Happy New Year, and welcome to the new Fed Blog 2010! Even if the diet falls flat (or should we say fat?) and the gym attendance dwindles down to none, let’s hope that this year we can see improvements that really matter to you and the wider community! Why should blue badges leave owners feeling blue? Why is public transport insufficient for certain members of the public (yes I am thinking of the taxi dilemma), and how can these additional needs be met? Why is housing housing its own resident problems? We want to hear what you think about these issues, and more, and work together towards an amicable solution. We want to hear your voices and your comments, so please don’t hold back! Each month this blog wants to heat up the hot topics, so please post your comments and let’s kick start the discussion!
Let’s start, as all new years do, with some positive news! I hope all of you who attended International Day enjoyed yourselves! What did you enjoy the most, and what would you like to see at the next one? It was a great introduction to the Federation for me and reaffirmed my decision to get involved and write this blog (I hope you like it so far!). I wasn’t able to make it until later as I was at uni, but I did enjoy the talented Mat Fraser’s comedy! He made me think much more about awareness and acceptance. Do you have to be confident to laugh at yourself or is this a manifestation of the ‘if you didn’t laugh, you’d cry’ motto? Does laughing indicate acceptance (whatever that is!) of your disability? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this, and of course on anything else that you’d like to share!
I suppose I should take this opportunity to introduce myself! I’m Aimee, I’m twenty and I’m studying English at Sussex Uni (and loving it!). I chose to help the BH Federation as I’d like to give something back (bet you’ve all heard that one before, but however clichéd it is, it’s true!), make a difference (ditto on the cliché!) and help support others, as well as gaining useful experience for my future career in journalism (watch this space!).
In all honesty, before my illness, I never really thought about being disabled or the difficulties that disabled people face in any real detail. My biggest eye opener (no pun intended) came when I was in a wheelchair for a day out and people addressed my friends instead of me, or else talked r.e.a.l.l.y. s.l.o.w.l.y. as if using a wheelchair automatically meant I had cognitive problems! I’m sure many of you can identify with this, or perhaps have sadly learnt to accept this kind of treatment. In the Removing Barriers workshop, this lack of disability awareness among the general public (as well as NHS and Council Staff) was flagged as an issue, and it was suggested that a widespread awareness campaign was needed. What do you think? I definitely believe front-line staff need more training in this. Let’s see that they get it!
Another key issue for me is dealing with an invisible disability (as I’m sure all of you know, just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there!), which I’ve found particularly frustrating when getting seats on buses or trains! Being young (although sadly no longer a teenager!), I find older people especially tend to disbelieve you - though why anyone would make it up, I don’t know! As flagged in the workshop, this can also be incredibly wearisome for users of disabled toilets, who may need to use the facilities due to an invisible disability. Awareness is the key- and it is worth being aware (ha- see what I did there!) that the Fed is preparing to launch a training scheme for those wishing to teach disability awareness and equality. Will keep you posted on its progress!
Before I go and leave you to your Christmas leftovers, let me give you with some final food for thought (luckily the sort that won’t break that diet!). Given that most of you will have more experience with the Federation than me, it would be great if you could comment on what you like best about it, and what you would like to see more of, thus helping create new year’s resolutions and, of course, new year solutions! I look forward to reading lots of your comments and I wish you all a very happy 2010!
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