Quckie!

Any one who has a Disabled Blue Badge or Disabled Persons RailCard can get a free copy of "Accessible guide to Britain" by clicking here :)

Lady Gogos’ Guide to Disability Awareness Month Part 1!

Lesson 1 Name Calling!

As mentioned in the post below from November 22nd to December 22nd the UK is holding its first Disability Awareness Month.

I first and foremost do not claim to be a disability expert or am I voicing views and stories of anyone but myself. You may not believe some of what I will write below but I have witnesses (and anyway you should believe me, as much as I want to be a writer, I could not make these up!).

The dictionary definition of Disabled is as follows...

disabled–adjective

crippled; injured; incapacitated.

noun

( used with a plural verb ) persons who are crippled, injured, or incapacitated (usually prec. by the ): Ramps have been installed at the entrances to accommodate the disabled.

When it comes to labelling disability, I generally (99%) couldn’t care less what you called me.

I call my CEA (Cinema Exhibitors Association) card my “Cripple discount” at the cinema but to the rest of the cinema ticket queues disgust, I don’t understand why they tut, I’m calling myself a cripple.

I’ve been called a Cripple, Spaz, Freak, Flid, Spastic, disabled bird/mate/girlfriend, Gimp, Retard, Handicapp but my least favourite is; Invalid. I hate it because it implies I’m In – valid, as in; not a valid person... I can assure you I am thank you!



Don't call me Invalid... I WILL run you over 

 What doesn’t offended me, may offend my fellow Crip so be careful. “Sticks and Stones may break my bones (especially if I had Brittle Bone disease) but names can never hurt me” sadly this childhood rhyme doesn’t ring true, as I said name calling these days don’t generally bother me, but there are days like any abled/disabled person when I am not feeling myself (See Whats Attractive?) and those names ring in my head. Not so much the name but the tone in which they were projected in.

L x

P.S A shout out to the lad at the Argos/Queensway bus stop who winked, raised a brow and said “You is some fit unable” andflattered by the comment I didn’t have the heart to correct his obvious grammar issues!

Don't call me an Invalid... I will run you over!

Disability History Month

For the first time the UK is having Disability History Month from the 22nd of November to the 22nd of December, including rights for suffers of Aids/HIV and tackling basic Human rights issues.

This all began when the United Nations had a whole decade dedicated to Disability rights (1983-1992) so that governments could understand the needs and rights of disabled people and improve their living conditions, their chances to work and become a valued member of society.

In 1992 the UN proclaimed that every year December 3rd would be the International Day of Disabled Persons, which later became International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

On the 3rd of December governments, schools and businesses are encouraged to look into bullying against disabled people, discrimination in the work place and to also take a look back into the harsh realities disabled people faced in the years gone by.

It is thought that up to 80% of disabled children in school are bullied or outcast by their peers. Hate crimes and poverty are rife amongst disabled people. Plus only 48% have jobs compared to 80% of non disabled people.

The day is already supported by trade unions, disability charities and voluntary organisations, and with 12 million registered disabled people in the UK I think a month of celebrating, our differences and learning about our difficulties, could only be a positive thing.

For more information and up to date news go to the Disabled History website at; UK Disability History Month

L x