and United Response, we can all do our part by showing solidarity with survivors of DHC, calling out hate crime when we see it in real life or online (without putting ourselves in danger), and being an ally to those who need support.
And the way to stop DHC? Put an end to the culture that allows disabled people to be dehumanised, ignored, or made to feel unsafe. Take disabled people seriously, prosecute offenders, and challenge the prejudice that makes abuse against any disabled person seem ‘acceptable’.
Until we make these changes, the numbers will remain low, but the damage will run deep.
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FLYING THE NEST
When do you know the time is right for your disabled son or daughter to move out? We learn more about what parent carers need to consider, the support available and the impact it can have on the family
After what often feels like a lifetime of loving, caring and doing everything for them, there comes a point in most parent’s lives when it’s time for their child to move out. For the parents of a disabled child, young person, or adult, finally ‘cutting the apron strings’ is a lot more involved than simply boxing up their bedroom and waving them off towards their future. From worrying about how they’ll manage independently, to juggling finance, cooking and eating, medical needs, or employment, there’s lots for parents and kids to think about.
Once a child turns 18, a lot can change. For parents of disabled children, this doesn’t just focus on those ‘regular’ milestones like being old enough to vote or drink. It also means that much of the support you’ve benefitted from in the past is about to stop. Child support services often cease at 18 but, thankfully, there are programmes in place to help make this transitional period easier.
PERSON- EN RED
Ideally, person-centred planning for what will happen to your child as they get older needs to commence at a
young age. It’s up to you when you want to start thinking about future plans but, the sooner you start, the smoother things may go. If your child has an Education, Health and Care plan, you’ll discuss transition planning at every annual review; usually starting when the child is age 13 or 14. You can also think about your child’s needs in the short, medium and longerterm, and include your child – where possible – in these discussions. Consider important people and friends in your child’s life, what your child might want to do for work, where they’d like to live, what their ideal day might look like, and what sort of support you all need to get there – and get this written down. ou can also start taking practical steps like encouraging independence in daily
Start taking practical steps, like encouraging independence in daily tasks
tasks, building confidence around being out of the family home, and involving your child in decisions. Make time to explore legal and financial issues too, like benefits entitlements, tenancy agreements, mental capacity and power of attorney.
THE RIGHT TIME?
As a parent carer, it can be hard to know when it’s the right time for your disabled child to move out. Your head will be full of questions: When will they be ready to leave home? Will they be safe? How will we cope – and how will they? Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Many disabled young people make the move into their own homes – with varying levels of support – and end up thriving. But the transition, on both practical and emotional levels, can be complex for the whole family.
Knowing when the time is right depends on the individual. You need to take into consideration their support needs, level of maturity, what they want, and their life skills. Having an open conversation with them is a good starting point – ask them if they want to live away from home, and chat about how well they generally cope with change, for example.
MILESTONES
Some young people make the transition to moving out of the family home in their late teens or early twenties, others much later – and some may never leave home, which is equally valid. This is a personal decision dependent upon your family’s circumstances and needs.
Support is available with the emotional and physical impacts of continuous care, so look into a Carer’s
Assessment, Carers Allowance, and respite support, along with help from adult services, social work or occupational therapy. Your local Carers Centre is a great place to start when it comes to learning more about the wide range of help on offer.
It’s worth remembering that, for disabled adults, independent living doesn’t have to mean living completely alone. Your child could move into a care home, or into shared or supported accommodation, with full-time, part-time or drop-in staff. our local authority and adult social care team should be your first port of call when it comes to sorting out needs assessments and funding for these kinds of arrangements.
LETTING GO
Parent carers should also prepare themselves. Having your child y the nest can have an emotional impact, especially when you’ve been used to being there for them, and having them around all the time. It’s ok to feel a whole range of emotions during the process, and once they’ve moved out – relief, pride, sadness and anxiety often go hand in hand.
Letting go can almost feel like a bereavement, and you may even feel like you’ve lost your identity. Make sure you speak to someone about what you’re going through, and manage the change in whatever way works for you – keeping busy, trying a hobby, or returning to employment, for example.
Ensure your child is supported too – they may feel scared, overwhelmed or lonely, so a phased introduction to their new living arrangements, with regular visits or additional support while they settle in may be needed.
Living away from parent carers can increase a disabled child’s selfesteem, promote independence, and give them a sense of control as they enter a new phase of life. And for parents, seeing your child live a more independent life can make all your efforts worthwhile.
400,000 VOICES: STOLEN BY COVID
ive ears on ro the first ovid lo down, ate tevenson spea s to language e pert ane arris about the generation o hildren who were silen ed b the pande i
Five years ago, the world fell silent. Schools shut, playgrounds closed, and conversations either disappeared behind mu ed masks or transferred to our screens. For adults, lockdown was lonely. But for young children, there was a sudden absence of the things that teach us how to speak.
Now, half a decade later, that silence has grown louder. According to new research by the IPP , 1. million children in the UK now struggle with speech and language challenges – up from 1. million in 2020. That’s 400,000 more kids who can’t find the words.
“We’re witnessing a wave of lost potential,” says Jane Harris, Chief Executive of Speech and Language UK. “We all remember the lockdowns, but we’ve forgotten their youngest victims.”
THE QUIET YEARS
In 2020, toddlers learned to speak in isolation. Babies saw masked faces instead of mouths, and social interaction
was reduced to adult voices – there were no nursery story times, no playground games… Not even any friends to play with. It was a whole lot of nothing for children in their most important developmental years. It had huge repercussions: “To learn a language, children need two things: interaction with other kids, and new experiences,” explains Jane. “Covid killed off both.” Children missed out on the back-and-forth of learning to talk, and many never caught up. And the cost-of-living crisis that followed? “It was a double whammy,” adds Jane. It kept families indoors, cancelled outings, shut down playgroups, and forced nurseries to scale back.
These aren’t just small losses, because language is how children access life. “If a child can’t understand a question, they can’t answer it. If they can’t ask for help, they won’t get it,” Jane points out.
SILENT NUMBERS
While we were paying attention to Coronavirus case numbers, another figure grew: the number of children entering school unable to talk or understand as expected.
Jane says the rise is sharpest in children aged eight to nine, known as the “Covid babies,” who missed the critical window of early speech development. “We see it in every classroom, every postcode,” she shakes her head. The heartbreaking part? “It was preventable.”
Children with delayed speech at age five are six times more likely to fall behind in English by age 11, and 11 times more likely to struggle in maths. “With maths, it’s worse, because a lot of the language is abstract. ou can point to an object to explain a word. ou can’t point to a sequence.”
Those who can’t express themselves also struggle with confidence, social skills, and behaviour. As a result, children are mislabelled as disruptive and punished, instead of receiving support. In a 2024 Speech and Language UK survey, 8 of teachers said children with speech and language issues were unfairly disciplined: “Imagine being excluded from school because you didn’t understand the rules,” marvels Jane. “That’s happening every day.”
1.9 million children in the UK now struggle with speech and language challenges
Jane
WHAT WENT WRONG?
During the pandemic, speech and language therapists were redeployed across the NHS. Most never returned to their posts. Jane says there are more qualified therapists than ever – but they’ve left the public sector. Most are moving into private practice to escape burnout and bureaucratic restraints.
“There’s such an emphasis on driving down the waiting lists. Therapists feel the pressure to see a child once, hand the family a lea et, and move on,” reveals Jane. “If you know what’s actually going to make a difference to a child’s life, you don’t want to do that. It can start to feel unethical.”
As if that wasn’t enough, there are no NICE guidelines for developmental language disorder, even though it affects one million UK children. Without those guidelines, speech and language services aren’t protected and, when budget cuts hit, therapy is first to go.
“If we had these gaps in diabetes or
cancer care, people would be outraged,” argues Jane. “But when it comes to communication, it’s treated as optional.”
Inside schools, teachers receive inadequate training, and their preparation is “often less than two hours”. Jane says it’s no wonder more than half of them feel unequipped: “Imagine trying to teach 30 kids and not knowing that one in five can’t process your instructions,” she says. “That’s the situation we’re in.”
To emphasise her point, Jane adds: “We’ve all learned French throughout our education, but can you speak it now? If you don’t use it, you lose it. It’s the same with teachers: they need continual training. It can’t just be a one-off.”
HOW CAN WE FIX IT?
The IPPR and Speech and Language UK are calling on government to act now. They want government to reinstate training programs, fund interventions, put more therapists in schools, introduce
clinical standards, and provide assistive technology.
Above all, they want senior members to stop pretending this crisis will fix itself. “You can’t outgrow a language delay,” says Jane incredulously. “You can catch up, but only if someone helps you.”
For our children, the isolation and silence we all felt during that first lockdown hasn’t passed. It’s ongoing. “These are the kids who never had a chance to say their first words when they were meant to,” sighs Jane. “Now, they’re entering classrooms where no one understands them. And they’re being punished for it.”
She pauses. “We can’t change what happened in 2020. But we can change what happens next.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you’re a parent or teacher wondering where to turn, speechandlanguage.org.uk has a range of resources including a progress checker and advice line.
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Keep your cool
We all love a bit of sun, but hot weathercan have its risks. From staying hydratedto keeping our cool, here are ourtop tips on howto stay safe and beatthe heat this summer
When summer hits the UK and the sun starts shining, we sun-loving Brits welcome it with open arms, eager to soak up every ray. While many look forward to balmy evenings and barbecues, rising temperatures can be life-threatening for disabled and older people.
