Enable May / June 2025

A Kindle WORTH THE HUNT FOR A HOME e-reader £95 Focus on accessible and adapted housing The UK’s leading disability and lifestyle magazine

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May / June 2025

MASCULINITY: SILENT KILLER

WHEN THE WHEELS STOP TURNING

Mr Colitis Crohns shares why men need to open up about their health

THINKING ABOUT WORK?

Is the NHS Wheelchair Service fit for purpose?

Support for starting or returning to employment

BEING MUM?

Ellie Simmonds on her latest documentary, which asks: should I have children?

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Welcome

Welcome to the May/June issue of Enable

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COVER PRICE £3.00

PUBLISHER Denise Connelly denise@dcpublishing.co.uk EDITOR Melissa Holmes melissa.holmes@dcpublishing.co.uk STAFF WRITER Kate Stevenson kate.stevenson@dcpublishing.co.uk EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Steph Cullen Jane Hatton Samantha Renke Tim Rushby-Smith Alisdair Suttie DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Lucy Baillie lucy.baillie@dcpublishing.co.uk SALES Marian Mathieson marian.mathieson@dcpublishing.co.uk ENABLE MAGAZINE www.enablemagazine.co.uk

DC Publishing Ltd, 198 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HG Tel: 0844 249 9007

READ ONLINE! SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ THIS ISSUE IN FULL ©DC Publishing Ltd 2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any way without prior written permission from the publisher. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of DC Publishing Ltd. The publisher takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers within the publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that information is accurate; while dates and prices are correct at time of going to print, DC Publishing Ltd takes no responsibility for omissions and errors.

nown for her achievements in the Paralympic pool as well as her presenting, advocacy and modelling work, Ellie Simmonds is pondering if she should be known as something else: mummy. In a groundbreaking documentary, Should I Have Children?, Ellie asks a question that many disabled people face. She spoke to me about the programme, how things are changing for disabled parents, and her feelings on her own family plans.

As always, this issue we bring you plenty of fascinating interviews. Kate Stevenson asked internet sensation Mesha Moinirad (Mr Colitis Crohns) why he’s breaking the taboos around invisible disabilities, I interviewed journalist, author and activist Frances Ryan about her latest book, and Kate also found out about the state of wheelchair repair services from Lee Keogh.

There’s a special focus on aesthetic treatments and how they can support confidence and healing, while we also learn more about the purpose of Death Cafes, the situation with accessibility in the UK, and the role of specialist care homes. You’ll also find the best columns from our writers sharing their thoughts on everything from exercise to the US President.

As always, this is your magazine – I love hearing your stories and ideas of what you’d like to read about, so drop me an email to get in touch.

Till next issue

Melissa

EDITOR’S PICKS...

22 LIVE YOUR FULLEST LIFE Making changes to support your mental health, plus we speak to Jasmine, who has ADHD, about the importance of self-compassion.

45 THE HUNT FOR A HOME Accessible housing: why is there a shortage, and how are disabled people making their homes work?

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an Amazon Kindle e-reader worth £95!

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Get in touch

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Melissa Holmes | Editor editor@dcpublishing.co.uk

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What's inside

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Interview

8 BEING MUM? Paralympian and broadcaster Ellie Simmonds meets Editor Melissa Holmes to discuss her latest documentary, which asks: Should I Have Children?

12 MASCULINITY: THE SILENT KILLER Mesha Moinirad, aka Mr Colitis Crohns, talks to Kate Stevenson about bowel disease and breaking taboos around men's health.

20 A CRUCIAL VOICE Journalist Frances Ryan reflects on advocacy, inequality and media representation to mark the release of her book: Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girl’s Guide to Life.

40 WELCOME TO OLLYWOOD Social media star Olly Bowman – aka Mr Melk – on living with CFS. 66 FINDING HER VOICE At 23, Ellise Hayward wasn't always so confident, self-assured and wellspoken. The motivational speaker shares her story.

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Care

15 A PLACE TO CALL HOME We learn more about specialist care homes, including the kind of facilities on offer and the emphasis on a personalised approach.

18 YOU’RE NOT ALONE Loneliness Awareness Week takes place from 9 to 15 June. What support is available to help relieve feelings of isolation for unpaid carers?

Voices

26 WAITING FOR THE BACKLASH? Columnist Tim Rushby-Smith shares his personal fears around the impact Donald Trump’s second term as President is already having on disabled people.

38 RECONNECTING WITH MY DISABLED BODY From strength training to seated workouts, Samantha Renke reflects on the start of a journey towards a healthier relationship with her body.

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Life

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10 PARENTS’ MISSION Guest writer Steph Cullen shares one family's story. Their daughter Bella has a very rare condition – Oral Facial Digital Syndrome.

28 LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX The sex talk you got at school? It probably skimmed over disabled people – or left them out entirely.

Kate Stevenson chats to model and advocate Shelby Lynch to get her take.

30 BACK TO MYSELF We take a closer look at the world of aesthetic treatments, including medical tattooing and hair replacement systems, and how they can make a difference to disabled people.

33 WHEN THE WHEELS STOP TURNING When an NHS wheelchair breaks, users are often left housebound and unsupported. With no courtesy chair service agreement, Lee Keogh asks: why is something as essential as mobility still treated like a privilege?

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35 CAKE AND COFFINS Death happens to us all, so why not break down some taboos and chat about death and dying over tea and cake? Editor Melissa Holmes learns more about Death Cafes.

43 FOSTERING: OPEN YOUR HEART AND HOME Foster Care Fortnight takes place from 12 to 25 May. Created to raise awareness of fostering, this year’s theme focuses on the power of relationships.

45 THE HUNT FOR A HOME Imagine planning your entire day around whether you can get through a doorway. For millions of disabled people in the UK, that’s everyday life.

48 OUT AND ABOUT? With the release of the Euan’s Guide Access Survey, we find out more about the state of disabled access in the UK. 53 PRODUCT PICKS Our top disability-friendly products, including a pacing tracker and tactile wayfinding tiles for people who are visually impaired.

55 DIARY From a design exhibition to a national inclusive relay race, we highlight unmissable activities for your diary this May and June.

WIN

A KINDLE E-READER WORTH £95 SEE PAGE 61

Health

23 LIKE A BUTTERFLY For many disabled people, finding mental health support can be a challenge. Editor Melissa Holmes speaks to Jasmine about how she’s supporting her mental health since her ADHD diagnosis.

Motoring

58 FORD CAPRI Ford has recycled one of its most-loved names into an electric SUV. Our motoring expert takes it for a spin.

Finance

51 ALL CHANGE We take a look at the latest changes to the benefits system.

Employment

61 WHAT HELP DO I NEED? Our employment expert Jane Hatton, founder of Evenbreak, answers your questions around workplace rights, recruitment, adjustments and access.

64 THINKING ABOUT WORK? A focus on the support available if you’re starting a new job or returning to work.

From confidence-boosting work coaches and employment support programmes, to how to find a role that meets your needs, we take a look at the help that’s out there.

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enable news

News

Social services delays: families DRUG at breaking point MS MORE WIDELY NEW RESEARCH FROM SENSE reveals disabled children face huge delays to be seen by social services.

17% of families surveyed said they had to wait more than a year for a social care assessment, which identifies the support a child needs.

48% of families told Sense they’re struggling to cope due to mental pressure and financial strain.

Carla Golledge applied for a social care assessment four times for her

son Cameron, who is deafblind (both pictured above). “It’s really stressful and it consumed all of my spare time,” Carla reflects, “I felt if I wasn’t pursuing things and contacting social care, Cameron would just be forgotten about.”

Sense is calling for legislative change to protect children’s social care, and for long-term, ring-fenced funding for the services disabled children need.

Free rail travel for blind Scots and companions

AVAILABLE

A DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPY for MS is to be rolled out to more people in England and Wales. A new recommendation from NICE says anyone with relapsing remitting MS who’s having relapses or new disease activity visible on MRI scans may be eligible for Cladribine.

Previously, it was only prescribed to people with highly active MS. The MS Society’s Head of Policy, Laura Thomas, welcomed the news: “Cladribine is self-administered. This decision could particularly benefit people who’d struggle to go into hospital regularly. We’re so glad more people with MS will now be able to choose an effective treatment which suits their lifestyle.”

Mobile accessibility: poor performance

SIGHT SCOTLAND AND SIGHT SCOTLAND VETERANS have hailed a ‘life-changing’ pilot scheme that provides free rail travel for companions of blind and partially sighted individuals on all Scotrail train journeys.

Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart, said: “Making rail travel more accessible and affordable for people with sight loss is an important step in helping them access communities, education, and employment.”

Under the scheme, which runs until April 2026, individuals holding an eye +1 National Entitlement Card (NEC) will be able to travel with a companion at no additional cost.

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THE STATE OF MOBILE ACCESSIBILITY report has found that many smartphone apps are failing the world’s 1.3 billion disabled people. Assessing apps for communication, entertainment, banking and healthcare, the research discovered the shopping industry performed worst, despite it having the most potential for increased revenue through accessibility.

Joe Devon, co-founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day which takes place on 15 May, said: “Take the lessons from this report. Understand the opportunity – not just to do what’s right, but to do what’s best for your business and brand.” Read the report at arctouch.com/state-of-mobileapp-accessibility

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BEING MUM?

Paralympian and broadcaster Ellie Simmonds meets Editor Melissa Holmes to discuss her latest documentary, which asks: Should I Have Children?

W

hen Ellie Simmonds was two days old, her mum gave her up for adoption. After being handed a hospital leaflet filled with outdated information and harmful stereotypes about achondroplasia (the form of dwarfism Ellie has), her mother chose to find a new family for her little girl, perhaps believing that raising a disabled child alone would be too challenging. While pregnant, Ellie’s mum hadn’t known she was carrying a child with dwarfism, which can be a genetic condition.

30 years on, and science and society have progressed. Women are offered routine scans to check for Down’s Syndrome, limb differences, spina bifida

and other conditions. Women, couples and families are given support, genetic counselling and further testing to help them make difficult decisions about their pregnancies.

Things were so different when Ellie was born. She spoke to her birth mother during the documentary’s production, and explains: “I really sense that my mum was on her own through everything. Back then, people with dwarfism were perceived to be unintelligent, and society thought of us as being in the circus.”

EMOTIONAL JOURNEY

While making the programme, Ellie had the privilege of meeting many

different people including surgeons, medical experts, and people planning for or having families. “I met David and Emily,” Ellie shares. “We follow them, talk to them and hear their fears. Their openness, their excitement, and the emotions they went through, getting the news their child would be born with Down’s Syndrome. It was amazing to follow them, to see Megan’s bump get bigger, then all of a sudden there’s a baby. And the joy that baby Carys brings to them – it’s amazing what the human body can do.”

The experience of David and Emily is a heartwarming, ‘good news’ story. But the documentary poses some tough questions, as Ellie describes: “There’s a big difference between what my mum went through compared to now and the amazing science we have access to. But is that science going too far?”

Ellie describes a “fine line” due to the development of PGT-M testing (preimplantation genetic testing, which can be used by people who have a serious inherited disease in their family, to avoid passing it onto their children), and the abortion rates for Down’s Syndrome (around 90%), for example.

FUTURE FEARS

“We talk about that in the programme,” she says. “It’s not just about achondroplasia and my personal story.

We delve into disability as a whole, and ask is it good that scans and tests are there to help and support people?

But also, does it make people fear the future, in terms of what that can hold and if they can cope?” Ellie describes the testing, scanning and support available to expectant parents as “amazing.” But she also fears that: “It’s going to start to reduce the size of the disability community.”

Was there a moment during filming that challenged or shifted Ellie’s views around disability, genetics, or parenthood? “For me it was the sadness of disabilities or complications in birth that mean the babies just won’t survive. That touched me emotionally.”

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“We talk about miscarriages and loss and termination,” reveals Ellie. “When you’re at school, you’re told that if you have sex, you’ll get pregnant. But it’s not as straightforward as that. Yes that does happen, but I really want to educate people that it doesn’t happen that way for everyone.”

PICS: ©DEWEY; FLICKER PRODUCTIONS

CHOICE

Ellie also recognises how much the world has changed, saying:“Maybe 40 or 50 years ago, it was perceived that a woman finds a husband, gets married, has children, and is a mother. That’s incredible, but it’s nice to have more choice now. More people are deciding not to have children, or are choosing to have them later in life and focusing on their career. That’s so powerful – we should celebrate that.”

So has making the documentary influenced Ellie’s own thoughts around having a family? “At this present time,

I think we need to not be fearful of bringing disabled children into the world I’m focused on myself, my career and travelling,” she reveals. “Lots of my best friends are having children, so I get to enjoy children through them. Although I don’t know how they do it,” she ponders.

