Blog

People with learning disabilities are human too – we must all demand change

25th June 2019

Recently the BBC’s Panorama programme exposed appalling abuse of autistic people and people with learning disabilities at Whorlton Hall Hospital in County Durham. Despite political promises, it appears that nothing has changed since the Winterbourne View scandal eight years ago. The parallels between these two cases are striking; in 2011, Panorama showed patients at Winterbourne View being pinned down, assaulted and bullied by staff who wer... Read More »

Fighting Dementia-Sharing the Positives.

9th June 2019

My name is Phil Slater. As it was Dementia Awareness Week recently, I am hoping you would like to read our story. My Dad lived with Dementia for 11 years. My Mom (now 84) and my son, who is now 10 years old helped me to care for my Dad at home for 10 years until he was taken out of our hands (against our wishes) and moved into full time care. Our experience in my Dad’s final year in care is very sad. He was healthy and active, weighing... Read More »

AutismAcceptanceMonth - Awareness is Not Enough

2nd April 2019

Tuesday 2nd April is World Autism Awareness Day, seen as a global opportunity to take action towards improving public awareness of Autism. There are approximately 700,000 Autistic people in the United Kingdom. According to the National Autistic Society, 99.5% of the general population have heard of Autism, but only 16% of Autistic people feel that the public really understand them. The implications of this gap in understanding are felt in all... Read More »

When the Wilderness Called

25th January 2019

We thank Ellie for sharing this blog with us. It is an interesting story on how nature has and is helping you overcome anxiety. My interest in the natural world came back to me at a time in my life, when I really needed something to occupy my mind. During this period the state of my anxiety was at its lowest ebb and I did not know where I fitted in. As a result, I was regularly frustrated, upset a lot and spent large amounts of time in my bedroo... Read More »

Charity Titan Zip Wire Challenge - Part Three

18th December 2018

Part Three In the last edition of my blog, we had reached the point where we were waiting with mounting excitement to be called forward for our team’s turn. Suddenly it was time to kit up and venture upwards.  We were given red overalls.  Mine seemed to have been made for someone twelve inches taller than myself, so I found I was wiping out my footprints as I walked.  We had hard hats and goggles.  Trying to fit the goggles over my gl... Read More »

Treat the individual or change society? Disability as a social construct

5th December 2018

Monday 3rd December 2018 is recognised as International Day of People with Disabilities. Thomas Vaughan from Autonomy has written this blog "Treat the individual or change society? Disability as a social construct". Thomas works for Capgemini in Telford, and recently became co-chair of their UK Disability Network. "3rd December has been designated as UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities since 1992. The theme for 2018 is ‘empowe... Read More »

Charity Titan Zip Wire Challenge - Part Two

26th November 2018

Part Two You may remember that we were now one team member short, when Allan, my husband felt he could not face the heights.  Luckily, in his place, I was able to recruit a colleague from our local quiz team.  Steve was raring to go and volunteered to carry Maude. October 6th, 2018, the big day, dawned wet, cold and miserable.  We had been checking the weather forecast all week and were not heartened by the impending rain.  At 0845 Stev... Read More »

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) by Beth Harrison

19th November 2018

Shropshire Disability Network has seen an increasing number of parents contacting them in relation to Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder which sadly seems to be escalating. What is Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a term used to describe impacts on the brain and body of children exposed to significant amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.  FASD is a lifelong disability caused by brain damage... Read More »

Charity Titan Zip Wire Challenge, October 2018 by Ann Shaw, Secretary SDN

12th November 2018

Titan Zip Wire Blog Part One My friend Jess is a very brave person.  She continually pushes the boundaries of what people believe a person living with disabilities can achieve.  She has published 3 books with her mum, Jo.  She has won a gold medal for playing Boccia in the Special Olympics, despite only taking up the sport recently. Each year she raises money for charity by challenging her mum to take part in something that takes Jo o... Read More »

Enter if you dare!

22nd March 2018

How would you react if you received an invitation to enter a Dragons Den?  Would you accept or decline such an offer? When the invite dropped into our Chair’s inbox, all sorts of things entered her head. Would it be a fire spewing serpent or reptile or some monster? Would she get out alive or manage to escape unscathed? Reading further, Ruby discovered it would be similar to the TV programme but the invitation was to “pitch” to some friend... Read More »

An Eye Opening Experience-Wheelchair Access Day

20th November 2017

Courtesy of Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors we are able to share this blog with you. Emma Bloomfield, Associate Solicitor-Clinical Negligence and her colleague Dawn Humphries had an eye opening experience at a Wheelchair Awareness Day in Birmingham hosted by No 5 Barristers Chambers, SDN says: "This blog is a must read, Are we really living in the 21st Century?  There is so much that needs to be done to enable people with a disability to have t... Read More »