According to the British Red Cross, every 1°C rise above average summer temperatures is linked to a 2% increase in deaths in England. This is
a frightening statistic, but it’s important not to let it scare you too much. Instead, why not focus on practical ways you can prepare for warmer days and stay safe in the heat?
THE RISKS
If it seems like the UK struggles more than other countries when the heatwave hits, there’s good reason for that. “We just don’t have the infrastructure for the heat,” says Michelle, 52, from Bristol, who has
fibromyalgia and uses a wheelchair. “My at becomes an oven, and I can’t open the windows because I live near a noisy road. By day three of a heatwave, I can’t think straight.”
A new WECIL-University of Bath study is collecting first-hand accounts like Michelle’s to better understand the unique challenges faced by disabled people during extreme heat, in a bid to ensure disabled people are included in future climate plans (you can email hk 2 bath.ac.uk to find out more about the research).
Other studies have found that when disabled people feel the heat it can rob them of independence, worsen fatigue, increase pain, and make daily tasks feel insurmountable. Daryl, who lives with cerebral palsy, shared: “I feel completely trapped in my own body when it gets too hot. It’s like I can’t move or think clearly.”
For people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the impact is particularly well-documented. “Over 60 of people with MS say their symptoms get worse in the heat,” reports the MS Society. Even a minor rise in body temperature can temporarily worsen MS symptoms like blurred vision, muscle weakness, and severe exhaustion.
Carla, who lives with relapsing-remitting MS, swears by her own DI hacks: “Put a refillable bottle of water in the freezer 20 minutes before you leave the house so you have something cold to drink,” she suggests. “Hand-held fans are a heat saviour. I always carry one in my bag.”
MEDICATION
Some medications interfere with the body’s ability to regulate heat or maintain hydration
STAY COOL
Staying safe doesn’t mean locking yourself inside with the curtains drawn although that helps too. Here are our top tips to keep you cool:
Use cold packs or gel cooling cushions: these are useful for wheelchair users to prevent overheating and pressure sores.
keep medicine in direct sunlight or in a room that gets excessively warm. Talk to your pharmacist if you’re unsure.”
Older adults are also at risk, as the ability to sense thirst or regulate body temperature declines with age. “We see more falls, confusion, and even kidney issues during heatwaves among elderly patients,” says Dr King. “A simple chat about hydration and medication can save lives.”
HEAT STROKE
If you believe someone is experiencing heat stroke or a heat-related emergency, call 999
The UK Health Security Agency runs a Heat Health Alert system. These alerts warn when temperatures are high enough to risk life and health, and provide helpful guidance. ou can sign up online to get updates directly to your phone or email at gov.uk. emember, heat stroke can come on quickly and is life-threatening. Watch out for warning signs, including dizziness, confusion, headache, rapid heartbeat, and nausea. If someone has communication di culties, symptoms like sudden fatigue or unusual behaviour could be a red ag for heat stroke.
Many disabled people rely on medications that can increase their vulnerability during spells of hot weather. Diuretics, beta-blockers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate heat or maintain hydration. It’s worth bearing in mind too that some medications can become less effective or even dangerous if stored above their recommended temperature.
Dr Louise King, a community pharmacist, says: “ ou should never
ENJOY THE SUN
It’s possible to stay safe and still have fun during summer. As Carla puts it: “Being prepared lets me enjoy the good parts – like sitting in the garden with an iced coffee or going for a roll in the evening when it’s cooler.”
With the right tools, support, and awareness, you can feel the sun on your face without risking your health. Stay prepared, stay cool, and don’t let the heat steal your summer.
Stay hydrated: keep water close and sip regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Set reminders or alarms to monitor your water intake.
Cool your room: close blinds and curtains during the day, and use blackout blinds. Position fans near windows to create a cooling breeze.
Cool your body: apply damp cloths to the back of your neck, wrists, and ankles. ou could also consider buying cooling mist sprays or wearable cooling wraps.
Dress smart: lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-coloured clothing helps keep you cool. Choose clothes made from natural fibres like cotton or linen.
Charge up: ensure mobility aids, oxygen machines, or other essential devices are fully charged and not exposed to direct heat, which may affect their performance.
Keep in touch: let people know if you’re struggling with the heat set up a check-in system with friends, neighbours or carers.
Plan your day: go out in the coolest parts of the day (early morning late evening), and take a fan cooling mist spray with you.
Samantha Renke
Samantha is a broadcaster, actress, disability activist and the author of ‘You Are the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’. Follow Samantha on Instagram @samantharenke
This issue, Samatha shares her feelings around Disability Pride Month, which takes place in July
TAKE PRIDE
I’ve often shared my own journey towards Disability Pride: the awareness and knowledge that I am enough, that my Disabled body doesn’t take up space, and that my rights, thoughts and feelings are valid.
Over the years, I’ve gone from avoiding anything Disability-related – including other Disabled people – to someone who relishes in Disability culture and wholeheartedly feels pride in my Disabled life. I’ve spoken about reconnecting with my body, and finding autonomy and agency whilst understanding my boundaries when it comes to my activism and ableism.
For me, the journey to Disability Pride is about unpacking internalised ableism and saying ‘I’m not perfect, but I’m eager to learn more about who I am and my place in this world’.
RELEASING SHAME
This Disability Pride month, I want to address the subject of letting go of any shame surrounding the help we receive. This shame is rooted in ableism and pity porn. The rhetoric around benefits, for instance, has always been and continues to be that claiming financial support in a Disabling world is shameful, greedy and undeserved.
But you deserve this support… And then some. Remember – the narrative that we’re somehow not deserving of basic human rights comes down to one thing and one thing only: our government trying to save money and shift focus from their own failings and shortcomings.
Once upon a time I’d hide the fact I received benefits. I’d feel embarrassed that I couldn’t work harder to increase my income or just be more ‘inspirational’ and go it alone. Now I’m completely transparent, because I should not feel ashamed of wanting to live my life like my peers. I need help, and that’s ok.
LETTING GO OF GUILT
Secondly, let’s all let go of feeling guilty when we accept help or token gestures that are steeped in ableism. Over the years I’ve received so much ‘free stuff’ purely because of my wheelchair. For example, toys, sweets, or behind-thescenes access at Universal Studios. I remember once the organisers of a ra e rigged the prize, so I won a huge hand-
knitted clown doll – the list goes on.
As an adult, I’ve had opportunities come to me because of my Disability, because many people still infantilise me and take pity. It’s their way of making themselves feel more comfortable about my Disability.
Sometimes this gives me the ick. Nevertheless, I grab these perks with both hands even when I know they are layered with ableism and pity. Why? Because everyone in life uses their assets, circumstances and personality traits to get ahead… Hello push-up bras and nepotism!
Irrespective of who they are, humans use anything they can to make their lives easier. So why shouldn’t Disabled people?
The truth is, sometimes I call out and challenge other people’s ableism and bias. And sometimes I just accept the free stuff.
So, this Pride I’m asking you to be a little kinder on yourself. Life is hard enough without your own internal moral compass making you feel guilty.
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A LIFE SENTENCE?
Being diagnosed with a life-limiting condition or chronic illness doesn’t have to mean a life sentence. We speak to advocate Kerry Riches, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 17 years ago, about her experiences, and learn more about how you can adapt to your ‘new normal’
When her son, Tom, was just 12 weeks old, Kerry Riches found herself in front of the doctor. “I’d started tripping over my own feet, I lost my vision in my left eye, and got pins and needles in my hands and feet, like my fingers were going to explode,” she explains. Working in the NHS as Head of Patient Experience, she was determined to get the best care. “No one knows their own body like the patient. So I spoke to the doctor and said, ‘I don’t want to be di cult, but I’m not leaving today without an MRI’.”
Kerry thought she had a brain tumour. Instead, she was diagnosed with MS. “I didn’t cry,” she admits. “I didn’t get upset. I just sat there and thought, ‘That’s fine. I know what it is now. This is gonna be ok’.”
GONNA BE OK
Receiving bombshell health news like a diagnosis of MS is life-changing in so many ways – emotionally, physically, socially, and practically.
Life may become a swirl of medical appointments, benefit applications, home adaptations, learning how to use new equipment or adjusting to big lifestyle changes. Relationships with loved ones may change as they shift towards a caring role, friendships may alter, you may have to reduce your work hours or quit altogether, and you may experience physical side effects from new medications.
Pathways will open up; there’ll be opportunities for treatments, friendships, new interests and connections, alongside frustrations, fears, tears and upset.
KINDNESS FIRST
Getting any kind of diagnosis can be challenging, so being kind to yourself is a top priority. And knowledge is power – equipping yourself with information about treatments, symptoms and support networks (and reaching out to those support networks) can ease the transition into your newly-diagnosed life. From the moment of her diagnosis, Kerry decided she wasn’t going to let MS stop her from doing anything. “I call it my superpower because MS has pushed me to do things I never would’ve done without it.” For Kerry, that’s meant appearing on Big Brother to help raise awareness of MS, as well as speaking on national news channels about subjects including welfare cuts, disability rights and media representation, plus becoming
enable health
Your path might not be the one you wanted to go on, but another path can be just as good
a mobility aid-using model for curvy clothing brand Yours
FIND YOUR TRIBE
Kerry also supports people who are newly diagnosed, who get in touch via her social media channels. “I get contacted by all sorts of people saying, ‘I feel like my life’s over’,” she says. “No, it’s not. It’s just beginning. I help a lot of people by talking to them and helping them see it differently.”