“They seem like they’re exhausted all the time!” Knowing she has options, like egg freezing and IVF, interests Ellie, but for now she’s “very much just enjoying every day as it comes.”

PROUD

Ellie hopes that, when disabled people

watch the programme, it makes them feel proud to be disabled. “For me, I see what still needs to be done,” she shares. “And yes, the education is getting better, but the fear from some individuals of bringing a disabled person into the world is still there. But when they have that baby, that fear disappears.”

She feels people worry that raising a disabled child will be a negative, hard experience. “But, as individuals, we’re stronger than we think,” Ellie smiles, “and we can deal with things. I think we need to celebrate difference and not be fearful of bringing disabled children into the world – it’s the most incredible and powerful thing.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Should I Have Children? will be screened on ITV and ITVX at the end of May. Follow Ellie: instagram.com/elliesimmonds

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Parents’ mission

Guest writer Steph Cullen shares the story of one family, whose daughter Bella has a very rare condition – Oral Facial Digital Syndrome

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hen Caitlin Skelton became pregnant in August 2021, she and partner Sam were thrilled.

Routine scans appeared normal, and their daughter was expected the following April. Six days after her due date, and after a slow and difficult labour, Bella was born.

SEEKING ANSWERS

Caitlin was instantly aware Bella showed physical differences that weren’t picked up during screening.

“As soon as the midwife placed her in my arms, I saw what looked like several lumps of skin inside her mouth,” explains Caitlin. Concerned about Bella’s ability to feed, Caitlin asked the midwife to remove the lumps, but soon realised she couldn’t.

Recalling her experience, Caitlin says: “The doctor examining Bella looked confused too.” Paediatricians at The Royal United Hospital Bath had never seen lumps like Bella’s before.

They reached out to Bristol Children’s Hospital for advice.

After a seven week wait, Bella attended an appointment with an oral surgeon who suggested something called Oral Facial Digital Syndrome (OFDS).

WHAT IS OFDS?

OFDS is thought to affect one in every 50,000 to 250,000 births. There are up to 20 types of OFDS; after testing, Bella was diagnosed with type 1 (T1) – the most common form of this extremely rare condition.

“I left the appointment in shock” says Caitlin. The surgeon had explained Bella would need surgery to remove the lumps inside her mouth, which she underwent at four months old. The removed lumps were sent for biopsy; results showed they were benign tumours, which are synonymous with OFDS. While OFDS T1 presents differently in everyone, it affects mostly females (many boys with OFDS sadly do not survive gestation). T1 also affects 10 enablemagazine.co.uk

L-R: Sam, Bella and Caitlin

The hardest part of caring for a child with OFDS comes from the lack of information available to parents fingers and toes and, in severe cases, it can impact organs including the brain and kidneys. OFDS T1 is also linked to neurodivergence, though doctors have been unable to tell what this might mean for Bella.

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

Bella’s differences include syndactyly of the fingers (two fingers fused together). This affects her dexterity, so her parents have come up with creative ways to teach her to count, using toys instead of her hands. Bella’s teeth also

don’t align due to notches in her gums where no teeth have come through.

Caitlin admits: “The hardest part of caring for a child with OFDS comes from the lack of information available to parents.”

Research, charitable support and awareness of OFDS are almost non-existent. Coupled with long NHS wait times, this means many children born with facial abnormalities and syndactyly of the fingers and toes are never referred for further testing.

Bella’s parents are determined to shine a light on the condition and its symptoms in a bid to encourage others to be curious and raise concerns as soon as possible.

Many people are not diagnosed until they’re living with severe symptoms such as polycystic kidney disease, heart defects and seizures. But awareness can foster positive action and enable children and adults with OFDS to thrive, just like Bella.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Rare Disease UK: geneticalliance.org.uk/rare-disease-uk

Masculinity: The Silent Killer

When it comes to invisible illnesses, bowel disease sits high on the list of misunderstood conditions. For men, the stigma can be especially heavy. Mesha Moinirad, known by millions as Mr Colitis Crohns, sits down with Kate Stevenson to break the silence

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hen Mesha was first told he might need a stoma bag, his reaction was instant: “Absolutely not.”

“I had very negative perceptions of it and how it would change my life,” he admits. “I couldn’t imagine it. I sat at my mum’s crying for days.”

Mesha lives with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition affecting the digestive tract. He’s one of 500,000 people in the UK who face not just the physical toll of the condition, but also the emotional silence that surrounds it.

And, for men, that silence can be suffocating.

THE COST OF SHAME

The taboo surrounding bowel disease is real for everyone, but with men it’s tangled up in outdated ideas of masculinity. “We’re not past that yet,” Mesha says bluntly. “Men don’t go to the doctor unless it’s critical. There’s this weird pride thing – we don’t want to show weakness.”

And while society is slowly warming up to conversations around men’s mental wellbeing, bowel conditions aren’t seen as chit-chat. “For some reason, poo still feels too awkward to talk about,” shrugs Mesha.

It’s why IBD is often described as an ‘invisible illness’. On the outside, people with the disease may look healthy. But the reality is that pain, exhaustion, and fear rule their lives.

With Mesha, things started falling apart while he was at university: “I dropped from 11 stone to five-and-ahalf stone,” he remembers. At first, doctors insisted he had gastroenteritis but, when his dad came to visit and saw how ill his son looked, he took Mesha 12

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straight to hospital.

It was there Mesha collapsed at the entrance and was rushed for emergency surgery. “My body just started shutting down,” he explains.

The real issue had been a burst appendix which had been leaking toxic fluid into his abdomen for days.

The outlook seemed grim, as Mesha recalls: “They gave me a 20% chance of survival.”

After surgery, his bowel-related symptoms began to increase. “I went from going to the toilet once a day to 50 times a day, but I was too embarrassed to tell anyone.”

SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE

Men are significantly less likely to seek medical help compared to women, and the consequences are stark. One in five men will die before the age of 65, and

enable interview

Men don’t go to the doctor unless it’s critical. There’s this weird pride thing men account for around three-quarters of all suicides in the UK. It seems the stigma around illness, weakness, or being seen as anything but ‘normal’ runs deep.

This silence becomes even more dangerous when symptoms like bloody stools or extreme fatigue are ignored: “I thought I’d been stitched up wrong,” confesses Mesha. “Or worse, I thought it was cancer. But I was too ashamed to say, ‘Hey, I’m bleeding from my bum’.”

In many ways, the issue is bigger than men or pride – it’s systemic: “People flinch at the word ‘disabled’, but I am. It shouldn’t feel dirty,” argues Mesha.

It’s why Manchester United made headlines when they announced they were installing male sanitary bins in Old Trafford. For men with stoma bags, there’s often no private or dignified place to manage hygiene. That lack of infrastructure sends a message: your condition doesn’t belong in public.

PICS: © MARTIN IRVINE; LEWIS BLACKBURN

LISTEN UP

But societal change is slow. “Too many people still see this as just a ‘poo’ problem, but it’s not,” reasons Mesha.

“It affects your mental health, your social life, your career. I lost friends. I lost confidence. I almost lost myself.”

It’s estimated that 40% of IBD patients experience anxiety, and a quarter live with depression. When asked what might help other men seek help, Mesha pauses. Then: “Everyone says men need to talk, but that’s hard.

Especially if you’re scared. What we really need is for men to listen.”

When he started showing his stoma online, TikTok deleted his account nine times, and Instagram shadowbanned him for sharing ‘inappropriate’ content.

Mesha chose to double down. “I get messages saying, ‘Your video made me get screened – they found bowel cancer’. That’s why I keep going.”

BREAK THE TABOO

Mesha believes every man living with a bowel condition needs to find their tribe. “Your doctors and family can only understand to a certain level. You need to find your people – the ones that get what you’re going through,” insists Mesha. “That’s the difference between shame and strength.”

Ultimately, Mesha knows that’s easier said than done. He refused a stoma bag for four years, thinking only older people used them. But when he finally accepted his condition – which most commonly gets diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35 – his life changed for the better.

“This bag saved my life,” he says, pointing to his abdomen. “And if sharing that helps one other bloke go to the doctor, stop hiding, or feel proud of his body again, then I’ll keep talking.

Even if no one else is.”

Sometimes, the strongest thing a man can do is say: ‘This is happening to me too’.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Follow Mesha on his socials @mrcolitiscrohns Mesha has designed a stoma support belt that can be worn every day or during physical activity: mrcolitiscrohns.com/product/stoma-support-belt/

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A PLACE TO CALL HOME F

or many disabled people, living independently or with family may not always be the best option. As needs change, symptoms progress, or caregiving responsibilities become too much for loved ones, specialist care homes can provide the right level of personalised support, ensuring safety, comfort, and a fulfilling quality of life.

Specialist care homes cater to a variety of needs, from sensory impairment, physical disability and short-term respite or rehabilitation, to learning disabilities or autism.

As well as providing personalised, round-the-clock care if needed, they offer specialist accessible facilities and services, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, sensory rooms and hydrotherapy.

A FULFILLING LIFE

The thought of moving into accommodation services and leaving your familiar surroundings, routine and care can seem daunting. But private care homes and charities who run accommodation services do everything they can to make the transition smooth and stress-free, including providing meetings, tours, and other resources.

Assessments will be carried out to ensure you’re getting the best level of personalised support. This might mean one-to-one or two-to-one support from qualified nursing staff, a tailored diet to suit your religious or dietary needs, enrichment activities and support to enable you to continue with your hobbies, interests or employment, or adapting your room

We learn more about specialist care homes, including the kind of support on offer and the emphasis on a personalised approach and the wider environment to meet your sensory needs.

PERSON-CENTRED

Sense Residential Care offers a place to call home for adults with complex disabilities. Lindsey Paton, Practice Development Team Leader at the deafblind charity’s accommodation services, explains: “We take each person that comes as an individual

We ask each person what they want out of life Lindsey Paton, Sense enablemagazine.co.uk

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MARTIN’S STORY

Martin

and see them holistically. We consider how we can support them and enable them to develop their abilities, their opportunities for being involved in the community, their skills – asking them what they want out of life.”

Making sure each individual has autonomy and control over how they’re supported helps promote dignity and independence. Along with ongoing staff training, continual assessment and checking in, and adaptive changes like high contrast bathroom fittings to aid toileting independence, soft furnishings to reduce sensory processing needs, and the use of specialist accessible equipment, this helps ensure the highest quality of care for everyone.

UNIQUE WORRIES

Lindsey addresses a major concern that people face when it comes to choosing the right care home: “I think people worry their loved

Giving Martin his own home has been a huge step for his independence and happiness Audrey, Martin’s sister 16

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one isn’t going to be understood as a person. It’s understandable, because you have that connection and you’re handing them over to somebody who doesn’t know them.”

Reassuringly, she explains the team at Sense treats everyone as a unique human being, learning their method of communication, and carrying out continual monitoring and regular meetings, with the close involvement of families and friends, or with the individual themselves.

Another major fear around moving into a care home or accommodation support is around paying for the service. What you’ll pay depends on a number of factors, including where you live in the UK, your age, your disability, your financial circumstances (if you have savings or assets), and your individual needs. Options include local authority funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare, self-funding, and charitable grants. Your local authority, or services like Advice Direct Scotland or the gov.uk website, will give you useful information on this complex matter.

Specialist care homes provide a vital service for some disabled people, offering a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. Finding the right place to call home can provide comfort, security, and a fulfilling lifestyle, making a real difference to the individual as well as their families and loved ones.

Martin is 55 and lives in Sheffield in a Sense residential service. He is blind and lives with a brain tumour.

Before coming to Sense, Martin hadn’t left his house for 16 years after a frightening experience which the family thinks involved someone letting off a firework nearby. He wouldn’t open a window for years, and was completely withdrawn from the world.

Martin’s family met with social services and together they decided it would be good for Martin to move to his current home with Sense.

Sense staff worked patiently with Martin to create small steps – starting with opening the windows and doors to the garden, then progressing to step out and feel grass under his feet for the first time in a decade.

Martin then went on trips to the end of the road and, months later, to his local shop – a huge milestone. He’s also been away on holiday with Sense to Sherwood Forest, where he loved being outside in nature.

His sister Audrey says: “Giving Martin his own home has been brilliant, a huge step for his independence and happiness. He gets a lot from being able to make his own tea, tidy up after himself and run his own home, all with the support he needs. The team have put in a lot of work to slowly give Martin opportunities and confidence to do new things. They know him really well now.

“Sense send us updates on Martin’s progress all the time.

