To the families I meet with disabled children

October 25, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Sometimes I forget how privileged I am to be who I am. Some people will be surprised to read this but this is why… I have a disabled community I know who I look to if and when I need. I am ambitious and I am ultimately proud of being disabled. It’s taken years to […]

Top tips for networking when you’re a wheelchair user

October 5, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I don’t know if you know this, I LOVE chatting to people. But, I know that networking can be awkward and sometimes I can have moments where I’m cringing and I don’t feel confident enough to be at the said event. When I say networking, that might sound a bit ooh la la. But I […]

Why I’ve stopped filling in the silence

August 28, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

gem to the side smiling with bag on the back

I’ve said it before, I love small talk. But sometimes I can go too far. When I meet people I give it 100%, whoever it is from someone who’s opening a door for me or a person at the till. I will try to make them laugh, come out with sarcastic jokes and get to […]

“Mum, shall a tell ’em am disabled?” | Disability and Employment

August 12, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

Recently I wrote a blog about jobs and careers for the Brittle Bone Society which you can read here. In a nut shell it’s me talking about the fact that I didn’t really see myself having a job, not because I couldn’t do it – but that the world wasn’t set up for me to. […]

To lean or not to lean? | Disability and Socialising

July 6, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

I’m going to put this post out there, just so you can ponder this question yourself. There is no right answer but I know I have mine. Picture the scene – you see me at a networking event, I raise my chair but I’m still lower than everyone there. We say hello but you can’t […]

An Interview with Shani Dhanda: What is the Diversability Card?

May 2, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’ve known Shani for a few years now. I can tell you she’s hilarious, always has a cuppa in her hand whilst talking about how to tackle barriers we face as disabled people in the world. She is one of those friends who I can just whats app and talk about projects we’re up to […]

Wheel Appeal

November 25, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

Bit of a weird title, I know. I couldn’t think of a good one so this is all we’ve got. I started driving when I was 2 years old, I think anyway. Apparently when I first got my chair I would only drive in cirlces. Dad would say “try and go forward Gem” obviously I […]

Oh Yes, The Accessible Entrance is Round The Back – Behind the Bins

August 21, 2017.Reading time 3 minutes.

Recently I went to Bill’s in Leeds to celebrate dad’s birthday (Happy birthday dad if you’ve google searched my blog and having a cheeky read). It was lovely and the food was divine. When I go to Bill’s and many other places I have to use the ‘entrance’ at the back which is step free, […]

Isn’t She Brave? | Sympathy and Disability

July 23, 2017.Reading time 3 minutes.

It was a Friday, my day off. Lovely. I had just been for a pub lunch with my friend. I’d eaten way too much and had a pint of coke so I was feeling a little bit giddy. On our way back I was laughing at everything. You know one of those moods. The sun […]

5 Products That Make Life Easier

July 16, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

I like to make my life as easier as possible, whenever possible. As a disabled person I have to constantly look at products and see if I will be able to use them. If it means it will cut my routine time or take less energy, I’m in. So I thought I’d use this post […]