Online communities and in-person groups can be beneficial for anyone dealing with a diagnosis; sharing your experiences with people who’ve gone through something similar and learning more about the journey your condition may take can be reassuring, as well as helping relieve feelings of isolation.
Taking time to adjust to your ‘new normal’ is also really important too. ou may find you need to change your employment hours or stop work altogether (you can speak to your HR department, your union, or a charity dedicated to your condition for support with navigating this).
Adapting to medication, treatment regimes or surgical recovery could be part of your life now, along with learning how to rest, how to ask for (and accept) help, and getting to grips with equipment or technology that can help alleviate your symptoms and make life more manageable. And good emotional support is vital to aid your transition to life with a diagnosis.
Your family and loved ones may need support too, whether that’s practical or emotional. Your local Carers Centre can be a great first port of call for information and advice, and be sure to contact your social work department to discuss a Carers Assessment if your spouse, partner, child or other loved ones take on a caring role to support you.
UNDERSTANDING
Kerry has been lucky to be supported by a great MS nurse and explains that,
when she was first diagnosed, there was a “real coordinated approach – because I was only 12 weeks postpartum – including the MS team in my local primary care area, and my health visitor. The MS nurse came to my family home – she was incredible,” recalls Kerry. “She sat with us for about three hours and explained what MS is.”
“No one knew anything about MS 17 years ago, especially not in my family,” Kerry continues. “At the time, my husband was a manager at Game, the computer shop. So the nurse likened MS to before gaming controllers went wireless, explaining it’s like if you were playing Mario Kart and wanted to turn a corner, but someone cuts the controller cable. So the action you want to do doesn’t translate and happen on
screen.” It was the perfect metaphor for the impact of MS.
Kerry describes MS as “a sink or swim illness. It can take you and drag you under,” she explains. “But I’m a swimmer, so I’ve kept swimming ever since my diagnosis.”
She reassures people that a diagnosis “doesn’t need to be you. It doesn’t need to be the end. There’s always a way to navigate around it – your path might not be the one you wanted to go on, but another path can be just as good.”
CARE TECH
e hnolog is a ing an enor ous di eren e to the lives o disabled people and their arers , roboti s, and new te hnolog are helping to redu e stress, in rease sa et and give arers ti e to o us on onne tion rather than logisti s and routines e find out ore
As technology becomes incorporated into our lives more and more, experts are developing increasingly smart ways to improve things for disabled people and their carers. Caring is a huge responsibility, affecting work, physical and mental health, friendships and more, so anything that helps to reduce the strain is a bonus.
THE JUGGLE IS REAL
Many carers juggle complicated
medication schedules. Smart tech can assist with avoiding missed doses, double dosing or running out of a particular medicine, as well as improving independence. The Pivotell Advance GSM pill dispenser can be programmed to automatically dispense pills at set times and days. Using Carers UK’s Jointly app (pictured, left), the dispenser sends alert messages to family members if medication has or has not been dispensed from the device. The Pivotell is priced at £180.00 (exc. VAT) via pivotell.co.uk.
Similarly, TabTime’s alarmed, lockable electronic pill dispenser (£59.99) is complemented by their vibrating watch, which provides up to 10 silent alarms each day, as a reminder to take medication, stay hydrated or use the bathroom (£21.49 from tabtime.com).
Many carers need to stay on top of appointments and tasks. The Jointly app makes caring feel less stressful and more organised for those who share the care. You can set up appointments, allocate tasks and manage medication, so everyone involved in the care of your loved one is kept informed (£2.99 from app stores, or free via some Carers Centres and employers / carersuk.org/jointly).
WANDERFUL
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conditions, the danger of the individual wandering off and going missing can be a very real concern for carers and families. Keep track of where your loved one is via the AngelSense GPS Tracker. You can chat via voice on the device, or follow your loved one’s route on a realtime map. It can even make an SOS call to a predefined number. ing and Google Nest offer indoor cameras that enable you to monitor movement, alongside other useful features. These can also be paired with smart home devices, like smart vacuums, smart plugs and lightbulbs, so you can operate appliances and heating in your home via voice or other controls, to make caring easier.
SELF CARE
Taking care of your physical and mental health as a carer is vital. Physical support and lifting aids – like sit to stand raisers and smart home beds such as the Accora oor bed – can relieve pressure on your back and joints, while wellbeing monitoring tools like bed and chair sensors can aid you in getting more sleep.
For people with additional support needs, dementia or other neurological
Apps like Headspace, Calm and Insight Timer help support your mental health, offering mindfulness, courses, community message boards and guided meditations. This gives you the chance to relax, refocus and make your mental health a priority.
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Unseen Struggles
For many, OCD conjures up images of excessive handwashing, neat rows of items, or an obsession with cleanliness. But the reality of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is far more complex – and misunderstood. OCD can be a deeply distressing and isolating condition that a e ts ever aspe t o a person’s life, often in ways that go unnoticed by the outside world. Three people share their stories
Chandy’s story
When I was three years old, I had a brain tumour. Aged six, I had another operation to remove the same tumour as it had regrown. Complications during the surgery meant I ended up in intensive care; that traumatic experience left me with OCD. For much of my childhood, it was focused around contamination, germs, or me doing or thinking something, then it leading to something bad happening – for example, death, or me making someone unwell.
Kids at school believed that they could catch my brain tumour, so my OCD attached that thought to ‘I could give someone a brain tumour’. I had a lot of compulsions around checking things, hygiene, cleanliness, and washing my hands.
My compulsions have changed over the years. The cleaning has always been there, but in different ways. PostCovid, I use a lot of cleaning products
I’m caught in the middle of these con icting thoughts and emotions all the time
and wipes, to stop contamination and the fear of getting unwell.
A lot of people think OCD is about being clean. For me, it means I have these intrusive thoughts and I have to do things in a certain way. It’s the intensity of those thoughts – some days could be wholly centred around one thought because, if I stop thinking about it, something bad could happen. But if I think about it, something bad could happen. I’m caught in the middle of these con icting thoughts and emotions all the time. It’s exhausting.
Mia’s story
I was always an anxious child, as far back as I can remember. I didn’t know what I was experiencing, but I knew I was different from my peers. Aged eight, I started engaging in OCD behaviours (I didn’t know this was OCD at the time). I had to check every surface of each room, as I was convinced I had written something sexually inappropriate every time I entered and left a room.
When I started secondary school, everything turned upside down, and my OCD exploded in a thousand different directions: non-stop rituals, counting and checking to stop these thoughts from coming true.
I had no choice but to tell my parents. They were confused to begin with, but soon realised it was OCD, as my dad has OCD himself. I was referred to CAMHS, assessed, and started therapy – CBT with ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), the gold standard treatment for OCD. It helped in some ways, particularly when I started medication (Sertraline) at
My
journey with OCD has been a long one
13, but I think I was too young to fully understand and engage.
From 12 to 16, I experienced new obsessions and compulsions. OCD impacted all areas of my life. I couldn’t even get a glass of water without distress and anxiety. At 16, I was at one of my lowest points. I learned about OCD-UK, a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by OCD. I signed up for their Young Ambassador Project, which was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! The support I’ve received from them has been priceless.
I’m now 22, and lucky enough to work part-time at OCD-UK, running online support groups for other young people. It feels full circle, using my experiences to support others. OCD is such a misunderstood illness, but it’s an illness like any other. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
OCD is such a misunderstood illness
Ashley’s story
During my teenage years I fell into a cycle of carrying out nonsensical behaviours to prevent something bad happening the following day at school. If I was interrupted midway through those behaviours, I would have to start a new set of three all over again.
Those behaviours drifted away over time. In my early twenties, my daily showers to get clean after work became longer and longer. OCD returned, this time morphing into the worry that using the toilet when I needed to defecate would contaminate me via invisible germs. I couldn’t even use my own toilet without having to jump straight into the bath or shower and decontaminating myself to ‘feel’ clean. The feeling of being contaminated was unbearable; I avoided using public bathrooms for more than a decade.
Eventually, 90 minutes in the shower became two hours. On one particularly bad day, I spent five hours showering. I avoided eating during the day so I wouldn’t need the toilet at work.
I didn’t have a social life or date – partly because I was too busy decontaminating.
Back then, working class men like me were still of the belief that men don’t talk about feelings and emotions. In my late twenties, I found the courage to seek help after seeing OCD on Casualty – my GP’s response was “What’s OCD?”.
CBT and ERP helped me challenge OCD. By my late thirties, I could use public toilets without the need to spend hours decontaminating. But OCD shifted to a fear of sexual bodily uids. That now drives fresh compulsions. My journey with OCD has been a long one, but the story isn’t finished yet, and OCD will never be allowed the last word – I will
Editor (and self-confessed space geek) Melissa Holmes speaks to Glyn Hayes about his involvement with the European Space Agency’s Fly! study, which is considering if disabled people could go into space
The nal frontier?