Martin’s been bowling, he’s been to Christmas pantos, he’s been out to restaurants – none of this was part of his life before. It’s been great to feel like our connection with Martin is growing stronger now he’s in a better place.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Achieve Together (specialist support in supported living, residential, outreach and day services in England and Wales): achievetogether.co.uk NHS advice: nhs.uk/conditions/social-careand-support-guide Sense: sense.org.uk

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YOU’RE NOT ALONE With Loneliness Awareness Week taking place from 9 to 15 June, we find out what support is available to help relieve feelings of isolation for unpaid carers

W

hen you become a carer, life can change overnight.

From maybe having to quit your job to care full-time, to struggling with your mental and physical health due to lack of time for yourself and the toll that caring can take on your body… It’s a lot to deal with.

One thing that can really have an impact is the loneliness that comes with being a carer. Some carers find their social circle gets smaller as their caring responsibilities increase – you may no longer have the time or money to commit to social activities, and friends may even drift away from you as they struggle to come to terms with your changed situation. Caring takes up headspace too, with appointments to schedule and manage, treatments to research, and forms to fill out. Not to mention always being ‘on call’ and worrying about the future.

ISOLATED

Loneliness doesn’t discriminate either – young or old, Carers UK has found that “Eight out of 10 carers have felt lonely or isolated as a result of looking after a loved one.” With 5.8 million unpaid carers across the UK, you’re not on your own, even if it may feel that way.

Knowing you’re not the only one going through something can be a comfort, but practical solutions are even better.

Loneliness Awareness Week is hosted

by Marmalade Trust, and aims to empower people to make connections that combat loneliness. This might be as simple as finding ten minutes to reconnect with an old friend, starting a conversation with staff at your local 18

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Eight out of 10 carers have felt lonely or isolated as a result of looking after a loved one library, or joining an online forum – like the one available through the Mobilise Hub app – to chat with others in a similar situation.

YOU TIME

Getting a break from your caring responsibilities can do you the world of good – perhaps you could join a local knit and natter group, go for a walk in nature, sign up to a course, or simply take a nap.

If you haven’t already done so, contact your local authority to request a Carer’s Assessment. This will identify your needs as a carer, hopefully leading to a support plan

which may include things like practical help with housework, equipment for your home, emotional support for you and – crucially – respite care to enable you to take a break from caring.

Your local Carers Centre is an invaluable source of support too – from online chats and social meetups, to signposting services like Carefree, a charity which works with accommodation providers to turn empty hotel rooms into short breaks for carers. Visit carers.org to find your nearest Carers Centre and discover what’s available.

We all go through phases of feeling lonely and isolated. As a carer, you deserve support too, so take that first step towards finding the connection and help that’s available to you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Campaign to End Loneliness: campaigntoendloneliness.org Carers Trust: carers.org Carers UK: carersuk.org / 0808 808 7777 (Helpline open Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm) Marmalade Trust: marmaladetrust.org Mobilise: mobiliseonline.co.uk (Mobilise Hub is available free through your app store)

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A CRUCIAL VOICE Award-winning journalist and author Frances Ryan recently released her latest book: Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girl’s Guide to Life. Editor Melissa Holmes caught up with Frances to reflect on advocacy, inequality and media representation

Q

What inspired you to write Who Wants Normal?, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

A: The media and wider culture often frame disability as negative, and at the same time exclude disabled voices. I wanted to challenge that. Yes, there’s inequality and pain and pills – and I talk about that in detail. But there’s also great creativity, humour, and joy in the disabled experience and I wanted to reflect that nuance, all whilst elevating the voices of disabled women.

I hope readers will see their lives reflected in the book – I know how rare that still is – and feel supported and galvanised. And ideally laugh at the jokes.

standards but it also brought up so many questions about disability that go beyond just how we look. There’s this persistent idea that the best way for disabled people to have a good life is to act like we’re not disabled.

That translates even to how we move or talk, especially for women who are dealing with sexism on top of ableism.

So, for example, we get praised for ditching mobility aids and walking through the pain because ‘You’re too pretty for that chair, love’. It implies that disability and being attractive – or fun or desirable – are mutually exclusive.

What’s actually radical, I think, is to say that you can wear that dress, date or dance whilst being exactly as you are. Disabled women have no obligation to change – society does.

Q: The book is divided into sections including school, careers, body image, relationships and representation. Which did you find the most interesting or rewarding segment to write, and why?

A: I loved writing the body image chapter because it spoke about wider feminist issues around beauty

Q: The book is marketed as a disabled girls’ guide to life, but I feel people of any gender will be able to learn something from it. What are your thoughts around this?

A: I’m so pleased you feel that.

Whether it’s micro aggressions in the workplace or representation on TV, so many experiences I talk about in the book are shared across the disabled community.

I also wanted to make the book as inclusive as possible, so I interviewed some fantastic non-binary people as well as women for the book – that last bit just wouldn’t fit in the book title!

I hope disabled men who read Who Wants Normal? will be nodding along,

Knowledge is power, but pooling our knowledge to fight inequality together is even better 20 enablemagazine.co.uk

and perhaps get a new insight into the unique experiences of disabled women too.

Q: As a journalist and author, your work has highlighted the realities of disabled people’s lives in the UK. What first motivated you to use your platform for disability advocacy?

A: I’m the first wheelchair user to be a columnist in the British press. I’m one of the first physically disabled people full stop to be in a high profile newspaper role. And that’s wild, right? There were countless incredibly talented people long before I showed up, but they didn’t get the chance because they weren’t allowed to use the train to get to the office, or they didn’t have a decent education because they were sent to a segregated school.

Once I got a rare place at the table as a political journalist, I felt a responsibility to cover some of the disability issues the media often ignores or distorts. The start of my career happened to time with sweeping cuts to disabled people’s services, which cemented that feeling.

Q: What advice would you give to disabled people who want to challenge inequality but don’t know where to start?

A: One of the key messages of the book is that the inequality disabled people face is not right, and it isn’t on us to somehow fix – but whilst it does exist, let’s share the tools with each other to thrive.

Your doctor should absolutely believe you and work to ease your symptoms but, if he doesn’t, here are some ways to get better health outcomes. Your boss should give you the reasonable adjustments you need at work but, if she doesn’t, here’s information about your legal rights.

That’s why for every issue I discuss in the book, I share insights from experts I interviewed – 99% of whom

PIC: © RACHEL ADAMS

enable interview

have a disability themselves. They say knowledge is power (and it is) but pooling our knowledge to fight inequality together is even better.

Q: Looking ahead, what gives you hope for the future of disability rights in the UK, and what role do you hope your work will play in shaping that future?

A: Just as Who Wants Normal?

came out, the government was introducing large scale disability benefit cuts. It felt almost inappropriate to launch something optimistic at a time when much of the media’s rhetoric is deeply regressive and people are afraid. But maybe that’s when we really need this stuff?

To build our own narrative. To elevate disabled voices and experiences. To be louder. This is a book that says

disabled people are valuable, worthy, and here. That shouldn’t need saying but I’m glad I have. Now more than ever.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Who Wants Normal? (in hardback, or audiobook narrated by Ruth Madeley) is available now.

Follow Frances via instagram.com/frances.ryan85

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21

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LIKE A BUTTERFLY When it comes to mental health, we all need to feel safe, understood and supported. But for many disabled people, finding mental health support – on top of ensuring our other health needs are met – can be a challenge. Editor Melissa Holmes learns more, and speaks to Jasmine about how she’s supporting her mental health since her ADHD diagnosis

T

hanks to national campaigns, open conversations, and greater awareness, stigmas surrounding mental ill health are slowly being broken down. But barriers remain. Disabled people in particular can face problems with accessing services, as well as feeling isolated or misunderstood due to discrimination or lack of understanding.

The good news is, things are slowly changing. More disabled people are sharing their stories, and finding support in places they never expected – including within their own communities. One of these people is Jasmine, who was diagnosed with combined ADHD in 2024.

“I’ve always known I was different,” she tells me. “I was a really heavy binge drinker and drug taker, to the

You feel part of something, and you’re understood for the first time enablemagazine.co.uk

23

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point where I was close to being a full blown addict. I think that was because of my impulsivity, and because I was masking really hard. I felt like I needed something to help me fit into the neurotypical world.”

HALF A PERSON

Jasmine stopped drinking and using drugs three years ago, which made her realise how much she’d been masking her ADHD traits. “My mental health got really bad. I went down a very dark route where I was suicidal. I didn’t understand – why am I half a person?

Why am I not a full person? Having a job and keeping up with housework, remembering to do the washing, remembering to eat, socialising… I didn’t understand why I found all of that so hard when everyone around me found these things so easy.”

Jasmine reflects: “It made me feel incredibly worthless.” Issues with emotional regulation, burnout and impulsivity led her to seek medical support but, when doctors discussed the potential of bipolar or borderline personality disorder, Jasmine knew those labels didn’t sit right with her. She chose to seek a diagnosis privately, and was diagnosed with combined ADHD. Jasmine has made major changes to her life to help her manage the impact her ADHD can have on her mental health. Getting out in nature every day is a must for Jasmine, and research shows spending time in green space or bringing nature into your home environment reduces feelings of depression and anxiety, boosts mood, improves confidence and physical health, reduces loneliness, and helps you connect with your local community.

A morning routine has been vital to Jasmine in helping her start the day feeling calm and positive. Rehydrating, brain dumping the day’s tasks into a journal, and taking time to ease herself into the morning have really helped her to feel less muddled.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May) is celebrating the theme of community, because being part of something – whether it’s in your neighbourhood, an online group or a friendship circle – can be life-changing.

Jasmine agrees: “You’ve got to find 24 enablemagazine.co.uk

your people.”

She’s found hers online, and says: “You feel part of something, and you’re understood for the first time.”

Speaking to someone about your feelings helps you feel less alone. “I’ve had messages from people who struggle with their mental health and ADHD,” explains Jasmine. “They’ve not spoken to anyone else, but they’ve come to me. There are people out there who want to help, who want to hear you and want you to feel supported.”

WORK ON YOURSELF

Jasmine

You can also contact helplines or check with local charities, carers centres or your GP to learn more about the support that’s on offer. Jasmine has tried CBT, as well as seeing a psychiatrist and a life coach. However, she feels her psychologist has been the most helpful source of support when unpacking underlying issues or working on healing from trauma.

She also leans on her friends. She’s honest with them, explaining that some days she needs time alone to retreat into herself. “They know I can be quite flaky,” she smiles. “We might make plans for next week, but I don’t know if I’ll be feeling a hundred percent that day because I might be in burnout. And they know that because I’ve spoken to them about it. Honesty makes your life so much easier. If you try and hide and work against how you’re feeling, you’re going to feel worse.”

KNOW THYSELF

Getting to know yourself and your specific mental health condition can be beneficial too. Understanding what triggers you, and learning what can start a negative chain reaction or doom spiral, can help you put things in place to lessen the impact of those bad moments.

Jasmine describes it this way: “You need to know what you’re working with.

You need to know yourself in order to live your fullest life. My diagnosis has completely and utterly changed my life.

I feel like a butterfly that’s finally come out of my cocoon.”

Jasmine preaches the importance of understanding yourself – she knows

I feel like a butterfly that’s finally come out of my cocoon

she struggles with overwhelm around cooking for example, so buys prepared meals to remove ‘decision paralysis’ over what to eat. The brain drain Jasmine feels after socialising can be supported by allowing herself to rest – that might mean two days recovering after a couple of hours of socialising.

“That’s one of the biggest things I do for my mental health,” she reveals. “I work with my brain instead of against it.”

She also has daily non-negotiables for her mental health – brushing her teeth, washing her face, and getting fresh air. And self-kindness is a biggie: “I was so cruel with myself every single day,” she admits. “But I show compassion for myself now. See if you’re waking up and just getting through one day, even getting through the next hour, you can give yourself a massive pat on the back.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Find Jasmine on Instagram or TikTok: @jasminesjazzylife Mind: mind.org.uk Samaritans: 116 123 (free call, 24/7)

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enable voices

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

Waiting for the backlash?

A

s the globe descends into the chaos summoned by the ‘Orange One’ in his second stint as President, it’s time to find out just how far social equality and inclusion have come. Brace yourselves: the backlash has begun.

The first clue as to the ferocity of feeling driving Trump and his acolytes came in the shadow of tragedy: on 29 January, a plane and a helicopter collided in Washington DC, resulting in the deaths of 67 people.

Trump was quoting a Federal Aviation Authority policy introduced in 2019 (guess who was President?) which was aimed at improving diversity among a staff of 45,000 employees, less than a third of whom are actually Air Traffic Control staff.

