PosAbility – December / January 2019/20 by 2A Publishing

DEC/JAN

2019/20

MAGAZINE STOMA

CHRISTMAS

SPORT

We talk to Eilidh Gow about coming out of the stoma closet

Everything you need to get into the festive spirit

GB athletes clean up at the Worlds in Dubai

It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, it’s how you play them. BP is proud to help advance the Paralympic Movement for over 10 years.

Tatyana McFadden Wheelchair racer United States

keep advancing

Welcome DEC/JAN 2019/20

Ros EDITOR

It is the most wonderful time of the year; the radio is filled with Christmas songs on a loop, we eat chocolate for breakfast, the neighbours adorn their houses with lights that resemble the Blackpool illuminations and we indulge in mulled wine and selection boxes. Love it or hate it, the festive season is well and truly upon us. If you are struggling to get into the Christmas spirit, don’t worry, we have you covered! From ideas to keep the kids amused, snacks to prepare and films to watch, this issue is filled with everything to keep you going this Christmas.

If you need a break from our festive ramblings we have some other things for you to read too. We round up the success of our athletes as they dominated the world stage in Dubai at the World Para Athletics, we look at some adventurous activities you may want to get involved in instead of going to a boring gym, and we spoke to Eilidh Gow about coming out of the stoma closet and sharing her experience of life with a stoma with the world. There are some great competitions in this issue too! MERU are giving away adapted toys in time for Christmas so turn to page 65 if you have little ones who would love a dancing llama, Mr Tumble or a Scalextric set! St Moritz Hotel are also offering a two-night stay in their beautiful, accessible hotel in Cornwall so get entering on page 51 and you could be relaxing there in the new year.

Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writer: Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Sales: Val Speers

CONTRIBUTORS

Jane Hatton, Sam Renke, Mik Scarlet, Dan White, Janet Myers, Lucy Mills

DISCLAIMER

PosAbility Magazine is published by 2A Publishing Limited. The views expressed in PosAbility Magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. Reproduction in part or in whole is strictly prohibited without the explicit written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2019 ©2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2049-2251

Contact Details: Caledonia House, Evanton Drive, Thornliebank Ind. Est., Glasgow, G46 8JT Tel: 0141 465 2960 Fax: 0141 258 7783 enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk posabilitymagazine.co.uk

Finally, we would like to thank all our wonderful readers and contributors for supporting PosAbility this year and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We will see you all in 2020.

DEC/JAN

2019/20

MAGAZINE

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STOMA

CHRISTMAS

SPORT

We talk to Eilidh Gow about coming out of the stoma closet

Everything you need to get into the festive spirit

GB athletes clean up at the Worlds in Dubai

To ﬁnd out more about subscribing to PosAbility Magazine turn to p82 1 – Cover.indd 1

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29/11/2019 15:51

13 CHRISTMAS CRACKERS In the immortal words of Slade: ITTTTT’S CHRIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAAAS

News, stories and updates

40 IN THE KNOW

BRATISLA

07 FYI

RS VISIT YE

JANET M

DEC/JAN 2019/20 | ISSUE 52

We look into some misunderstood and less commonly spoken about mental health conditions

43 MOBILITY POWER Powerchairs and scooters can offer freedom and independence

48 PRETTIER THAN A BUTTHOLE 19 HELPLESS Sam Renke breaks through feelings of helplessness without her PA

PosAbility speaks to Eilidh Gow about her life with a stoma

51 COMPETITION TIME 20 A FESTIVE FEAST When your guests have dietary requirements, what do you serve for Christmas dinner?

22 GET FIT FUN The gym is boring, so get ﬁt with these fun alternatives

24 DOMINATION AT THE WORLDS GB smashed it at the World Para Athletic Championships in Dubai last month

30 CHRISTMAS NIGHT OUT ESSENTIALS ‘Tis the season to be embarrassing yourself in front of HR once again

33 OH NO, NOT ANOTHER RANT This column from Mik Scarlet might leave you feeling a little uncomfortable…

34 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST Beautiful and practical gifts for your stocking

Win an accessible break in Cornwall

52 SLOVAKIAN SECRETS Janet Myers guides us through the secret sights and sounds of Bratislava

59 WIN A MINI LEGO YOU Miniﬁgs.me give away a voucher to turn yourself into a LEGO character

61 KIDS’ CORNER This issue we have more on Christmas, Neil Diamond, and the movie Last Christmas in our Future Voices column

72 BLUE BADGE BLUES What do you do if you’re confronted over using a Blue Badge parking bay?

74 EMBRACING INDEPENDENCE Exploring the beneﬁts of installing a stairlift or home lift

76 A YEAR IN REVIEW 2019: What happened this year? We’re not even sure we remember

38 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Made a resolution? We want to help you stick to it

79 DREAM JOB Jane Hatton explains what you need to do in order to get the job of your dreams

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION News and stories from around the world

SOUNDPIT RETURNS TO SOUTHBANK CENTRE

TICKETMASTER MAKES GIGGING MORE ACCESSIBLE

icketing giants Ticketmaster have announced a new scheme which will make it easier than ever before for disabled people to get gig tickets.

ave you ever wondered what sound feels like? Or what music looks like? Returning to Southbank Centre, Soundpit is an accessible, sensory experience perfect for kids big and small. Explore sound, vision and touch in beautifully illuminated giant sandpits. Create music and sound with your own movement and become the composer of your very own masterpieces. Created by artist Di Mainstone, Soundpit is an immersive, exploratory space.