Growing up watching The Jetsons and Tomorrow’s World, many of us hoped we’d see space tourism or even colonies on Mars in our lifetimes. But were disabled people in those visions of the future? Probably not…
The Space for All programme by the European Space Agency (ESA) looks set to change that.
When an email landed in the inbox at the Spinal Injuries Association asking for participants for ESA’s Fly! viability study, the team knew there was one person who’d be keen. Glyn Hayes is the charity’s Parliamentary and Public Affairs Coordinator. He has a taste for adventure, whether it’s his former role in the Army’s Bomb Squad, playing wheelchair rugby, or enjoying road trips around Europe. Of course he wouldn’t say no to the out of this world opportunity.
Glyn
PARA-AS RONAU
The programme came about due to John McFall, an amputee and former Paralympian who was recently cleared to spend six months on the International Space Station. “The project isn’t asking ‘Can we replace an able-bodied astronaut with a disabled one?’,” explains Glyn. “The project is asking what disabled people can bring.”
“We did not evolve to go to space so, when it comes to space travel, we’re all disabled,” said ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, confirming that the enabling factor for astronauts is “just technology.” Glyn goes on to ponder: “Could disabled individuals have an advantage in space? After all, they’re adept problem-solvers, accustomed to navigating a world not designed for them. Emergency planning is second nature to them.”
To paraphrase the famous Back to the Future quote, ‘Where we’re going, we don’t need legs’. Because thanks to zero gravity, para-astronauts – especially amputees like John McFall – may be able to manage just fine – or better
Could disabled individuals have an advantage in space?
Glyn Hayes
than fine – in space. Glyn explains: “In our focus groups, we asked why a person needs legs to go into space.” Spacesuits are currently designed for people with two legs, and John McFall’s spacesuit is designed so he can clip into his prosthetic contained within his spacesuit. “But if you start thinking beyond that,” reveals Glyn, “we don’t need to give an amputee astronaut any legs. We can give them prosthetic hands on their leg stumps, so you’ve got somebody with four hands in space who’s competing with somebody who only has two.”
OPEN POSS B L ES
Glyn outlines: “As a paraplegic, my disabling factor is gravity. But I could use low leg hooks that could be tied around things onboard the ISS. There are ways around it, and the possibilities grow from there.”
The project means that future planning for space travel and tourism is truly considering accessibility. Glyn also hopes the study creates conversation around inclusive design here on Earth: “If they can make space accessible, the argument then becomes ‘Why can’t I go to my local shops or get around the train station?’.” Well, that sounds like one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
European Space Agency: esa nt Spinal Injuries Association: spinal.co.uk
ESA para-astronaut John McFall during parabolic flight training
Tim Rushby-Smith
Originally from London, writer, artist and paraplegic Tim Rushby-Smith is based in Australia. He is the author of two books: Looking Up and Beyond the Break
Follow Tim on X @trushbys
A Milestones and memories
couple of months ago, I reached a milestone of significance: 20 years. That’s 20 years since I suffered a spinal cord injury and became paraplegic (in truth, I had an apprenticeship of about two years of adjusting before I became a fully qualified paraplegic).
The date of my injury comes around every year, and I usually mark it with a bit of re ection, a few dark jokes, and a glass raised to celebrate my not having died back then.
Because I could have.
I fell six metres from a tree and landed on a garage roof.
If I hadn’t had a helmet on (I was a tree surgeon), I would have died.
If the paramedic hadn’t risked climbing onto the roof, I would have died.
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
At first, I thought this would help me to adjust. The old ‘it could have been worse’ routine. But it was a doubleedged sword, because I could have not had the accident in the first place, and so I learned pretty quickly that playing the
‘what if’ game was emotionally expensive. Each time, you have to get back to reality, and so I gradually taught myself not to do it. Instead, I filled a box in my head with stuff that was too painful to deal with.
This remained the case, even as the anniversaries came around. Sure, I could joke about it and toast the fates. It was a significant event, but the past is full of significant events.
This year was different, somehow. Instead of posting something positive on social media and raising a glass, the anniversary made me retreat. I thought of what I lost, and played a game of ‘what if’ (turns out, it’s still emotionally expensive).
I lled a box in my head with stu that was too painful to deal with
Columnist Tim ushb ith re e ts on a major milestone in his journey as a disabled person
PANDORA’S BOX
I even opened the lid of the box in my head where I put all the things that were too di cult to face immediately after my accident. I only opened it a crack, peeked in, and then shut it straight away. Turns out most of that stuff is still in there.
Eventually, I had to dig myself out. To do this, I thought of all the things in my life which I would not have any other way: my wife and my children friends family laughter good food the yellowtailed black cockatoos that visit our garden playing sport playing music making art, and on and on. These joys are unconditional, even when they are shaped to some extent by my paraplegia.
So, yes, I have a disability. I use a wheelchair. But these aren’t things that define me, any more than my not having a disability defined me before my accident 20 years ago.
I am different.
Everyone is different.
That’s something we all have in common.
We want everyone to have the best possible experience; it’s one of our top priorities. From audio enhancement systems and level access to dog friendly spaces and great discounts, we pride ourselves on offering excellent access.
This top tap-dancing musical plays 14 July – 6 Sept.
Dementia Friendly 31 Jul
Audio described 15, 16 Aug & 5, 6 Sep
Captioned 20 Aug
Relaxed 26 Aug
BSL Interpreted 5 Sep Irving Berlin’s Top Hat 01243 781312 access@cft.org.uk Chat live at cft.org.uk
• Audio described performances • BSL interpreted performances
Captioned performances
Relaxed performances
Hearing assistance
SignLive (Soon to be Convo) makes your services accessible to Deaf BSL users – instantly. With a simple QR code, customers can connect to a qualified BSL interpreter in seconds.
No apps. No delays. Just clear, compliant communication – wherever your customers need
and
TV ON THE MOVE
Is it a small T or a huge smartphone? ou be the judge when you check out LG’s StanbyME – a wireless lifestyle touchscreen device which can be wheeled around your home, and rotates, swivels and tilts on its stand. Enjoy entertainment anywhere via the 2 ” screen. One charge lasts three hours and the system operates through WiFi, so you can catch all your favourites on streaming services. It also offers audio description, screenreading support and subtitling. From £799 / lg.com
TOILET HUMOUR
Are you a stoma user? Brighten up your day or put a smile on someone’s face with a colourful or hilarious stoma cover from Stoma Styles. From camou age to cute animals, a classic chequered whoopee cushion design or a cartoon of a pointing astronaut saying “I can see Uranus”, you can choose from bold or subtle designs. The durable, breathable fabric is comfortable, offering a secure fit that moves with you and helps make your stoma bag feel more “you”
£14.99 / stomastyles.com
Product picks
DOLLS WITH LOVE
Heartfuls dolls have been thoughtfully designed to inspire positivity, confidence, and emotional wellbeing in children. With their soft hair, vibrant outfits, and huggable bodies, Heartfuls dolls also come with a Happiness Toolkit. The toolkit includes a self-care journal (offering space to write, doodle and explore feelings), a positivity wheel (designed to help build confidence while talking about emotions), a calming gem bracelet, and a clip-on heart tag with interchangeable cards offering daily doses of positivity, motivation and encouragement. £29.99 / smythstoys.com
BATTBOOST
Battboost is a revolutionary device designed to improve the distance you get from your standard mobility scooter, electric wheelchair or powerchair battery. It’s like a powerbank for your phone, but for your mobility device Equipped with advance lithium technology, the Battboost extends your range when you need it, charging your vehicles’ existing batteries on-the-go. Whether taking it on a plane on holiday or getting to the supermarket and back without worrying you’ll run out of power before you get home, Battboost makes range anxiety a thing of the past.
£399 / bblbatteries.co.uk
ADD SOME FLAVOUR
Flavour Bombs are a passport to avours from around the world. These all-in-one blends of herbs, spices, ingredients and aromatics transform into restaurant-quality meals with minimal effort. Cook up a glorious coconut curry or tangy birria tacos. For people with limited mobility, dexterity challenges, or energy constraints, the simplicity of adding a Flavour Bomb to water with your protein of choice and creating a delicious dish helps bring joy and independence to your kitchen. £7.50 for two / flavourbombs.com
Send us details of your products to editor@dcpublishing.co.uk
BELLMAN’S NIGHT ALERT BUNDLE
Many hearing aid users take their aids out at night. Stay safe with Bellman’s powerful smoke alarm and loud alarm clock with visual icons, plus a strong vibrating bed shaker that plugs into the clock, ensuring you and your loved ones wake up to alerts by sound, sight, or vibration when it matters most.
£291.64 ex VAT / bellmanbyconnevans.co.uk
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From exclusive interviews with disability advocates, to chats with young carers, we cover the things that matter to you. Whether it’s tough issues like disability hate crime or assisted dying, to articles that amplify the voices of disabled people or focus on health, finance, or housing, no topic is left untouched in Enable magazine.
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MOVE YOUR WAY
Ready to get moving? Bowls, tai chi and tennis are fun, inclusive and open to everyone
Keeping active doesn’t need to involve running around or overexerting yourself. Sometimes, it’s just a small group of people – some standing, some sitting – throwing balls softly on a lawn. Or perhaps they’re indoors, gently stretching their bodies and balancing their minds. Maybe it’s the sound of a tennis ball whizzing through the air as two wheelchair players rally on the court. What links these moments isn’t pace or power, but the purpose of doing something meaningful.