This vitriolic assault on ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ reveals a level of wilful ignorance that may be more prevalent than we would like to think in 2025. We are about to discover just how far we have actually come.

COMMON SENSE?

IN THE SHADOWS

The President’s first reaction was to blame the tragedy on people with disability: “The FAA’s website states they include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism.” When asked how he knew this to be a factor less than 15 hours after the crash, he replied: “I have common sense.”

Despite all evidence to the contrary, a quick internet search soon revealed 26 enablemagazine.co.uk

As society gradually shifted and overtly racist, sexist and homophobic language stopped being acceptable in public discourse, this didn’t mark the end of prejudice; it merely slid into the shadows, emerging in the pub or other locations where people felt safe to share their bigotry, rather than in TV comedies like Love Thy Neighbour, On the Buses or Are you Being Served?

Social progress takes time. This is certainly true of the struggle for disability inclusion. Access is now a

Columnist Tim RushbySmith shares his personal fears around the impact Donald Trump’s second term as President is already having on disabled people legal requirement in many contexts, for example, we are more visible in the media, and the use of descriptors like neurodivergent has become widespread.

But while we have been on a fairly steady upward trajectory in recent years, the Sour Satsuma regaining ‘Leader of the Free World’ status means we must brace ourselves for an assault, for the bigots are emboldened.

The sneering faces now have the airtime – with Elon Musk defining the fundamental weakness of Western Civilisation as ‘empathy’ – and we have already seen how what happens ‘over there’ affects what happens everywhere else.

At times like this, it’s important to remember that social change still relies on a simple aspiration: make us ALL better humans. This is best achieved through face-to-face interactions, helping people to understand why these things are important.

Enabling people to find commonality and share experiences helps us to understand that we have more that connects us than sets us apart.

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Let’s Talk About Sex T

alking about sex and intimacy makes many people feel uncomfortable.

Add disability to the conversation and, suddenly, no one knows where to look. But for disabled people like advocate and model Shelby Lynch, these conversations aren’t unsettling: they’re essential.

“People think we shouldn’t exist in any space that involves sex. They think it’s weird,” she says, describing the normal reaction she gets when she tells people she’s having intimate relations. “As soon as we start talking about sex, people get uncomfortable… like we’re monsters. But I’m still human; I have needs too.”

BETWEEN THE SHEETS

It may seem as though we’re living in a society that’s becoming increasingly inclusive. But barriers exist everywhere – especially when it comes to sexual expression.

One of the biggest challenges for disabled people is representation.

“I can barely think of a single honest portrayal of disabled sex in the media,” ponders Shelby, who appeared as the cover star on Glamour magazine’s self-love issue in 2023.

Shows like Sex Education have made minor strides, but Shelby quickly points out how infrequent these depictions are. Even then, disabled characters are rarely shown navigating “real, messy, and fulfilling intimacy.”

The lack of inclusive sex

We deserve to have sex, and we deserve to feel sexy 28 enablemagazine.co.uk

education in UK schools is another failure. While LGBTQ+ content is slowly being included, disability is still absent. Shelby argues that integration into the core curriculum is key: “We don’t need a separate class. We just need inclusive education where everyone learns together.”

So, what should be included in sex ed classes? For many disabled people, intimacy requires communication, trust and a little bit of creativity – sometimes in the form of physical assistance or adaptive equipment.

“There’s so much stuff out there to help,” continues Shelby, referring to adaptive sex toys and positioning aids. Organisations like Enhance The UK (enhancetheuk. org) are among the few that are working to normalise this, offering advice and products specifically tailored to disabled users.

NAKED TRUTHS

But, practicalities aside, it’s also important to consider your vulnerability before getting involved with someone new. “Trust is everything,” reminds Shelby. “That’s why I build a friendship first. You’re in such a vulnerable position – someone could take advantage of that if they’re not the right person.”

When navigating sex with nondisabled partners, Shelby says it’s important to be open and honest: “You have to have different conversations

The sex talk you got at school? It probably skimmed over disabled people – or left them out entirely

about what you need, and what you can and can’t do,” she explains. “If it’s the right person, it shouldn’t feel like a big deal. At the end of the day, we deserve to have sex, and we deserve to feel sexy.”

So, in a nutshell, sex is different for disabled people, but that doesn’t mean it’s unfulfilling: “If people can’t understand that sex might look different, then their sex life’s probably boring,” laughs Shelby.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Follow Shelby: instagram.com/shelbykinsxo

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Back to myself Whether it’s getting your teeth ‘fixed’ or having your makeup permanently tattooed, aesthetic treatments are a popular option. But they’re not only about presenting a ‘better’ version of yourself to the outside world; they can be about confidence and healing too. Editor Melissa Holmes takes a closer look

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lance through a magazine or scroll any social media platform and it won’t be long before you’re presented with airbrushed images of the current version of perfection. From Brazilian butt lifts to the latest antiageing fad, the aesthetics industry is worth billions.

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

But it’s not all about the pursuit of youth or flawless good looks. For many disabled people – including burns survivors, amputees, and people recovering from cancer or trauma – aesthetic treatments are more than just skin deep. Services like medical tattooing and hair replacement systems are about reclaiming a sense of self, helping individuals rebuild confidence and restore identity, as well as supporting mental wellbeing.

Medical tattooing can be a vital tool in supporting people to heal from trauma. Seeing scars every day that bring back memories of illness, surgery, an episode of mental ill health, or an accident can cause deep emotional impact. Medical tattooing can restore features including eyebrows and areolas, and can also camouflage scarring, or conceal pigmentation caused by the autoimmune disorder vitiligo.

“Probably 50% of the people who come in have scars that nobody else would ever see,” explains Jo Bregazzi, an expert in medical tattooing. “But every time they look at themselves, it reminds them of what they’ve been through.”

Jo has been a medical tattooist for 14 years. A nurse since 1996, she worked in the NHS in head and neck surgery (dealing with prosthetics like 30 enablemagazine.co.uk

ears and eyeballs), as well as breast care and dermatology. She now runs her business full-time. In-depth consultations and giving clients realistic expectations over what can be achieved are a key part of her personalised service.

“For burn scars,” she explains, “not only can I tattoo those, but I can also soften those with medical needling and use serums to help stimulate a renewal process in the skin. With lots of massage, new skin cells will replace some of the harder scar tissue, which will give the person more flexibility. A client with burns might then be able to straighten their arm and leg – so not only is it physically and aesthetically different, but it’s given them more mobility too.”

HAIR TODAY

For people with alopecia, burns, or hair loss due to chemotherapy, head surgery or injury, the options available to replace hair are far more hightech than in years gone by. Today’s modern wigs and hair replacement systems are a far cry from the itchy, hot, synthetic hair pieces and flappy toupees of yesteryear.

Bespoke hair replacement systems are crafted to meticulously match hair texture, colour and hairline, before being fitted and glued to the scalp.

With proper care, hair replacement systems can last many months.

IT’S JUST ME

Vanessa Hayes experienced 48% full thickness burns after a house fire.

Still dealing with daily pain and health issues, the loss of Vanessa’s dark curls had a deep impact on her.

In a viral social media video by Novo Cabelo hair, who are experts in

hair replacement systems and train other stylists in their techniques, we watch as Vanessa receives a hair replacement system. When her new hair is revealed, Vanessa tearfully exclaims: “It’s just me isn’t it? You would never ever know that was a hair system, I can’t believe it myself!” Doing the ‘upside down test’

Aesthetic treatments empower people to choose how they want to show up in the world

enable life

to check her hair doesn’t move out of place, Vanessa – who explained she “wouldn’t be here” if it wasn’t for support from the Katie Piper Foundation – had everyone in the room in tears after her reaction to her new hair.

Medical tattooing and hair replacement systems aren’t about covering up scars, eliminating baldness or making people more ‘visually acceptable’ to the rest of the world. For breast cancer survivors, having a natural-looking areola tattooed with 3D detailing and shading can be about looking in the mirror and feeling like themselves again – a deeply personal and symbolic process. For others, like burns survivors, it’s about being able to go out for a meal with friends or for a job interview without people focusing on their injuries.

YOUR CHOICE

Aesthetic treatments are also about choice – empowering people to choose how they want to show up in the world.

Some people choose to wear their surgery scars or hair loss visibly, while others can choose to soften their appearance through medical tattooing, prosthetics, or styling.

As Jo explains: “Clients know the journey they’ve gone through, and it’s up to them to make that choice whether they want other people to see it or not. Quite often, just allowing people to know they’ve got that choice gives them the confidence to tell people their story in their own time, if they want to.”

She concludes: “Us blending it, camouflaging it and plumping up indented scars isn’t going to change the warrior they’ve become, the way they’ve got through to the other side of that journey.”

AT HOME IN YOUR OWN SKIN

The NHS doesn’t often cover the cost of aesthetic treatments, but it’s worth speaking to your doctor or consultant to find out. Charitable grants are sometimes available.

Hair replacement systems are priced depending on client needs; a ladies’ bob may cost around £650. For medical tattooing, Jo Bregazzi charges £195 for one session on a small area of scarring – several sessions over several months may be required.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jo Bregazzi medical tattooing: jobregazzi.co.uk Katie Piper Foundation: katiepiperfoundation.org.uk Novo Cabelo hair replacement systems: novocabelo.co.uk Vanessa Hayes’s GoFundMe: gofund.me/20e131e1

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VE80 CELEBRATING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY

Celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. 8 May 1945 – VE (Victory in Europe) Day meant an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost the lives of millions; destroyed homes, families, and cities; and brought huge suffering. Millions of people rejoiced in the news that the intense strain of war was finally over. In towns and cities across the world, people marked the victory with street parties, dancing and singing.

As long as there is a British Army, the Army Benevolent Fund will be here to provide support in times of hardship or need.

This VE Day, show your gratitude by supporting the Army Benevolent Fund.

Our own history as a charity is deeply connected to VE Day, as we were forged during the preceding months to ensure that soldiers returning from the Second World War could be taken care of. Now, as then, we continue to be inspired by the community that we proudly support, and the fortitude shown by so many in the face of life’s challenges.

Visit armybenevolentfund.org or scan the QR code to learn more.

Army Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (SC039189) and registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609).

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14/04/2025 15:30

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When the wheels stop turning

When an NHS wheelchair breaks, users are often left housebound and unsupported. With no courtesy chair service agreement, Lee Keogh asks: why is something as essential as mobility still treated like a privilege?

I

t was like I’d broken my legs.”

That’s how Lee Keogh, a wheelchair user and disability advocate, describes the day his independence vanished when a single part of his NHS-issued chair broke. Although he reported the fault immediately, post-Brexit supply chain issues made sourcing a replacement part nearly impossible. In the meantime, he was warned not to use the chair in case the internal mechanism malfunctioned and ejected him. “And then… nothing. I just waited.”

For 14 days, Lee’s world shrank to the walls of his house. He missed work events, council meetings, and plans with friends. “I couldn’t even get myself a drink. My mum had to bring me water,” he remembers. “My house is adapted for my chair, and my chair only. Without it, I

couldn’t function.”

Lee’s story isn’t rare. More than 1.2 million wheelchair users live in the UK, and research from Scope and Muscular Dystrophy UK reveals consistent delays, patchy repair services, and a lack of urgency that’s unjustifiable.

“There was no courtesy chair. No offer of support,” reveals Lee. “You wouldn’t ask someone with broken legs to wait two weeks to be seen by a doctor, but it was acceptable to make me wait for a new chair.”

STUCK IN LIMBO

Lee lives with clinical depression and anxiety. Becoming a prisoner in his own home pushed him into a dark place: “I started to spiral because I was going stir crazy,” he explains. “A friend called me and, after a while, he said, ‘You don’t sound right’. He meant that I didn’t seem like myself. The toll of losing my freedom was immense.”

Despite numerous calls to the company in charge of the repair, nothing changed until someone Lee knew from a local radio station stepped in. Lo and behold, the part he needed was found

Wheelchairs aren’t just equipment; they’re an extension of a person’s body

and couriered the next day. “Why did it take a media threat to treat it like an emergency?” sighs Lee in disbelief. “It should have been taken seriously from the start.”

THE BOTTOM LINE

Lee wants real change. “There should be a courtesy chair program, the same way you get a courtesy car,” he advocates.

“It doesn’t need to be perfect. But we should be offered a chair in the meantime so we can get on with our lives.”

Additionally, Lee wants suppliers to include service guarantees that reflect the urgency of mobility loss, and for the NHS to source parts from UK contractors instead of overseas. None of this is easy to change without the help of others in the disability community and wider society.

