Author: jamiehale

An image showing the inaccessible entrance to the UCL Department of Political Science

June 28, 2019

Wheelchair Access – why it matters

When non-disabled people attend inaccessible events, they’re building their careers by treading on disabled people. Why does this matter?

Image is titled "The Medical Model of Disability". On the left there is a circle with a person inside, titled "the individual". Inside the circle are lots of arrows pointed away from the person saying "barriers". Outside the circle, on the right, it says "social barriers" with arrows going down to three more bubbles. The first says "environment inaccessible, buildings, services, language, communication", the second says "attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination" and the third says "organisations, inflexible, procedures paths" pairments and chronic illness often pose real difficulties but they are not the main problems". Below that, it says "traditional view" in a bubble, with arrows pointing down to three more bubbles. The first of those says "disability is caused by physical, medical, sensory impairment", "the individual is impaired and is the problem" and "focus of the medical profession cure & alleviate the effects of impairment"

Articles / Disability Politics

June 24, 2019

Disability Politics: the social model

The social model of disability teaches us that our activist focus should be on changing society, not our bodies – but how does that work in practice?

Image of comparison between mental and physical illness

Articles

June 17, 2019

If we treated mental illness like we do physical illness… nobody would be treated any better

The argument often goes that if mental illness was treated like physical illness people would get better treatment. I disagree

Articles / The Personal Assistant series

June 13, 2019

The PA Series: Introducing Care Agencies

Introducing care agencies – how they operate and some of the advantages and disadvantages I’ve found with them.

Articles / Disability Politics

June 10, 2019

Disability Politics: the medical model

The medical model of disability tells me I’m fundamentally broken and in need of fixing – but is this true?

The picture has a dark background with white pinpricks that are stars. Jamie is lying in a hospital bed, bathed in piunk and blue light.

Articles / Performance / Poetry

June 5, 2019

NOT DYING

#NotDying is my first poetry show, and you have an exclusive chance to see it on the 6th June – don’t miss this

Image shows a cartoon that explains the difference between the medical and social models of disability. Specifically, it shows a person in a wheelchair at the bottom of the steps. On the right is a caption saying “they should build a ramp” and on the left is a caption saying that the “impairment is the problem”)

Articles / Personal

April 2, 2019

Complaining About Access: How non-disabled people can help

It is a sadly common fact for disabled people (and in the context of this blog, specifically wheelchair users) to be blocked from attending events because of a lack of access, but whenever I discuss this with non-disabled people, they’re...

Performance / Personal / Poetry

March 1, 2019

Wheeled – a poem for International Wheelchair Day

Wheeled I am wheeled. My weightin legs as flesh made solid ashalf dead and halfalive as weakness but I. I – my movement joy. Myleap up jagged kerbs. Myspeed. I trail people; walking –half running. Failing tocatch me. I keep...

A person is seated. A wheelchair headrest is visible behind them. The image is dark, but their hair is a bright blue. Their t-shirt is blace, and says "PISS ON PITY" in bright pink. They are wearing a microphone and glasses.

Articles / Personal

February 15, 2019

Pacing and priorities: managing energy impairment

A friend recently asked me how I manage to not use social media excessively and balance energy requirements to achieve things I want to. In writing up my answer, I thought it might be useful for people other than them,...