Across the UK, adaptive sports are creating space for disabled people to move, connect, and thrive. Inclusive sport focuses on designing opportunities that work for everyone, whatever their age, impairment, or experience level.
Bowls, tai chi, and tennis might seem like an unlikely trio but, together, they offer accessibility without compromise. These are sports where performance
isn’t defined by how fast you are, but by how fully you show up.
BOWLS
Bowls has long been pigeonholed as a pastime for retirees. But it’s for everyone. The sport doesn’t require you to be fast or ash, but simply to have patience, strategy, and the right equipment. Whether you’re eight or 80, players of all ages can compete together.
Team England player Jack Pullin is a passionate bowler who’s achieved remarkable success: “Bowls is one of the most inclusive sports I know. It allows players of all abilities to participate in leagues and competitions on an equal footing. There’s a wide range of adaptations available, so everyone can enjoy the game.”
Bowls clubs nationwide offer ramp access, modified grips, and even directional audio aids for visually impaired players.
TAI CHI
Unlike other forms of exercise, tai chi meets people where they are –physically, emotionally, or mentally. The ancient Chinese martial art is about feeling in the moment: it’s meditation in motion. Its slow, owing movements are ideal for seated and standing practice, and can be adapted for multiple impairments.
A recent study into tai chi for people with dementia and their carers captured this power. One participant commented: “You come away thinking: ‘I managed this today’. It’s marvellous.”
Her carer added: “The more you go to the classes, the more you learn, so the easier it becomes. Mum’s got mobility and memory issues, but each week she gets the move a bit quicker than the week before.”
esearchers have found that practising tai chi is linked to a slower deterioration in patients with Parkinson’s. Experts followed
I have made friends and found con dence in ways I’ve never experienced before Rae Abbott
0 patients with the progressive neurological condition over three years and found that those who did tai chi had a slower decline, year-on-year, compared to those who didn’t.
TENNIS
Then there’s tennis. Although it was once considered too fast, too technical, or too elite for many disabled players, that’s changed drastically thanks to the efforts of players and the LTA.
Two-time Paralympian Lucy Shuker – this issue’s cover star – is one of the sport’s fiercest advocates, but she didn’t pick up a racquet thinking she’d win medals. She did it to find herself after her spinal cord injury. Turn to page eight to read why she’s keen to get people involved.
Tennis can be played at any time of year, and the sport also enjoys a tight-knit and supportive community. Rae Abbott, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, says she owes a lot to the sport and her fellow competitors. “Wheelchair tennis has completely changed and saved my life,” she told the LTA. “I have made friends and found confidence in ways I’ve never experienced before.”
“Five years ago, I was incredibly shy, quiet and anxious. While I’m still shy, I’ve changed a lot and grown massively in confidence. That is absolutely down to playing wheelchair tennis and the
community I have become part of.”
Tennis, like bowls and tai chi, is now more accessible than ever. The LTA has more than 00 venues across the country supporting disability tennis. That includes not just wheelchair divisions but para-standing formats too. This division is for players who don’t use chairs but live with limb loss, cerebral palsy, or neurological conditions.
You won’t always see these matches on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court but, for the players involved, the sense of pride and feeling of achievement is no less powerful.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Each of these activities offers something different – the calm of tai chi, the rhythm of bowls, the pace of tennis – but what they all share is accessibility. These sports give people a genuine way to stay active, build skills, and take part in something they can come back to, week after week.
Adaptive sport doesn’t need to sit in its own category. It just needs to be inclusive, exible, and built for real people.
WIN
AN AMAZON ECHO SHOW
Want to stay connected, stream your favourite shows and music, control Smart Home devices, check in on your family or pets, or display your favourite photos? We have the perfect competition prize for you in this issue of Enable!
The Amazon Echo Show 5 does it all – with a . ” display, a 2MP camera, and user friendly interface. Using the Echo Show 5, you can enjoy your favourite programmes, music and podcasts via Amazon Music, Spotify, Prime Video and more. You can also keep tabs on the news and weather at a glance, and keep your home comfortable by controlling connected thermostats and lights, even when you’re away.
Use it to stay in touch too – you can make hands-free video calls to family and friends who have an Echo Show or the Alexa app on their smartphone. Or set alarms and timers using your voice to create routines that’ll help you streamline your day.
As you’d expect, the Echo Show 5 features a host of accessibility settings, including Tap to Alexa (so you can access Alexa via touch instead of speech), text captions, Show and Tell (which helps blind or visually impaired people identify products), a screen reader and magnifier, and Kindle Read Aloud, so Alexa can read your Kindle books to you.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: All entries must be received by Monday 25 August 2025. The prize is an Amazon Echo Show 5, which will be sent to the winner. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable, there is no cash alternative and it cannot be sold to another party. The contents of the prize may differ from the images and descriptions included here. One entry per household. The publisher’s decision is final. If you do not wish to receive further communications from Enable magazine, include ‘opt-out’ in your entry. This competition is not being run in conjunction with Amazon. We’re giving Enable readers the
HOW TO ENTER
Simply send us your name, contact details and where you picked up your copy of Enable magazine. All entries must be received by Monday 25 August 2025. Good luck! BY EMAIL competitions@dcpublishing.co.uk quoting
Meadowsweet Bungalow
Beautifully presented modern self-catering bungalow in Scotland with spectacular views Fully accessible for wheelchair users, with specialist equipment. Sleeps 5.
Meadowsweet is near Kilmartin Glen, in the Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve. Heating and linen is provided Fibre broadband, BT TV and WiFi
Set in 3 acre gardens on a quiet country lane on the edge of the Exmoor National Park yet within 1 mile of shops, pubs and restaurants with the beach and promenade beyond. og friendly. Sleeping for to 1 ames room free wi laundry room, children’s swings.
Three disabled access single storey lodges with wet rooms, shower wheelchairs, ramped access and adjacent parking.
01643 702789
woodcombelodges@outlook.com
woodcombelodges.co.uk
Accessible Caravan at Thurston Manor, near Dunbar, East Lothian
Leuchie’s dog friendly, self-catering caravan, Glen View, is equipped to help meet the needs of disabled people or people with mobility issues for whom ‘wheelchair access’ just isn’t enough.
Glen View, is an ABI Derwent accessible caravan. It’s located in a peaceful spot with views over the Glen. Includes profiling bed, mobile hoist, tilt shower chair and more - see our website for full equipment list.
Discover the beauty of the East Lothian Coastline only 27 miles south of Edinburgh and 26 miles north of Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
Still some availability in 2025 2026 dates now released
leuchie.org.uk/glen-view 01620 892864
Accessible Self Catering
Stress-Free
STAYCATIONS
Forget airport stress this summer and explore the UK. From sandy beaches to historic castles, here’s how to plan accessible adventures that work for everyone
Your summer adventure doesn’t have to mean airports, passports and exhaustion. Staycations and days out offer the perfect mix of comfort and excitement – and more UK destinations than ever are working to ensure accessibility isn’t an afterthought but a priority.
Whether you’re travelling with mobility needs, planning with neurodivergent children in mind, or supporting someone with chronic illness, the UK is full of inclusive places to explore. From our sandy shores to our rolling hills, here’s how to make the most of Summer 2025.
STAYCATION
Accessible accommodation is now easier to find than ever. Always double-check accessibility features before booking, and don’t be afraid to call ahead to discuss your needs. Most booking websites like Airbnb have an accessibility filter that you can toggle to meet your requirements
while searching. Specialist websites like Disabled Holidays (disabledholidays.com) and Limitless Travel (limitlesstravel.org) highlight properties that cater for various access needs, from roll-in showers to hoists and wet rooms.
In the UK, family favourite Center Parcs offers adapted lodges with electric beds, level access, and open-plan bathrooms. For something quieter, Wallops Wood Cottages in Hampshire are both wheelchairfriendly and sensory-aware. “It had a roll-in shower, riser recliner, and plenty of space for my powerchair,” one traveller said. “But it still felt like a proper holiday home.”
HERITAGE
The great outdoors should be for everyone and, thanks to organisations like the National Trust (nationaltrust. org.uk) and English Heritage (englishheritage.org.uk), the countryside and historic sites are more accessible than ever. Their websites provide extensive
information on access, from step-free paths and Changing Places toilets to sensory gardens and quiet hours for visitors with sensory needs.
Why not explore the serene trails at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, or head north to Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran, which has smooth paths, accessible shuttles, and stunning views? Both include your carer’s ticket free of charge!
CULTURE
Museums across the UK are rethinking what inclusive means. By that, we mean ramps and lifts, BSL tours, calm spaces, and exhibitions with sensoryfriendly designs.
The V&A Museum in London is running a landmark disability-centred exhibition this summer. Meanwhile, the National Museum of Scotland offers sensory backpacks and detailed access guides. One visiting family told Euan’s Guide: “It wasn’t just accessible – it was welcoming. That made the whole day.”
SUN, SEA AND SAND
Who says the beach isn’t for wheelchair users? Fleetwood Beach in Lancashire and Porthcawl in Wales offer beach wheelchairs and level boardwalks. One parent shared that they cried when their son was “wheeled onto the sand for the first time. It meant everything to us.”