Lee also believes there needs to be a nationwide mindset shift: “Wheelchairs aren’t just equipment; they’re an extension of a person’s body.” Ignoring that is also denying someone their right to move, work, and live freely – and Lee’s no longer letting anyone get away with it.

“We all know someone disabled, whether it’s a friend, family member, or colleague. If this happened to them, would you accept it?” asks Lee. Lee’s story is more than a failure in service provision: it’s a wake-up call. Will you pick up?

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Instagram: instagram.com/leekeogh63 Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lee-keogh

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PICS: © SIMON JACOBS; SHAW TRUST/PATRICK HARRISON

“

We all welcome a little extra assistance now and again, particularly when travelling alone.

Thistle Assistance is an initiative to help you feel safer and more comfortable when using public transport.

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CAKE AND COFFINS

Death happens to us all, so why not break down some taboos and chat about death and dying over tea and cake?

Editor Melissa Holmes learns more about Death Cafes

D

eath. Even the word can fill us with a sense of dread, uncertainty around ‘what’s on the other side’, and deep sadness for the loved ones we’ve already lost and those we’ll leave behind when we die. Some 20% of the UK’s population feels fear or anxiety around death, and that figure rises for people with health issues.

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It’s only natural: we don’t know what will happen when we die, but we do know it will happen to us eventually – for some, sooner than others. This fear even has a name: thanatophobia.

Ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus said: “I cannot escape death, but I can at least escape fear of it.” One way of allaying those fears is to talk about death and to prepare for it. This means our loved ones won’t have to shoulder the burden of making decisions about our end-of-life care, our funeral, or what to do with our belongings after we’ve died.

A GOOD DEATH?

As part of a rising ‘death positive’ movement, people are trying to break down barriers around death – from talking about dying, grief and the rituals and processes around death, to supporting ‘good’ deaths with the help of death doulas, dignified palliative care, and green funerals. According to The Order of the Good Death: “People who are death positive believe it is not morbid or taboo to speak openly about death. They see honest conversations about death and dying as the cornerstone of a healthy society.”

Death Cafes are safe, friendly and confidential spaces where people come together to talk about death, dying and making the most of our finite lives. At a Death Cafe, there’s always open, honest conversation – attendees might discuss anything from funeral song choices to preparing a will. And there’s always cake.

“Everyone loves a cup of tea and a slice of cake,” explains Sue Barsky Reid, whose late son Jon founded the Death Cafe movement. “That’s the enduring thing for all the groups; people come along and enjoy some cake, because it’s life affirming. It’s about enjoying life.”

RESPECTFUL

Death Cafes take place all over the world – the social franchise says it’s offered 20,533 Death Cafes in 93 countries since September 2011 – and they can happen both in-person and online. Sue explains: “It’s not there to support people, it’s there to enable people to have a discussion. The facilitators help to keep people on track, and make sure they’re respectful 36 enablemagazine.co.uk

We offer that dedicated safe space to talk about fears and things that can be upsetting Scott Whitney Scott

to each other and their opinions.”

Scott Whitney runs an online Death Cafe via All 4 Inclusion, the Community Interest Company he founded to help disabled people feel less alone. He’s a wheelchair user and has Functional Neurological Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and mental health struggles. He chose to set up a Death Cafe because, as he explains: “It’s something everyone needs to talk about. I think it’s really important when we talk about disability, with issues like assisted dying and people with a lower life expectancy, because talking about dying is also talking about living as well.”

A QUESTION OF CARE

Scott helps bring people into the group, and makes things more accessible for participants by making complex terms easier to understand, while colleague Hannah facilitates the groups. One of the themes which is discussed in the Death Cafes hosted

by All 4 Inclusion is what will happen to those who have family caring for them when those family members die. “We’ve seen that with the death of Gene Hackman this year,” explains Scott. “His wife was his carer and she passed away, which had a knock-on effect leading to both Gene and their dog dying as well.”

Legal issues are often discussed at the online Death Cafes run by All 4 Inclusion. Power of attorney, wills and advance decisions (where you stipulate what you want to happen in terms of medical care at the end of your life – sometimes known as a living will) have been raised at previous online meetings. “It’s helping to

prepare people,” says Scott. “These conversations come up in Death Cafes because we offer that dedicated safe space to talk about fears and things that can be upsetting.”

GOOD ENERGY

But it’s not all doom and gloom.

Jon Underwood, who set up Death Cafes in 2011 inspired by the work of sociologist Bernard Crettaz, wanted them to be a place where strangers could come together over delicious cake and talk about making the most of our finite lives. “If people come with good energy, then that’s where the magic is,” enthuses Scott. “People support each other and get a serotonin boost out of it.”

Sue adds: “There’s a sense of closeness because these people come together for an hour or so, there’s a real intimacy that grows very quickly. At the end of that time, they’re unlikely to see each other again, so you can be very frank and open.”

For people feeling unsure about attending a Death Cafe, Sue suggests: “Give it a try. You only have to go once, and actually people laugh as much as they cry there. Sometimes there are lots of funny things to talk about, and you’re as likely to hear laughter as you are to hear tears.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

All 4 Inclusion: all4inclusion.org Death Cafe: deathcafe.com End of Life Doula UK: eol-doula.uk The Order of the Good Death: orderofthegooddeath.com

PIC: © ISOBEL GREENHALGH

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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

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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

Samantha Renke reflects on the start of a new journey towards a healthier relationship with her body

I

never thought in a million years I’d be covering this topic: fitness. Yes, I’d like to share a little about my recent fitness journey. Some may say I’ve gone to the dark side, but hear me out. Fitness still excludes Disabled people – fact. Add being a woman on top of that and it can feel like a very alien space.

There was a time I’d judge and scoff at gym goers. I’d label them as self-obsessed. I’d assume they must have low self-esteem; consumed with perfection, unrealistic body types and external validation. Yes, I was the queen of judging but, deep down, I was rather jealous. I was envious of their privilege.

ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

I’ve never felt like the fitness realm was inclusive or welcoming for me as a wheelchair user – someone with limited mobility, low bone density and wonky bones that don’t always go in the direction they should.

Most gyms aren’t physically accessible. Online workouts seemed to 38 enablemagazine.co.uk

go super fast and were never bespoke enough for my Disabled body. Even wellness apps exclude my body height and size, deeming me to be too small or underweight to even sign up.

Everything seemed too binary and through the enabled gaze. Recently however, I’ve changed my approach.

Instead of seeing all the barriers, I’ve made a commitment to myself to simply make it work.

GOALS AND GAINS

I’d be lying if I said the prospect of a sexy bikini body wasn’t a big driving force. But looking good and shedding a few pounds is not my end goal.

Last year I had an operation to remove a displaced metal rod in my leg.

The pain and immobility for many years meant I was extremely inactive. I put on weight which restricted my mobility and thus independence. I felt stiff, sore and uncomfortable in my skin.

I simply wanted a healthier relationship and to reconnect with my beautiful body.

It’s been a month of early morning workouts, more water and wholefoods, a protein-rich diet and experimenting with different styles including cardio, yoga and strength.

I’ve sought advice from Disabled friends and taken my time because I’m not training for a marathon. This is a life commitment I owe to myself.

I urge you to do what I did and speak to your specialist, physio or OT before embarking on a fitness journey or diet change. Make sure when you seek this advice you feel heard and validated.

A good supporter should respect your decisions and work with you, not against you.

I’m loving free seated workouts on YouTube. On Instagram, check out @CarolineJordanFitness, @KymNonStop and @ZukFitness – if you can’t do a whole session, change movements to suit you. I’ve even had my very first seated yoga class courtesy of @adaptiveyogalive.

Fitness should be fun, so let’s make it so.

PIC :© NICKY JOHNSTON

Reconnecting with my disabled body

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Welcome to OLLYWOOD

Take a look at Olly Bowman’s social media, and you’ll see a guy who beams positivity. He’s goofy, stylish, and self-aware. He’s also living with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – an illness that has completely reshaped his life. For the first time, Olly opens up to writer Kate Stevenson about living with CFS affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK. Olly hasn’t always had CFS. In fact, he used to be a personal trainer in Australia and played professional basketball in Norway. Back then, his life was defined by movement.

But after a rough bout of glandular fever, Olly never bounced back: “I knew something was wrong, but my doctors weren’t listening to me,” he reflects. “I kept getting sick and I couldn’t recover.”

His experience is not uncommon.

Unfortunately, there’s no single test for CFS, and many patients spend years being dismissed or misdiagnosed before someone puts the pieces together. “It took nearly two years and a doctor who really listened,” reveals Olly. “It was a relief to get the diagnosis – and a punch in the gut.

Like, ok, what I’m feeling is real, but it’s not going away any time soon.”

INVISIBLE STRUGGLES

CFS is a complex and debilitating condition that impacts how the body produces energy.

It affects the immune system, the nervous system, and the brain.

On a bad day, Olly says: “My whole body aches, and I feel like my brain is being squeezed. Doing anything feels like doing too much – even answering a text.”

40 enablemagazine.co.uk

Brain fog and post-exertional malaise are the most common symptoms of CFS, and they can make daily activities like showering or going to work or school difficult. It’s not a linear condition though, and Olly has to manage his energy carefully. If he pushes too hard, his body pushes back. One big day can wipe him out for the next three.

This unpredictability can make him feel anxious, which he openly discusses on his socials: “On a bad day, everything becomes more overwhelming,” explains Olly, as he looks away in thought. “I pride myself in the positivity and happiness I have for life, but it’s easy to lose that excitement when my brain feels foggy.

It’s a weird feeling.”

OLLY 2.0

Of course, CFS is more than just physical exhaustion. It comes with its own emotional baggage. “It messes with your identity,” continues Olly. “You start thinking you’re lazy, that you’re not trying hard enough, or that maybe it’s all in your head.”

Olly’s always been an upbeat guy, but some days test him more than

I knew something was wrong, but my doctors weren’t listening to me

PIC: © DAMIAN BENNETT

W

hen Olly Bowman says he’s tired, he doesn’t mean he needs a coffee. He means his body has shut down, his head feels foggy, and his limbs ache.

Sometimes, just climbing the stairs means he needs to lie down.

“It’s like when you’ve got the flu and haven’t slept – that kind of exhaustion,” he explains. “Except there’s no clear reason for it, and it doesn’t go away.”

At 24, Olly lives with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition that remains misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and invisible. Yet it

enable interview

others. In the early days of his diagnosis, he struggled with his sense of self: “Suddenly, I wasn’t able to do the things I loved. It was very unexpected.” Physical activity had been a huge part of his life.

Losing that meant grieving a version of himself.

“I used to attach most of my confidence to this idea of me being a strong and muscular-looking guy.” He had to stop training and lost a lot of weight, which made it harder to hold onto the person he thought he was: “In the long run, I think it helped me because it forced me to find my self-worth and appreciate my health more.”

STILL DANCING

One of the biggest changes to his life came when Olly gave up alcohol. “Every time I drank, I would be wiped out for

days. Eventually, I realised it wasn’t worth it.” He’s been alcohol-free for more than two years and uses his platform to show that sobriety doesn’t mean missing out. “I still go out. I still have fun. I just don’t drink,” he shrugs.

“If anyone has a problem with that, I don’t want them as a friend anyway.”

He’s also started pursuing gentler hobbies: stretching, singing lessons, and even learning French. “I used to think I had to be doing something productive,” confesses Olly. “Now I just do things that make me feel good.”

SICK, NOT SORRY

Olly openly discusses chronic fatigue on social media – not for sympathy but to make people feel seen. He’s honest about the hard stuff – the cancelled plans, the guilt, the fear – but he’s also

hopeful about his future. “This illness forced me to slow down,” he admits.

“It taught me to listen to my body, to be kind to myself, and to find joy in smaller things.”

So, if you’re navigating life with a chronic illness, Olly gets it. And if you’re the friend who doesn’t understand why someone cancels at the last minute, he’d ask you to listen a little harder.

And if you’re the version of Olly from three years ago before he got his diagnosis? “I’d tell him it’s real. It’s not laziness. And that sometimes not doing anything is the most productive thing he can do.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Follow Olly: Instagram: @OllyBowman TikTok: @MrMelk_

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FOSTERING

Open your heart and home Foster Care Fortnight takes place from 12 to 25 May. Created to raise awareness of fostering, this year’s theme focuses on the power of relationships. We learn more

T

here are more than 70,000 children living with 55,000 foster families in the UK, and every 20 minutes, another child comes into care needing a foster family. Those figures – from The Fostering Network, which organises Foster Care Fortnight – tell thousands of human stories. Children may need short-term respite, emergency, or longerterm foster placements for a multitude of reasons – family illness, domestic violence, or because of a parent’s drug or alcohol abuse. Living with foster carers enables these children to thrive in a nurturing, safe environment.