It’s also worth checking with local disability groups to see if they hire or loan out beach wheelchairs before you head to visit a new seaside spot.
The Eden Project stands out in Cornwall, with accessible trails, quiet hours, and free carer entry. A visitor told us: “It was our first trip as a family where I didn’t feel like I had to compromise.”
Be sure to also check out Whitby, Bournemouth, St Andrews, and Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, which add more inclusive facilities each year.
PARKS
Theme parks are stepping up too. Alton Towers offers ride access passes, Changing Places toilets, and accessible queues, while Legoland Windsor provides sensory guides and accessible accommodation.
In Edinburgh, Dynamic Earth is a stepfree journey through time to witness the story of planet Earth, while Chester Zoo has accessible maps, wheelchairs for hire, and disabled-friendly policies.
EVERYDAY
An enjoyable day out doesn’t have to be fancy. Sometimes, all you need is a bit of TLC or a change of scenery. etail therapy can help too Shopping centres like Westfield London and Braehead in Glasgow offer Shopmobility services, sensory-friendly hours, and rest zones.
Enable’s Editor knows how valuable simple days out like these can be for her family: “It might not be as glamorous, but a quiet shopping centre with the right facilities can be a lifeline.”
Don’t forget about your local library, free museums, a trip to the cinema, or even a farm open day. Access doesn’t have to be expensive; it just has to be thought through. So, pick your day, pack your bags, and get out there.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To help you plan your day out, you can use tools like Euan’s Guide (euansguide.com), the Sociability app (sociability.app), and VisitBritain (visitbritain.com).
Enjoying The Eden Project, Cornwall
Beach wheelchairs available in St Andrews, Scotland
believe The Lake District should be accessible to everyone. Our all-inclusive breaks enable people with a range of disabilities to experience a variety of outdoor activities in a safe, supportive and accessible environment. A fun and fulfilling experience that makes a positive difference to lives.
“For me, perhaps the biggest thing about the weekend is feeling like I don’t need to hide who I am.”
SUMMER READS
Our Editor’s pick of the best books by disabled authors to read this summer – from poolside fi tion to engaging e oirs
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Climate of Chaos
by Cassandra Newbould
This highly anticipated read for young adults is an exhilarating survival story. Featuring a disabled protagonist in a dystopian future, Climate of Chaos draws together issues like the climate crisis, healthcare inequality, medical debt and family relationships. Newbould weaves a hard-hitting story that’s been described as “Hunger Games for the next generation” with one reviewer saying it “pulled me in and refused to let go.”
Released 24 July by PeachtreeTeen
FOR YOUNGER READERS
Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods in Our Own
Words by James and Lucy Catchpole
An anthology of twenty-two autobiographical stories from the very best writers in the disabled community, and illustrated by Paralympic athlete Sophie Kamlish. Described as “poignant, relatable”, “remarkable”, and “a mustread”, Owning It offers a window into the young lives of disabled writers: their stories, in their own words.
Available now, published by Faber & Faber
FOR A RELATABLE READ
Be Patient: Life, Loss and Laughter from Behind the Hospital Curtain by
Tilly Rose
Social media sensation Tilly Rose has been sharing her story online for many years. Be Patient was written from hospital beds, wards and waiting rooms, and chronicles Tilly’s twenty years of seeking a diagnosis. Describing it as her “something good out of something bad”, she hopes the darkly comic book impacts patient care and gives patients a voice.
FOR SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT Sunset Year
by
C. J. Ellison
This self-published novella features a trans college hockey player who feels his life is over, and a music student whose sister has suddenly died. Watching the sunset each night on campus, the two strangers become friends, and learn that simply showing up has the power to change everything. One Good eads reviewer said: “This is so beautiful and heartfelt and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world and touch others like it did me.”
Available now, published by Monoray
FOR FEELING ‘DIFFERENT’
Go the Way Your Blood Beats
by Emmett de Monterey
In the moving and emotionally weighty memoir Go the Way Your Blood Beats, Emmett de Monterey shares his experiences of growing up gay and disabled in 1980s and 90s London. From being spat at in the street and prayed over in church, to the ‘miracle’ surgery that would ‘cure’ his cerebral palsy, this bold memoir is un inchingly honest as it charts Emmett’s fight to be seen.
Available now, published by Viking
Released 19 August, available from bycjellison.com
FOR UNEXPECTED JOYS
A Still Life: A Memoir by Josie
George
A memoir that reads like a novel, A Still Life traces Josie’s story of life with disabling chronic illness, as she captures cherished everyday moments. Using luminous, poetic prose, Josie shares the story of her still life, alongside her growing son, over the course of a year. Described by reviewers as a “tough, tender, beautiful” book and “full of kindness”, A Still Life has received rave reviews since its release in 2022.
Available now, published by Bloomsbury
Navigating your neurological impairment can be challenging. Restorative Therapies can help you maximise your outcomes beyond the clinic, so that you can continue your recovery at home.
Restorative Therapies is the industry leader in integrated functional electrical stimulation (FES) technology. The RT300 Therapy System allows you to get thousands of coordinated, patterned contractions using electrodes over muscles with weakness and paralysis in core, upper and lower body movements.
Benefits of using the RT300:
•Relax muscle spasms
•Prevent muscle atrophy
•Improve local circulation
•Increase/maintain range of motion
•Facilitate muscle re-education
Matt White, MSc, MCSP
UK and Ireland Clinical Representative Main: (+44) 01926 291 561 Mobile: (+44) 07553 999052
A week-long festival offering exciting performances, events, workshops, and activities programmed specifically for and by the learning-disabled community. Kicking off with Chester Disability Pride Parade on Monday July, and including the first ever Kaleidoscope Disability Awards ceremony, dance performances and comedy. storyhouse.com/seasons/kaleidoscope
14 JULY - 6 SEPTEMBER
Top Hat at Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester
Head to Chichester to see the next West End hit on its home stage. This summer it’s the tap-dancing delight
Top Hat – exuding sparklingly witty dialogue, stunning choreography, lavish sets and gorgeous costumes on top of Irving Berlin’s irresistible score. Lots of accessible performances available. cft.org.uk/accessibility
Jason and the Wakefield Adventure
Wakefield Exchange / free Artist Jason Wilsher-Mills presents his first large-scale exhibition of work in his hometown of Wakefield. Through brightly coloured psychedelic in atable sculptures and interactive digital projections, Jason’s artworks celebrate disability, Northern working class heritage, popular culture and social history. There’s step-free access, along with BSL / audio-described tours, relaxed hours and creative workshops – see website for details. wxwakefield.co.uk
Birmingham Disability Festival
Aston University, Birmingham / free
This vibrant event champions diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Celebrating the talents, achievements, and voices of the disabled community in Birmingham and beyond, the festival promises live performances, interactive workshops, information stalls, and opportunities to connect with local organisations working to create a more inclusive society. instagram.com/birminghamdisabilityfestival
23 JULY
Disability Festival in the Park
Christchurch Green, E11 2RH / free
This one-day festival aims to promote awareness, celebrate diversity, and provide an opportunity for people of all abilities to come together and enjoy a fun-filled day. From creative activities to great music, connect with the local community and enjoy this inclusive and accessible festival in East London. oneplaceeast.org
1 & 2 AUGUST
Motability Scheme Live
The Great Yorkshire Events Centre, Harrogate / free Check out accessible and adapted vehicles, test drive cars, and talk with experts at Motability Scheme Live. This inclusive, informative and inspiring event is the best way to learn more about the Motability Scheme and what it can do for you – don’t forget to bring your driving licence! motabilityschemelive.co.uk
MONEY SENSE
Supporting people with learning disabilities to have a good relationship with money
For people with learning disabilities, understanding money isn’t just about pounds and pence – it’s about independence, confidence, and inclusion. But, too often, assumptions are made that people with learning disabilities can’t manage their own money. It might be assumed individuals don’t understand how bills or Direct Debits work, or that they’ll struggle to communicate their needs when accessing financial services. This can lead to people being excluded from financial decisions about their own lives. However, with the right support and tools in place, many people with learning disabilities can – and do – take control of their finances. Accessible information, patient guidance, and trusting relationships can go a long way in supporting someone towards financial understanding and independence.
HELPFUL ADVOCACY
There are some excellent resources available to support this journey towards financial literacy. Dosh is dedicated to promoting independence around money for people with a learning disability. The organisation provides practical tools and information on managing money and benefits, while also offering advocacy support to help people understand their financial rights and navigate decisions. United Response also has a brilliant range of Making Money Easier guides that break down complex topics – like opening a bank account, explaining the words in banking, and planning ahead –in an accessible way.
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
One way to inspire money confidence is to build a relationship with a professional who understands each individual’s needs and communicates clearly. Having a named contact at your bank can be helpful. Some banks also offer additional support services for people with learning disabilities – it’s worth asking what’s
It’s about trusting the person to make their own decisions, while making sure safeguards are in place
available through your branch or app.
Carers and support professionals also play an essential role. It’s about trusting the person to make their own decisions when they can, but also making sure the right safeguards are in place. This could mean supporting an individual to open a bank account and attend benefits appointments, or helping someone take control of a personal budget via advocacy support.