FOR EVERYONE

Fostering is challenging but rewarding, and it’s for everyone. Although some people assume disability might be a barrier to becoming a foster carer, agencies assess applicants based on their ability to provide a caring, stable environment. The emotional and

physical needs and welfare of the child are the focus, rather than your disability. Equally, there are disabled children in the care system waiting for foster carers who can understand their experiences and provide personally tailored support.

Fostering can be life changing – both for the foster carer, and for the children being cared for. It offers a unique chance to have a positive impact on a child’s life, helping them develop, grow and meet their potential, advocating for them, and supporting them to maintain

Fostering is a meaningful and rewarding experience

contact with their birth family. Some people foster because they want to make a difference, others do it because they have experience with the care system or a disability, while some do it as a way of giving back; offering a child stability they may never have had before.

Foster carers form lasting bonds with the children in their care as well as friendships within the wider fostering community – it’s a meaningful and rewarding experience.

THE PROCESS

As you’d expect, becoming a foster carer involves a thorough assessment process, including background checks, home visits, and interviews. Social workers assess potential foster carers’ living arrangements, support network, and ability to meet the child’s needs.

The process can take several months, but it’s designed to ensure a good fit between the foster carer, their family and the child. At the heart of it all is the goal of delivering the best outcomes for both the child and the foster family.

Ongoing training is provided, which might include supporting children with trauma or additional needs. Carers also receive financial support in the form of fostering allowance. This is designed to cover the cost of caring for a child, plus many foster carers are given an additional fee which recognises their skills and experience. Foster carers can also work and/or claim benefits.

Whether you’re a disabled person looking to foster, or you’re interested in fostering a child with additional needs, fostering agencies provide guidance, adaptations, and support to ensure every child has a place to call home.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact your local council for information on fostering, or search online for reputable agencies.

The Fostering Network: thefosteringnetwork.org.uk

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The hunt for a home

Imagine planning your entire day around whether you can get through a doorway. For millions of disabled people in the UK, that’s everyday life

O

nly 7% of homes in the UK have even basic accessibility features. So for most people who use wheelchairs, walking aids, or adaptive equipment, house hunting isn’t just tricky – it’s nearly impossible.

Tanvi Vyas MBE, a disability equality consultant and powerchair user, had a positive experience while living in accessible halls at university.

However, after graduation, she and her husband tried to find a home they could adapt to suit Tanvi’s needs.

They soon discovered nothing was straightforward. “Accessible, adapted, and adaptable housing was extremely difficult to find,” reveals Tanvi, “even when we were open to converting or extending.”

DESIGN FLAWS

Although they eventually found and bought a bungalow, the challenges didn’t stop there. Tanvi had assumed she’d qualify for the Disabled Facilities Grant to help pay towards the adaptations she needed for her new home. Instead, she was offered “strip washes and meals on wheels to combat the inaccessibility of the home,” she explains, exasperated.

“I was about to get married and was terrified this was what my future held,” admits Tanvi. “I’d previously had a taste of what good accessible housing could look like. I knew it was physically possible. But developers hadn’t really considered its benefits to the wider community.”

Tanvi Vyas MBE

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enable life Tanvi and her husband lived in her parents’ dining room for three years while they fought to get planning permission, dealt with delays, and saved up to make their home truly accessible: “It was a very stressful time, but it was worth it in the end.”

HOUSING FOR ALL

Accessible housing might seem unnecessary, or be treated as an afterthought, since it affects only a small portion of the population. But it’s crucial – we’re talking about independence, health, and dignity. “The impact accessibility has on disabled people and our friends, family, and colleagues is enormous,” adds Tanvi. “It affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

It also has an impact on wider society.

If we don’t design homes that can be adapted, more disabled people will be pushed into care, become isolated, or rely on already overworked health and social services. This is expensive, unsustainable, and preventable.

The Building Research Establishment says the NHS could save over a billion pounds per year if more people lived in homes that prevented injuries and long-term health issues. Better housing doesn’t just help disabled people; it helps everyone.

ACCESS DENIED

So why isn’t the issue being fixed? Well, there’s no law that says new homes in

England must be accessible. Some local authorities set higher standards, but most developers get away with building homes that aren’t adaptable without major renovations. That’s if they can be adapted at all.

Tanvi says, as a result, housing providers aren’t futureproofing their new developments: “It’s a missed opportunity for the next generation.

We need commitments to make housing more accessible, for disabled and older people, as well as those who aren’t yet disabled,” she argues. “You don’t know you need an adaptable house, level access or more circulation room until you do.”

FOREVER HOMES

While she waits for the rest of society to catch up, Tanvi has joined the Habinteg Insight Group, a collective of disabled people who campaign for better housing policies. Their message is clear: accessible housing should be the norm, not the exception.

“If more housing is accessible and adaptable, people can live in their homes longer and avoid expensive changes down the line,” points out Tanvi. “People don’t have to feel burdensome when it’s clearly the lack of suitable housing that is disabling.”

Lack of awareness is a huge part of the problem: “Once people understand that accessible housing helps everyone – not just disabled

people – it’s easier to get them on board,” she concludes.

So, next time you see a new block of flats going up, ask yourself: will everyone be able to live there? If the answer is no, it’s time to ask why not, but more importantly: who’s being left out in the cold?

ACCESSIBLE HOUSING: THE FACTS thirds of British 1 Two people say their homes

are “no go zones” for disabled people, limiting the ability of disabled people to visit friends and family.

Only 3% of homes

2 in the UK have the

recommended features for someone with mobility problems: level access, a flush threshold, WC at entry level and circulation space.

1.8 million people in the

3 UK need an accessible

home, but only 7% of homes are fully accessible. The majority of housing stock doesn’t meet the needs of people with impairments.

It can cost up to £27,000

4 to adapt a M4(1) category

home if the resident requires grab rail, stairlift, and wet room adaptations. Individuals could be forced to privately fund essential adaptations, or their local authority will need to pick up the bill through the Disabled Facilities Grant. These adaptations put financial strain on families and councils.

2040, the number of 5 By people aged 65 and over

is expected to rise to 20 million, leading to an increase in the demand for accessible homes.

TAKE ACTION

You don’t need to be an expert to help change things. Help move accessible housing further up the agenda by joining Habinteg’s Insight Group: habinteg.org.uk/group

46 enablemagazine.co.uk

We want everyone to be able to access and enjoy all that Aberdeen Performing Arts has to offer.

• Audio described performances • BSL interpreted performances • Captioned performances • Relaxed performances • Hearing assistance • Touch tours • Essential companions Find out more at aberdeenperformingarts.com/access

THe THEaTre Is fOr eVerYoNe

Theatre Royal

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Wed 19 Nov 7.30pm & Fri 19 Dec 7.30pm

Thu 4 Dec 1pm & Wed 10 Dec 7pm

Sat 31 May 2.30pm

Thu 20 Nov 2.30pm

Tue 16 Dec 7pm

Sat 31 May 2.30pm

Thu 27 Nov 7.30pm

Thu 11 Dec 1pm & 7pm

Theatre Royal

King’s Theatre Sat 17 May 2.30pm

Sat 7 Jun 2.30pm

atgtickets.com/glasgow

Thu 18 Dec 1pm

OUT AND ABOUT? We’ve all been there: the ‘accessible’ loo used as a junk storage room, the ‘inclusive’ cafe with noise levels that wouldn’t be out of place in a nightclub, the ‘access’ ramp with an incline that rivals Everest. After the release of the Euan’s Guide Access Survey, we find out more about the state of disabled access in the UK

G

etting out and about, and being able to access public spaces, transport, leisure opportunities, employment and education are part of what makes us human. Many of us are social creatures whose physical and mental wellbeing thrive off being around others or doing things we enjoy. But how can we attend an art exhibition, movie showing, tourist hotspot or simply the local library when access is such a challenge?

The continued struggle is the takeaway finding from the 2024 Euan’s Guide Access Survey, which was recently released. The survey is supported by the Motability Scheme and is now in its tenth year. It’s carried out by Euan’s Guide, the disability access charity launched in 2013 by the late Euan MacDonald MBE, who had MND. The survey asks thousands of disabled people for their thoughts and experiences around getting out and about. The headline statistics? 70% of

respondents said the lack of disabled access has directly affected their goals, plans or aspirations. 98% are not confident about visiting new places when thinking about accessibility.

SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS

It’s 30 years since the Disability Discrimination Act, and 15 years since the passing of its successor the Equality Act. Yet the survey results reveal that disabled people still face significant daily access barriers, which compromise both their quality of life and personal potential.

For the first time, the latest survey asked about newer trends and technology, like AI and also the representation of disabled people in the media. 57% of respondents felt that disabled people are not fairly represented across the media; a figure that we at Enable magazine hope is slowly improving given the array of influential actors, TV and social media

stars, and entrepreneurs we feature among our pages.

LEFT BEHIND

Access to transport is a huge issue for the disabled community. Overall, 81% of respondents said lack of accessible transport has a negative impact upon them, with one participant sharing: “I avoid public transport – I’ve been left behind too many times because the assistance I booked never turned up.”

The 2024 survey also included new questions around electric vehicles (EVs), with 48% of respondents saying they’ve experienced EV chargers being inaccessible due to their position on a raised plinth or pavement.

Accessing the bathroom is vital for everyone, but planning a trip around whether or not you’ll be able to transfer from your wheelchair to use the loo, empty your stoma bag, or sort your catheter in a clean space takes a lot of energy. The stats stack up, with 77% of survey participants revealing they’d changed their mind about going somewhere because they couldn’t find information on accessible toilets.

73% said they had come across an accessible toilet they were unable to use, with cleanliness, layout and obstacles being the main issues.

For some, the barriers are so overwhelming that they choose to stay at home rather than face discrimination and inaccessibility

48 enablemagazine.co.uk

enable life

Even Changing Spaces – toilets specifically designed for extra accessibility – are lacking, with 52% of respondents saying Changing Places toilets are hard to access and get in, and 54% saying equipment was not ready to use or working.

PICS: © EUAN’S GUIDE

A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE

No one should be made to feel excluded or discriminated against due to their disability but, given the results of the survey, it seems many people do feel that way.

As Kiki MacDonald, Euan’s Guide co-founder, says: “Accessibility should be a right, not a privilege.” According to the survey: “For some, the barriers are so overwhelming that they choose to stay at home rather than face discrimination and inaccessibility.”

It seems like the solution to this unacceptable situation is simple though. Just make the information obvious. That’s where Euan’s Guide and apps like Sociability and Citymapper come into their own, as they feature user-generated reviews and information about the facilities and accessibility of individual venues and spaces. This helps disabled people feel more confident, removes fear of the unknown, enables people to make

concrete plans for their social, work and leisure time, and makes life much easier all round.

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

It’s great that disabled people have taken matters into their own hands to create these websites and apps, but we think the onus should be on businesses, transport operators and public services to provide accurate access information. If a bus company can provide live bus tracking via an app, surely they can also highlight bus stops that are temporarily closed? And it can’t be hard for a restaurant, theme park or store to share information about accessibility on their own websites. Yet so many don’t.

Perhaps business owners think they don’t need to provide this information because they’re meeting the legal minimum access requirements (or maybe they’re concealing the fact they’re not)? Maybe they’re relying on potential customers to ask? Or could they be ignorant of how vital the most basic accessibility information can be to their business? That doesn’t make business sense, considering the combined annual spending power of disabled people and their households in the UK is estimated at £274 billion.

The frustrating but familiar results of the Access Survey remind us that we need to keep fighting for change – in terms of both physical and attitudinal barriers. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still so far to go. Let’s hope there are some improvements by the time of next year’s survey.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To read the report, which is available in multiple accessible formats, visit euansguide.com/access-survey

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49

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enable finance

We take a look at the latest news around changes to the disability benefits system

WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING? D

isability benefits have rarely been out of the news in recent months. Whether it’s plans to change Personal Independence Payment (PIP), to inflammatory comments around Motability users, reading the headlines can cause confusion and worry.

Firstly, it’s vital to remember that no changes to the structure of PIP have been passed into law. As this issue went to print, the Pathways to Work Green Paper was open for consultation.

Proposals include almost halving the health element of Universal Credit for new claimants, restricting PIP, and scrapping the Work Capability Assessment to introduce a new PIP assessment.

CHALLENGING

These proposed changes have sparked concern. Legal counsel obtained

by Benefits and Work and Inclusion London said: “There appears to be no clear route for challenge regarding the ‘flagship’ elements of the policy. Instead, individuals and organisations should focus efforts on challenging elements of the Green Paper politically as much as possible.”

The consultation period closes on 30 June 2025. Anyone can attend a ticketed event online or in-person to put their

feelings across, or respond to the Green Paper online.

One positive change for the new tax year is the uprating of disability benefits in line with inflation. This includes a 6.7% rise in PIP, which may feel like nothing against the backdrop of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, but shows commitment to the legal requirement to protect the value of benefits over time.

TAKEN FOR A RIDE

Separately, there has been media commentary suggesting that some Motability users don’t need the vehicles they’re allocated. Although conversations around Motability customers “taking taxpayers for a ride” have been hurtful, they haven’t impacted the scheme, which is a vital lifeline for 815,000 disabled people across the country.

Motability says it’s cracking down on people abusing the system, including reviewing the number of drivers allowed to use each vehicle (currently three).

But it was quick to point out that 42% of its customers have a household income of less than £20,000 per year – in stark contrast to reports of a tiny minority of “sickfluencers” who are “gaming the system” to drive high-end cars obtained via the taxpayer-funded scheme.

There have also been rumblings in the news about delays to benefits. Access to Work reconsiderations are taking twice as long to be processed than they were 12 months ago, according to FOI results obtained by Catherine Eadie, who runs social enterprise MHScot Workplace Wellbeing.

And there’s been a report from Young Lives finding that young cancer patients are having to wait an average of seven months between diagnosis and receiving a decision on their disability benefits. The DWP’s response? “We recognise waits are too high, and we have increased the number of staff to respond to the increase in claim volumes.”

It’s normal to feel anxious about benefit reforms and changes which will deeply impact your everyday life. But the key message is: nothing has changed yet. Reach out to support organisations for advice, have your say on the welfare reform Green Paper, and stay informed about planned changes. Remember: your voice matters.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Benefits and Work: benefitsandwork.co.uk Pathways to Work consultation: gov.uk/government/ consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefitsand-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper Young Lives: younglivesvscancer.org.uk

enablemagazine.co.uk

51

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enable life

GO WITH THE FLOW

If you’re visually impaired and you menstruate, it can be hard to know when your period has started.

Flowsense aims to take away the guesswork and reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome caused by pad overuse. This non-invasive sensor offers discreet feedback through vibrations and audio cues, and is designed to detect period blood, track cycles, and provide menstrual health education. Sign up to the waitlist via the website for further information. flowsense.co / price TBC

FIND YOUR WAY

PACE YOURSELF

senseiforall.com / sample pack: £90

makevisible.com / device: £64.50, annual membership: £10.99 p/m, monthly membership: £14.99p/m

Sensei’s tactile wayfinding tiles provide a low-tech solution to make environments more accessible for visually impaired individuals. Easily fitted to walls and tailored to suit your environment, Sensei allows users to navigate independently through touch. Designed for schools, museums, hospitals, and public spaces, it offers five distinct textures to mark washrooms, corridors, elevators, emergency exits, and cafeterias.

PICS: © RESPECTIVE OWNERS; SENSORY DIRECT LTD

Product picks

Unlike many wearable health trackers, Visible tracks rest and pacing instead of fitness and workouts. It’s designed for people living with invisible illnesses like Long Covid, CFS and Fibromyalgia.

The data obtained by the wearable helps with pacing, a strategy that helps you balance rest and exertion to reduce symptom flare-ups (or post-exertional malaise). 91% of users report they feel better able to manage their energy.

Send us details of your products to

editor@dcpublishing.co.uk

GET RUNNING

LET’S WOBBLE

STYLISH SCOOTER

lightweightmobilityandseating.co.uk / £3,175

sensorydirect.com / £56.67 (exc VAT)

sunrisemedical.co.uk / RRP £5,995

Have you been inspired by watching frame runners during marathon season?

This strong yet lightweight running frame is designed and manufactured in Denmark. The Wolturnus Road Runner has an adjustable height thanks to a choice of wheel sizes (22”, 24” and 26”), making it suitable for young people and adults up to 120 kg. Frame running enables people with Cerebral Palsy or impaired balance to get active, keep fit and even take part in competitive races.

For many neurodivergent people, movement can aid cognitive development and keep minds and bodies engaged. This wobble stool enables children and adults to keep moving while seated. Available in four seat heights from 31cm to 52cm, the stool is offered in a variety of colours.

The construction and no-slip base design ensure durability and stability, and they can be used at home or in the classroom due to being easy and lightweight to move around and store.

Sunrise Medical has launched the Sterling S800 by Scoozy. With its ‘bike-style’ look and feel, the mobility scooter has been designed for users looking to be more active.

Featuring large 18-inch wheels, and an advanced suspension system to provide a smooth ride on any terrain. With up to 50km of battery power per charge and a top speed of 18km/h, it can keep up with bikes in urban and rural settings, to help foster independence.

enablemagazine.co.uk enablemagazine.co.uk

53 53

Automatic Pill Dispensers and Medication Reminders Our products are widely used by Health and Social Care professionals for vulnerable older people and those with learning difficulties who need to be reminded of essential daily tasks such as taking their medication.

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The diary

enable life Send your upcoming events to editor@dcpublishing.co.uk

16 - 17 MAY 22 MAY - 1 JUNE

Hay Festival

Hay-on-Wye, Wales

The beloved book festival returns for a celebration of all things books, including performances, conversations and panel events. There’s everything from stand-up by Chris McCausland to discussion around motherhood with Emma Barnett and Stacey Dooley, and a performance by TikTok favourite MC Grammar. Although it takes place in a field, Hay Festival is committed to removing barriers for all, regardless of disability – all venues have wheelchair access, assistance dogs are welcome, and hearing loops can be arranged.

Motability Scheme Live

NEC, Birmingham (plus venues in Harrogate in August and Northern Ireland in September) Motability Scheme events are back, with a new name.

Motability Scheme Live is a series of inclusive, informative and inspiring events, at different locations across the UK, hosted by the Motability Scheme. Visit the event to view a wide range of vehicles on display, take a test drive, chat to experts and much more.

motabilityschemelive.co.uk / free

hayfestival.com / prices vary

7 JUNE - 15 FEBRUARY 2026

Design and Disability V&A, London

Exploring the significant impact disabled people have made on the creative industries, from architecture to fashion. Spanning from the 1940s to today, the exhibition highlights the radical contributions made by disabled, Deaf, and neurodivergent individuals.

Through a range of exhibits, visitors will gain insight into how these innovations have influenced design and helped foster a more inclusive and accessible society.

PICS: © CHRIS ATHANASIOU; MOTABILITY; SCALLYWAG FOX

vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/design-and-disability / disabled visitors free, full price tickets £9-16

14 JUNE

Festability Quex Park, Kent

Love live music and the festival vibe, but struggle with getting into and around festival venues? Festability may be just the ticket! This one-day live music festival is designed with accessibility and inclusivity at its core, and also features fun-filled activities like karaoke, silent discos, drumming workshops, fairground rides, and adapted sports and games.

festability.co.uk / £15 (carer ticket), £20 (general ticket)

9 - 15 JUNE

National Carers Week Nationwide and online

This year’s theme – 'Caring About Equality' – calls for an equal society where carers are truly valued, recognised and supported. Each day will have a specific focus, including health and social care, financial wellbeing, work and employment, and mental health.

carersweek.org

3 JUNE - 6 JULY

Relay Your Way Challenge Nationwide

Register now for Cerebra’s Relay Your Way Challenge, a 2500km relay with 300 stages across Scotland, England and Wales. From walking to cycling, there are opportunities for everyone to take part. The first stage launches in Glasgow on 3 June. The relay journeys down the country to finish in Windsor on 6 July.

relayyourway.org / cost varies

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55

REVIEW

Ford Capri

Ford has recycled one of its most-loved names into an electric SUV. Our motoring expert takes it for a spin

INSIDE

This may be a Capri, but it’s far from the snug coupe of old. What we have here is an SUV with a more sloping rear window than the closely related Ford Explorer we recently tested. The Capri is 20cm longer overall than the Explorer, so it has a large boot of 572 litres, which is 100 litres more than the Explorer and should make it easy to fold a wheelchair into. However, this will require lifting the chair up and over the high load sill, and through the aperture that slopes in at the sides.

Space is good in the back, and up front it’s excellent for the driver and passenger. The Capri has a raised seating position that’s easy to get comfortable in, thanks to a 56 enablemagazine.co.uk

wide range of electrically controlled adjustments. All-round vision is not great though, due to the car’s thick window pillars, but all models have front and rear parking sensors to help combat this.

There’s good storage around the front of the cabin, helped by the huge cubby between the front seats, and there’s a hidden place to stash a mobile phone behind the infotainment screen that slides back and forth. The 14.6 inch infotainment touchscreen is easy to use as it’s a Ford system, but the car’s Volkswagen underpinnings mean there are too many touchsensitive buttons where we’d prefer physical controls.

enable motoring

Space is good in the back, and up front it’s excellent for the driver and passenger

The Ford Capri is available via Motability.

For the 125kW Select 52kWh 5dr Auto, the Advance Payment is £2245. The highest spec model, the 210kW Premium 77kWh 5dr Auto with Driver Assist Pack, requires an Advance Payment of £4945. Both options use the total mobility allowance from your PIP benefit.

For more information, see motability.co.uk

EQUIPMENT

Ford offers two trims for the Capri: Select and Premium. The Select comes with 19 inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, reversing camera, and all-round parking sensors. It also has the 14.6 inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry.

The Select enjoys manmade leather upholstery, 12-way electric driver’s seat adjustment with massage function, wireless phone charging, and automatic lights and wipers. On top of that, the Premium model gains 20 inch wheels, a panoramic glass roof, excellent matrix headlights, electric tailgate opening, and a Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker stereo. We’d also add the optional heat pump for £1050 to provide more efficient cabin warming, plus the Driver Assistance Pack.

DRIVING Given that the Capri shares its mechanical bits with the Ford Explorer and Volkswagen ID.5, it’s no surprise it drives in a similar manner. However, the Capri does feel more agile in corners than its VW cousin and a little sportier than the Explorer. This means it also feels a bit too harsh over bumps, but without the pay-off of an entertaining drive.

You can pick from rear- or fourwheel drive versions of the Capri, plus standard or extended range battery options.

We’d choose the rear-drive RWD Extended Range model as it gives a claimed driving distance of up to 389 miles on a full charge. This version also has the mid-range power of 286hp

for brisk performance and quick charging times, plus its Advance Payment is lower than higher spec models.

In daily use, the Capri is quiet, as you’d expect from an EV, and acquits itself well on motorways where its considerable weight equates to excellent stability.

However, Kia’s EV6 is more engaging and refined than the Ford.

Summary

Regardless of its name, the Ford Capri is a decent electric SUV, but it ultimately feels uninspired and uninspiring.

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57

enable advertorial

The Motability Scheme’s inclusive, inspiring Birmingham event The Motability Scheme takes to the road to help more people gain the freedom of independence

M

otability Scheme Live, formerly known as The Big Event and One Big Day, has been running since 2007.

Motability Scheme Live, Birmingham, is the Scheme’s flagship event and will offer visitors a unique chance to explore the latest vehicles, talk to experts and find out everything they need to know about the Motability Scheme. The event runs from 9am to 4pm on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May at Birmingham’s NEC, in halls 17 to 19. It’s free to attend and everyone’s welcome.

AN INTERESTING, FUN AND FRIENDLY DAY OUT FOR THE FAMILY

The Birmingham event showcases what’s available on the Motability Scheme to

new and existing customers, as well as people who think they might be eligible to join the Scheme.

There’ll be a wide range of cars on display, along with Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), adaptations, scooters and powered wheelchairs. The Motability Foundation will be there, along with disability organisations like Rough Guide and Driving Mobility, plus our Scheme partners, including Kwik Fit, the RAC, and Direct Line Motability. Visitors can also talk to electric vehicle (EV) specialists about charging at home and on the go.

Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive a variety of standard and adapted cars, including electric vehicles (EVs), and try a range of scooters and powered

wheelchairs on an indoor track.*

INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL VISITORS

Accessibility is at the heart of this event. Facilities include a quiet room, ear defenders, pre-bookable BSL interpreters (email events@mo.co. uk), accessible toilets, and a High Dependency Unit. Assistance dogs are welcome, and there’s plenty of free accessible parking and shuttle buses to help you get from the car park to the entrance.

Lisa Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Motability Operations, said: “Whether someone is new to the Motability Scheme or has been a customer for a while, the annual Motability Scheme Live series is an essential resource, allowing customers to build their knowledge and be informed about their mobility choices.