BUDGETING ADVICE
Budgeting and managing your bills – especially during the cost-of-living crisis, and with uncertainty around benefits – can feel overwhelming for
many people. Ensuring rent is paid on time and shopping safely online are just a couple of concerns people with learning disabilities may have. These worries can be eased by having someone guide you through each step of the process to make sure you understand how things work.
It’s also important to be able to recognise financial abuse and scams. People with learning disabilities may be more vulnerable to being taken advantage of – even by friends and loved ones (known as ‘mate crime’). Knowing how to spot a suspicious message, or who to speak to if something doesn’t feel right, is crucial. Mencap and Scope offer guidance on staying safe.
Managing money is part of everyday life. With the right tools, support, and trust, people with learning disabilities can – and should – feel empowered to do just that.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dosh: dosh.org
Money Advice Trust: moneyadvicetrust.org
Mencap: mencap.org.uk
Scope: scope.org.uk
United Response: unitedresponse.org.uk
PROPOSED CHANGES TO PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT
At PIP Help CIC, we know the planned changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have caused real concerns and difficulties. Bear in mind – these are only proposals at this stage; they still need to pass the necessary legislation.
So what might be happening?
Proposed changes to points: It is proposed that, from November 2026, claimants will need to score 8 points as usual for a standard award of Daily Living, but a minimum of 4 points needs to be awarded in at least one of the Daily Living Descriptors. This means, for example, a standard current award of PIP for aids (i.e., 2 points for 4 descriptors) would not qualify under the proposed change. The Mobility element will not be affected because points in that element start at 4.
These proposed changes will affect new claims after November 2026. For clients already in receipt of PIP, the changes will come into force at their next review after November 2026.
Proposed changes to assessments: There will be a review of the way assessments are carried out. It is proposed that recorded, face to face assessments will become standard practice, as they were before Covid.
The consultation period for the Pathways to Work Green Paper closes on 30 June. Undoubtedly, there will be much discussion in the media during this period and we’ll do our best to communicate any developments.
As a registered non-profit organisation, we’re here to support the community, so please reach out to us if you need any advice, clarification or reassurance around anything PIP-related.
Email support@piphelp.org or call our FREE PIP ADVICE LINE on 0330 124 8555
HONDA HR-V
uir il st lish and well finished, the onda is an interesting s all ontender ur e pert ta es it or a spin
INSIDE
One thing you are never left in any doubt about every time you get into the Honda HR-V is the quality of its fit and finish. This goes a long way to explaining – and offsetting – its higher Advance Payment than some rivals, and the fact it uses your whole PIP allowance per week.
Those thoughts are soon forgotten when you settle into the raised driver’s seat. It’s not quite as high-riding as some SU s, but you get a good view out in all directions, and the driving position is excellent. Heated front seats and steering wheel are standard on the Advance trim available through Motability, but not electric seat adjustment or lumbar support.
As you’d expect of a Honda, the
dash is a paragon of clarity and the nine inch infotainment touchscreen is well placed and easy to operate. It also has physical buttons for the heater controls – hurrah – which makes altering the temperature much easier while driving.
Space in the back is fine for kids, but adults will find head room is limited. The boot is well shaped but just not that big at 319 litres, due to the hybrid system’s battery pack under the load oor. However, the H - has a trick up its sleeve with its Magic Seat, where the rear seat bases ip up to leave a large area that makes it very simple to load a wheelchair into, though it does reduce how many passengers you can carry.
The HR-V has a trick up its sleeve with its Magic Seat
EQUIPMENT
Only the Advance trim is offered for the Honda HR-V through Motability, and it’s far from sparsely kitted out. As part of the nine inch infotainment touchscreen set-up, you also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a seven inch digital driver’s display. Keyless entry and ignition are included, along with rear privacy glass, reversing camera, 18 inch alloy wheels, powered tailgate, adaptive headlights and cruise control, plus heated front seats and steering wheel. There’s also a full complement of safety kit with the H - .
The 1.5 eHEV Advance 5dr CVT is available through the Motability Scheme. This model requires an advance payment of £2,499 and uses the full weekly allowance of the higher rate mobility part of Personal Independence Payment. Find out more at motability.co.uk
DRIVING
Honda describes the HR-V’s e:HEV 1. -litre engine as a full hybrid. However, it’s not a plug-in hybrid –instead it charges up the battery as you drive. This means the H - will happily pull away using electric power alone under gentle acceleration, but it’s only capable of short stretches before the petrol motor is needed. When the 1. litre engine does come into play, it’s quiet and seamless. If you need to get moving quickly, such as when pulling into busy tra c from a side road, the engine revs hard and noisily.
A C T (continuously variable transmission) automatic gearbox takes the strain out of town driving, but it doesn’t feel as smooth or refined as the Honda Jazz. A compensation
for this is that the engine gearbox combo helps the H - offer a claimed economy of 2. mpg. ou should easily see close to that with no effort.
Keen drivers will prefer the Ford Puma or Skoda Karoq when it comes to cornering, but the Honda H - is more than capable of swishing over broken surfaces with calm composure.
Summary
The Honda HR-V makes compromises to practicality and driving manners for its hybrid power that are not sufficiently offset by its low running costs.
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Seen, not sidelined
Editor Melissa Holmes chats with Zoey Nichols, who works for neurodivergent-friendly social enterprise, Harry Specters
Before she started working at her current employer, Zoey Nichols had a few different jobs, including in retail, a call centre, and in admin. “But I’d never manage to last much more than a year,” she explains, “usually because there’d be some strange sort of internal politics situation where I could tell the vibe was off.” After a recommendation from her doctor, she contacted Waythrough who suggested getting in touch with chocolate manufacturer Harry Specters. At that point, Zoey was on the waiting list for an autism assessment, so approaching Harry Specters to see if they had any opportunities was a wise move. The social enterprise was set up to champion autistic people in the workplace ‘by hiring awesome autistic people and helping them find their feet’. And Zoey is one of those people. “They gave me a shot,” she explains. “Three and a half years later, here we are!”
Autistic people can be incredible assets to a workplace
A TASTY ROLE
Zoey describes her role at the chocolate company as the “o ce octopus – I do a bit of everything.”
sidelined. As an autistic individual, Zoey has really felt the benefits. She takes breaks when she needs them, wears noise cancelling headphones as she’s sensitive to noise, and works from home once a week. “It’s been lovely to be able to explore and learn so many different elements of business,” she admits.
SCREAM WITH JOY
As Operations Executive, she says: “Mostly it’s customer service admin, things for the website, marketing and social media. I’m also trained in things like packing so, if we need an extra pair of hands, I can jump on that.”
Harry Specters was set up by Mona Shah. Inspired by her autistic son Ash, Mona wanted to create a future where neurodivergent people are seen, not
Working with Mona and Ash is one of the highlights of her role, especially when they’re so understanding and exible. “And it’s nice getting to work with chocolate,” smiles Zoey. “If I could go back and tell seven-year-old Zoey that she works in a chocolate factory now, I think she’d scream with joy.”
Zoey believes social enterprises like Harry Specters are helping challenge assumptions about autistic people and employment. “The business has been going for almost 13 years,” she says. “If that’s not proof that autistic people can be incredible assets to a workplace, I don’t know what is.” She’s keen to remind autistic people that: “There are probably a lot more options than most people realise,” and recommends researching charities and organisations that can help, like Ambitious About Autism (ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk). She also has a message to employers, sharing: “We’re still in that space where there are stereotypes and misinformation about autism.” She says treating each person as an individual is vital: “Otherwise you’re going to miss out on a lot of really valuable, hardworking, loyal employees.”
Harry Specters: harryschocs.co.uk
Zoey
Founder Mona at work with colleague Greg
Derwen College is a specialist day and residential college for young adults (aged 16–25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Through a variety of taught and practical activities, students learn:
Employability skills
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Our pathways and programmes are tailored to meet individual student needs in preparation for adulthood
early as spaces fill up Scan to view and book
Portland College is a happy and safe place where you will make lots of friends and really fit in. Our Outstanding day and residential education programmes are tailored to meet your individual needs and help you achieve your goals, your way.
Our Residential Learning Service provides tailored, high-quality support that connects Ofsted Outstanding education with residential life, and this year, we are expanding our popular residential provision. Opening in September 2025, The Pines Accommodation will provide 9 en-suite bedrooms and shared social spaces, in addition to 6 self-contained apartments, expanding our Independent Living programme.
To find out more or to book on onto our next virtual open day, visit www.portland.ac.uk or call 01623 499111
Jane Hatton
Jane is the founder of Evenbreak, a social enterprise run by and for disabled people, with a specialist job board and a career hive.
Send your questions to editor@dcpublishing.co.uk
EMPLOYMENT Q&A
Support without diagnosis?
Evenbreak is the only global disability job board run by and for people with lived experience of disability. The site’s founder, Jane Hatton, shares her expertise on whether or not you need a medical diagnosis in order to obtain support at work
QMy manager has told me I need to be tested for autism or ADHD. She says she is ‘convinced’ I am ‘neurodivergent’, and I need to get a diagnosis so they can put things in place for me. Can they insist on this?
AIn a word, no! Your manager, unless professionally qualified in this field, is not in a position to diagnose anything. Nor can they insist that you seek a diagnosis from anyone else.