“Year after year, we hear from attendees about how valuable they find these events, and we’re excited to continue building on this success with our new name.”

OTHER EVENTS

If you’re not near Birmingham, Motability Scheme Live events will also be held in: • Harrogate, at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 August • Northern Ireland, at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 September

FOR MORE INFORMATION

We are Motability Operations, the largest vehicle leasing company in the UK. We run the Motability Scheme, where people who receive a qualifying disability allowance can choose an affordable and accessible vehicle. *To test drive the cars you must bring your full UK driving licence and sign our test drive declaration on the day. Full Terms and Conditions can be found at motabilityschemelive.co.uk/testdrive.

58 enablemagazine.co.uk

You can register now to learn more about Motability Scheme Live, Birmingham, and get answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) at motabilityschemelive.co.uk

We are Outstanding You can be too.

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

Start yo Portlanur journeyd today

1

♦

enable competition

AN AMAZON KINDLE! We’re giving readers the chance to win the latest Amazon Kindle e-reader, worth £95

I

PIC: © AMAZON.COM INC

f you love to read but find turning pages, text size and staying focused challenging, we’ve got the perfect competition prize for you.

One lucky reader will receive the latest Amazon Kindle e-reader. It’s the lightest and most compact Kindle yet, with a 6” glare-free display that makes reading effortless in any light, and a long battery life of up to six weeks on a single charge.

With 16GB of storage, you can take your library with you. The Kindle holds thousands of books, magazines and comics, all available to buy via the Kindle Store at the touch of a button.

The Kindle is also packed with accessibility features. VoiceView is a screen reader for blind and lowvision users, while Assistive Reader provides text-to-speech audio and synchronised highlighting for individuals with dyslexia or other disabilities. A reading ruler helps you stay focused, and Word Wise gives in-line support with word meanings or pronunciation. Flexible font choices, layout options, and different button controls for manual page flipping add to the Kindle’s accessibility.

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 23 June 2025.

Good luck!

BY EMAIL competitions@dcpublishing.co.uk quoting Kindle 2025 ONLINE enablemagazine.co.uk/kindle2025

BY POST Competition, DC Publishing Ltd, 198 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HG TERMS AND CONDITIONS: All entries must be received by Monday 23 June 2025. The prize is an Amazon Kindle 16GB e-reader, 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 Kindle.

enablemagazine.co.uk

61

Tel: 01691 661234 www.derwen.ac.uk

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 Independence skills Our pathways and programmes are tailored to meet individual student needs in preparation for adulthood

Open Days Scan to view and book Book early as spaces fill up fast!

Short Breaks offers adults with learning difficulties and disabilities the opportunity to enjoy an individually tailored stay at our specialist respite centre. Guests are encouraged to tailor their stay around what they enjoy, which could include: Cooking and baking Day trips: beach days, local attractions Shopping Relaxation, games, socialising Sports

Tel: 01691 779243 | shortbreaks@derwen.ac.uk | shortbreaksatderwen.ac.uk

admissions@derwen.ac.uk

enable employment

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

What help do I need?

Our employment expert Jane Hatton, founder of Evenbreak, answers your questions around workplace rights, recruitment, adjustments and access

Q

I work for a small employer. They are keen to provide adjustments for me, but I don’t really know what I need or what would help. I have MS, which causes tiredness and pain.

My symptoms can be quite unpredictable.

A

It’s great that your employer is keen to support you.

Workplace adjustments are about ensuring you can perform to the best of your ability without detriment to your health or welfare. Providing adjustments is in their interests as well as yours – plus it’s a legal requirement.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If you need workplace adjustments but aren’t sure what, go back to your job description. You can map out potential barriers or areas that may cause pain or fatigue against the tasks and environments associated with your role.

Then you can look at how to troubleshoot each of these situations.

Consider the different environments you work in and how to make those work for you. For example, if a lot of the job

is desk-based, will extensive sitting be uncomfortable for you? Potential solutions might include an ergonomic chair, a desk that adapts from sitting to standing, or software that prompts you to take regular breaks with chairbased exercises.

CONFIDENCE

It may be that you look at your list of tasks and aren’t confident that you know what might be helpful, especially if your impairments are newly acquired or your symptoms fluctuate. That’s ok. There is support available.

Access to Work (gov.uk/access-towork) offers the option of an assessment where an assessor will look at all the factors affecting your employment and write a report of recommendations. This is something you can keep confidential between you and Access to Work, or share with your employer so they can

Everybody’s needs are different, and yours may change over time

implement recommendations that require their cooperation, such as flexible working.

There are lots of spaces online where people gather to request help and/or share tips from others with lived experience of every condition imaginable. Posting to one of these boards can provide very quick access to people who are willing to share their hard-learned experience of what does and doesn’t work for them, which can help while you explore possibilities.

Charity websites and helplines can also be a wonderful source of information on how to deal with practical barriers. Have a look at mssociety.org. uk/living-with-ms/working-and-ms/workms-and-you for some ideas.

TRIAL AND ERROR

When implementing some adjustments, it can be a case of trial and error – everybody’s needs are different, and yours may change over time. Together, you and your employer will be able to identify what works best for you.

Check out Evenbreak (evenbreak.com) for jobs with employers who are actively trying to attract disabled candidates. If you require personalised career support, visit the Career Hive (hive.evenbreak.co.uk).

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63

THINKING ABOUT WORK? A focus on the support available if you’re starting a new job or returning to work . From confidence-boosting work coaches and employment support programmes to how to find a role that meets your needs, we take a look at the help that’s out there

W

hether you’ve never had a job, you’ve been out of work for a while, or you’re wondering what career options are open to you, job hunting or returning to work can feel daunting – especially if you’re disabled, or have a long-term illness or caring responsibilities.

Thankfully, there’s a range of support available to help you explore work options, build your confidence and get you on the career path at your own pace. From flexible work to personalised accommodations that are tailored to your needs, there’s help out there.

Returning to work after a career gap or time off due to illness, or entering the world of work for the first time can be unnerving. There are interviews to prepare for, new skills to pick up, people to meet, techniques to learn and schedules to follow, which many people might find difficult.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

Having the confidence and skills to tackle interview questions, compose a winning CV, or even ask for help in your new role if you’re struggling doesn’t come naturally to many people. Luckily, there is help out there, like mentoring schemes and confidence-building programmes which are designed to help you develop your self-belief.

Organisations like Career Accelerator and Evenbreak (whose founder answers your employment questions in every issue of Enable) offer mentoring schemes and job coaching schemes which aim to improve your confidence, help you explore your options, and 64 enablemagazine.co.uk

prepare for interviews, for example.

There are employment programmes on offer across the UK which are designed specifically for disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, and people who’ve been out of the job market for a while.

The Work and Health Programme is run by the Department for Work and Pensions, and is delivered by organisations including Maximus.

The programme offers personalised support which helps you prepare for, find and stay in work – you can speak to your local Jobcentre Plus for more information about this.

SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT

Different charities and organisations also run employment support programmes. Leonard Cheshire, for example, offers Change 100 internships for recent disabled graduates, as well as support for disabled entrepreneurs. Scope runs a free online and telephone support programme for disabled people who are looking for paid work in England and Wales. Called Support to Work, the service gives you an adviser who you’ll work with for up to 20 weeks.

Your adviser can help you with looking for paid work, polishing your CV, mock interviews, and advice on talking to your employer about your disability and any adjustments you may need.

You can also learn new skills and develop confidence through volunteering work. Your local volunteers centre will show you what’s available. Opportunities through

volunteering will give you a taste of employment, as well as helping you gain confidence, meet people, and explore what interests you.

ON THE LOOKOUT

When it comes to searching for a job, not all job boards are created equal.

By using a specialist job search site that offers inclusive search terms

Remote and flexible working can be helpful if you’re managing a fluctuating condition

enable employment

and shows vacancies with disabilityfriendly employers, you’ll have a higher chance of finding a role that meets your needs. Check out Evenbreak or Scope’s Jobs Board for listings, tips and disability-positive workplaces.

And, while you’re searching on any recruitment website, remember to set filters for remote and flexible working, which can be a helpful way of working if you’re managing a fluctuating condition.

PAYING FOR IT ALL

The Access to Work scheme is designed to help fund practical support for disabled people who are in paid employment or self-employment.

You might need help to start a new job or stay in your current role, in which case Access to Work could cover needs like travel to and from work if you can’t use public transport, specialist equipment or software, in-work support staff, mental health

support, or communication assistance at interviews.

You don’t need to be in work to make an application (which you can do online via gov.uk). You can ask for support when you’re applying for jobs or attending interviews, for example. There have been reports of significant backlogs in Access to Work applications, but Scope says “Your application will be a priority if you are due to start work in the next four weeks.

If you are already working, it can take up to 12 weeks to get an assessment.”

CARERS’ SKILLS COUNT

If you’ve been caring for someone and are considering returning to (or starting) work, it’s important to remember that the skills you’ve gained as a carer will be really valuable to any employer.

Things like time management, good communication, active problem-solving and advocacy are all highly prized in many roles. And if you’re concerned

about how you’ll balance work with your caring responsibilities, or you need to learn more about issues such as flexible working or carers’ rights at work, you can speak to charities like Carers UK and Carers Trust, or your local Carers Centre, to find answers to your questions and seek support.

When it comes to finding a job, everyone’s journey looks different.

Whatever stage you’re at, it’s important to find something that works for you and meets your needs. Work isn’t just about earning money, it can also be about confidence, identity, connecting with others, and doing something fulfilling. If you get the right support, those things are possible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Access to Work: gov.uk/access-to-work Evenbreak: evenbreak.com Find A Job: gov.uk/find-a-job Scope: scope.org.uk

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enable interview

FINDING HER VOICE F

eeling different as a child is something many of us can relate to. As a non-verbal person with Cerebral Palsy, Ellise knows the feeling well. “Before I became a motivational speaker, I had no confidence,” she explains. “I was just the little girl happily sitting in the corner and not drawing attention to myself. I wanted to be like everybody else, but I felt different.”

LISTENED TO

Secondary school changed everything for Ellise. “I had a voice and I was listened to,” she says. “With me starting to answer questions in class and teachers asking for my thoughts in lessons, I felt like everybody else.” Ellise excelled, eventually making it to college, where her former headteacher asked her to return to secondary school to deliver some assemblies.

“After the assemblies, my physical impairment and medical support adviser

Ellise at an event in the House of Commons 66 enablemagazine.co.uk

Before I became a motivational speaker, I had no confidence Lynne suggested that I should use my voice to inform and teach others about how my impairments have affected me and how my story might help others,” Ellise explains.

As well as speaking to different audiences, Ellise is also Disabilities Editor for The Good News Post and a Jill Dando News patron. She’s spoken at the Houses of Parliament, and has appeared in a Channel 4 documentary and on numerous news outlets around the world. “I’m so grateful for every opportunity,” she enthuses. “I couldn’t

Ellise with CBS News teams from New York at the Jill Dando News Centre

have done it without lots of support and guidance from everyone.”

Ellise uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device to speak. Her Grid Pad makes use of eye gaze technology, tracking her eye movement via cameras and sensors as she ‘spells out’ what she wants to say by moving her eyes across the screen.

PATIENCE

When selecting the voice she wanted to speak for her, she chose one resembling Queen Elizabeth II’s. Ellise explains: “I just felt comfortable in the Queen’s voice. There were many voices to choose from, but they sounded very computerised.” Despite Ellise’s clear ‘Queen’s English’, using her device isn’t always straightforward. “People have to be patient for me to type a response,” she reveals. “But sometimes they move away before I say what I wanted!”

Ellise gets frustrated that “Being nonverbal, people talk to me like I’m a baby sometimes.” She’s come a long way since babyhood though, when she was born not breathing. Having sustained significant brain damage, doctors said she’d require 24-hour care.

But, against the odds, Ellise is now using her experiences to break down barriers, improve awareness of life with Cerebral Palsy, and spread her message of positivity.

So what is the message she wants to tell the world? “I always tell others to step into my shoes for five minutes and ask them how it would feel to live struggling with pain everyday,” she reveals. She also wants people to think before they make assumptions, as she reassures me “Life is beautiful, and worth living.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Follow Ellise: instagram.com/elliseholliehayward Good News Post: goodnewspost.co.uk

PIC: © HOUSE OF COMMONS, GOOD NEWS POST

At 23, Ellise Hayward is confident, self-assured and well-spoken. But she wasn’t always this way.

She shares her story with Editor Melissa Holmes

"Easy to read and understand... knowledge accessible to all"

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