THE RIGHT SUPPORT
A good employer will support you with any barriers you face in the workplace, regardless of diagnosis, disability, health condition or just personal difference. So if, for example, you prefer to see the agenda before a meeting, or you prefer to have written instructions when doing a task, or you need notice of changes, these should be provided whether or not this is because of autism or ADHD (or neither of those!). This is what we refer to as the social model of disability, which is about barriers people face in society – and the workplace
– not about medical conditions. However, if you feel a diagnosis would be helpful for you, please go ahead. NHS waiting lists are very long for assessment of neurodivergent conditions, so you could consider a private assessment. Some employers will fund this, so it’s definitely worth asking the question.
YOUR CHOICE
However, if you do receive a diagnosis of one or more neurodivergent conditions (and they often come in clusters!), it’s still entirely up to you who you share that information with. Many people find a diagnosis helpful in terms of explaining
A good employer will support you with any barriers you face in the workplace, regardless of diagnosis
barriers they face, accessing appropriate support, and developing strategies to address them. Others are able to do this without a formal diagnosis. Either is fine – it’s about what works best for you.
The important thing is to move the conversation from the medical model (what condition do you have?) to the social model (what barriers do you face, and how do we remove them?). Explain to your manager what support you need in order to be productive, and let them know they don’t need to be made aware of any diagnosis you receive.
Please look on Evenbreak (evenbreak.com) for jobs with employers who are actively trying to attract disabled candidates, and set up alerts for the kinds of role you are interested in. If you require personalised career support, please see the Career Hive (hive.evenbreak. co.uk). All of these services are free of charge.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
National Autistic Society: autism.org.uk
Evenbreak: evenbreak.com
Evenbreak Career Hive: hive.evenbreak.co.uk
WHAT’S NEXT?
You’ve got your degree… Now what? We investigate the options open to disabled graduates, and find out what support is available
You’ve got your graduation cap, your freshly printed degree certificate, and your head full of dreams.
Congratulations ou’ve graduated Finishing university is a huge milestone and you should be proud of all your hard work. If – like 18 of students – you’re disabled, the next part of your journey may feel daunting as well as exciting. But there are plenty of pathways open to you, whether you choose to enter the world of work, explore an internship, or go on to further training.
ou may have done a vocational degree which leads directly to the job market, or perhaps you studied a subject offering more open-ended opportunities. Either way, the hunt for your first graduate job can be a challenge.
SPECIALIST SUPPORT
Graduate job boards, like prospects. ac.uk and TargetJobs are a great
place to start, plus they offer advice and resources tailored to disabled graduates. ou may also like to look at specialist recruitment options, which are designed to connect disabled graduates with inclusive, disability-confident employers. Evenbreak (whose founder Jane Hatton shares her employment advice in every issue of Enable) offers a jobs board and careers advice, along with personalised job alerts via email. MyPlus Students’ Club works with top graduate employers and university services to help students realise their career potential, highlighting job and apprenticeship opportunities in sectors including legal, consulting and transport. The site also lists online and in-person recruitment and information events, as well as hosting career stories from successful graduates.
ou can also look into graduate fairs – MyPlus runs an annual careers event enabling disabled students and
graduates to meet inclusive employers, while many graduate recruitment fairs include large organisations – like major law firms, retail and the civil service –that are looking to increase the diversity of their workforce.
APPLY WITH CONFIDENCE
Once you’ve found roles to apply for, crafting a strong C and a cover letter tailored to the role – or ensuring your answers to application questions show your skills and attributes – is vital. our university’s career service will support you for a couple of years after graduation, so make use of it. They can review your C , offer interview preparation, and help you find roles suited to your strengths and interests.
ou can also tap into support from disability charities like Scope. Their Support to Work programme pairs you with a specialist adviser for up to 12 weeks to help with applications,
enable employment
interview prep and confidence-building, either online or over the phone.
emember – you’re not legally obligated to disclose your disability at any point during the recruitment process. It’s your decision to let the employer know or not but, if you do tell them about your disability, it can help employers provide adjustments at interview or during the application process, such as extra time for tests, wheelchair access, or a BSL interpreter.
HELP AT INTERVIEWS
If you’ve bagged an interview, you can make use of the Access to Work programme. This government-funded scheme provides practical and financial support to help disabled people start and stay in work. This might include help with transport, specialist equipment or software, a job coach, or even funding for a support worker.
Employers also have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. That could mean giving you exible hours, providing
The next part of your journey may feel daunting as well as exciting
assistive technology, or making changes to the recruitment process. easonable adjustments help create a level playing field so you can show employers what you’re capable of.
OTHER ROUTES IN
If you’re not ready for a permanent job, internships and apprenticeships offer invaluable experience and can open doors. Leonard Cheshire’s Change 100 programme offers paid summer internships with progressive employers like Boeing, BBC Studios, The National Gallery and IHG, along with professional development and mentoring. The programme also enables you to connect with fellow participants and alumni to expand your network.
Applications for Change 100 open in September 202 , and you can apply if you’re in your penultimate or final year of university-level study, or if you have graduated within the last five years.
The Civil Service is committed to removing barriers for disabled applicants and employees. Its Fast Stream internship scheme offers opportunities across government departments where you’ll tackle real issues that matter to people across the UK.
Similarly, many large companies like Google and Shell operate internship programmes that actively encourage and support disabled applicants, so it’s worth having a look online to see what’s available and when applications open.
Don’t rule out apprenticeships either.
Far from being solely linked to manual trades, there are degree and higher-level apprenticeships across many sectors, and they’re growing in popularity. If you want to learn while you earn, head to gov.uk apply-apprenticeship or visit ateMyApprenticeship.co.uk to find out more about what’s out there.
KEEP LEARNING
Graduating doesn’t have to mean the end of learning. Many disabled graduates progress to postgraduate study or retrain in a different field. If you want to convert your degree into a professional qualification like teaching, nursing or law there are accessible routes available. PGCE teacher training providers, like all training providers, need to provide reasonable adjustments, while aspiringsolicitors.co.uk supports its network’s diverse membership with legal careers support and development.
As a disabled graduate, you’re on a unique path filled with opportunities. With the right support and some selfbelief, you can discover a role that works for you, and enjoy a fulfilling career. our degree is just the beginning
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Welcoming us
The spending power of disabled people is worth £274 billion – yet UK businesses lose billions each year through inaccessibility. WelcoMe is changing that, giving retailers a smarter, simpler way to deliver inclusive customer service. Kate Stevenson speaks to the founder of the innovative app
Why doesn’t this already exist?” That’s the reaction Gavin Neate often hears when he demos WelcoMe, the web-based platform transforming the lives of disabled people. It’s a fair question. Because, once you understand what WelcoMe does, it’s obvious there’s a need for it.
“The ‘Me’ in WelcoMe is capitalised for a reason,” explains Gavin, who spent 18 years working for Guide Dogs UK before founding his company. “Disabled people are often made to feel invisible in customer service, and that’s not right. The app challenges this and says: ‘Welcome me – I matter here too’.”
INNOVATION THAT MATTERS
The platform allows disabled individuals to share their access needs with businesses before they arrive – everything from needing sighted guidance to requesting no interaction at all. It’s a simple concept with a powerful
HOW IT WORKS
1. Find Accessible Places:
Browse WelcoMe’s directory (wel-co.me) or look for the tool on business websites.
2. Create Your Profile
Share your accessibility preferences discreetly and securely.
3. Enjoy a Tailored Experience
Staff receive your info in advance, so you get the support you need from the moment you arrive.
When disabled people tell you: ‘This is going to change my life’, you don’t need a business case. That is the reason
impact.
“I used to coach staff right before a visually impaired client walked through the door. The service instantly improved,” remembers Gavin. “That twominute heads-up made all the difference. So I thought: What if disabled people could give that heads-up themselves?”
That idea became WelcoMe: a free platform for users that offers bite-sized information and training reminders for staff ahead of a scheduled visit. No outdated handbooks, no guesswork. Just actionable knowledge when it’s needed most. “If first aid was taught five minutes before an accident, we’d all be much better at it,” says Gavin. “WelcoMe does the same for accessibility.”
THE FUTURE OF ACCESSIBILITY
Feedback for the web app has been overwhelmingly positive: “People tell us they feel braver using WelcoMe,” shares Gavin. “One woman said it was the first time she’d shopped independently in years.” The benefits don’t stop there. “Even if only one in ten disabled people use it, the training sticks. The next person through the door gets better
service, whether they used WelcoMe or not.”
So far, the app has been launched in more than 160 venues, from Currys stores in Ireland to council buildings, museums, and dental practices. And it’s growing fast. The best part? WelcoMe doesn’t cost users a penny. “We don’t take your data. No credit cards, no addresses. Just your name, your needs, and where you’re going,” explains Gavin. “It’s about giving disabled people trust and dignity.”
Gavin himself is all in. Literally. He travels the UK housesitting to save money, living off just £12,000 a year so every penny can go back into the business. “This is my life’s work,” he says. “I’ve bet everything on this, because I know it matters.”
His vision? “This isn’t just about tech – it’s a movement. I’ll keep going until every polling station, every doctor’s surgery, every shop and museum, says: ‘We’re ready to welcome you’.”
“When disabled people tell you: ‘This is going to change my life’, you don’t need a business case. That is the reason.”