The move comes as the company attempts to overcome the additional barriers that disabled people face when both trying to purchase tickets for an event and ﬁnd out if the venue suits their accessibility needs. Previously, disabled gig-goers may have had to call a premium rate line to purchase their tickets, or provide evidence to venues which proves their disabilities, which constituted a

signiﬁcant amount of additional effort. Ticketmaster’s new scheme will allow disabled music lovers to create a proﬁle on their website which binds their accessibility needs to their account. They will only ever have to do this once, eliminating any additional effort required in making online bookings. The scheme has been trialled at Glasgow’s SEC and the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena. Potential gig-goers will also be able to see clearly labelled accessible seating on the seat map, which includes seats within range of the hearing loop or wheelchair zones, and some venues will provide free companion tickets.

Soundpit opens on Saturday 23 November and is open on weekends and during school holidays until Sunday 23 February. The installation is closed throughout January and has limited opening hours over Christmas. There are seven 45-minute sessions each day that Soundpit is open. Sessions run hourly from 10.15am until 4.15pm. While you’re here, visit Southbank Centre’s twinkling Winter Market, open until Sunday 5 January. Please note, all spaces at Southbank Centre are wheelchair accessible. Find out more: bit.ly/2WGXaTE

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RETAILERS GO PURPLE FOR DISABLED CUSTOMERS

n 12 November, retailers including Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and shopping centres owned by Intu encouraged disabled shoppers to come into their stores for a day of accessible shopping. Purple Tuesday is an annual event which sets out to tackle the poor customer service which is reported by disabled shoppers across the UK, with retailers like M&S taking the stance that every day should be accessible, and introducing a number of resources for staff in order to help the retailer be more disability conﬁdent. In a statement, Zoe Mountford, lead sustainability manager at M&S, said: “We’re committed to making M&S the UK’s most

accessible retailer, whether customers are shopping online or in-store. Earlier this year we became the first retailer to introduce sunflower lanyards for customers with hidden disabilities into all of our stores, this came one year after we launched daywear for children with disabilities and two years after we published AccessAble Guides. We know that the very best thing we can do is give great service and we work hard to make sure all our 80,000 colleagues feel disability confident. “Purple Tuesday is a great opportunity to remind our stores of all the great resources we have introduced over the past year, such as our colleague guide on how to support customers who are hard of hearing and our top tips video on how to be confident serving customers with disabilities.”

BAYLEY BOWS OUT OF STRICTLY AFTER INJURY

aralympic gold medallist Will Bayley was forced to leave Strictly Come Dancing after doing some serious damage to his knee during rehearsals.

Table tennis star Bayley, who won a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Paralympics, was given a bye in week six of the competition, but was told by the show’s medics that he was not to return due to the severity of his injury. Later, he revealed the extent of his injuries on Twitter, saying: “I have a full tear of my ACL not the best news, but this gives me a brilliant opportunity to work on other parts of my game that I could improve. I don’t see why I can’t be an even better play [because] of this! I will be back to ﬁght in Tokyo!” Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common injury sustained during sports while

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jumping and turning, and can often require surgery to correct – but Bayley has not conﬁrmed if his injury is so severe that it requires surgical intervention. Bayley has set his sights on getting ﬁt for Tokyo 2020, where he aims to continue his gold medal Paralympic run.

CHILDREN IN NEED RAISES £48M

star-studded Children in Need raised a whopping £47.9m for over 3,000 charitable projects around the UK on 15 November. The charity raises money which helps children and young people around the country whose lives are affected by poverty, disability, or who are victims of abuse or neglect. This year’s appeal was hosted by Paralympian Ade Adepitan, Tess Daly, Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc, and Marvin and Rochelle Humes. Alongside special episodes of Mock the Week, Dragon’s Den, the denizens of Albert Square took to the danceﬂoor for a one-off episode of Strictly Come Dancing. Members of the England Amputee Football Association were also surprised

LATEST

TWEETS

Laura Elliott @TinyWriterLaura GUESS WHO’S LEAVING THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 2 MONTHS TODAY? when England football stars Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Raheem Sterling turned up for a kickabout. TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal took on the challenge of singing karaoke for 24 straight hours on BBC Radio 2, and raised more than £1m on his own with the feat.

AIRBNB JOINS WITH PARALYMPICS TO HOST THE WORLD

nline lodging providers Airbnb have teamed up with the International Olympic Committee to assist in providing lodging for both Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the course of the next ﬁve Games. The pairing will see Airbnb help to secure hosts in Tokyo, Beijing, Paris, Milan-Cortana and LA to create “travel experiences” for both Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their hosts, creating an intercultural exchange which beneﬁts both the athletes and the communities they will be staying in. Airbnb are also calling on athletes to take part in Airbnb Experiences, which will see them host one-of-akind activities to promote both their skills and their local culture to guests visiting for the Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Alongside this, the company are championing diversity and inclusion by sourcing accessible accommodation and adapted experiences, as well as ensuring gender equality in hosting and sport. They will also aim to establish programmes which provide long-term support to refugees.

IT’S ME IT’S ME IT’S ME! suck it, illnesses.

Mik Scarlet @MikScarlet I’m making a vow to myself. Never again will I let a surgeon near me, unless it’s life or death. End of. No tinkering, no making me more “normal”. No invasive tests. I’ve had it with it all.

Eugene Grant @MrEugeneGrant Ps: I am ﬁercely proud of who and what I am. My #DwarfPride burns deep inside me. It can’t be dampened by a few insecure, drunk w*nkpufﬁns who think they’re brave. Remember that.

Ayah @AyahsHope As we head into the holidays, please don’t forget your #disabled family and friends. They may not say anything when they are left out but it rubs salt in their wounds. And don’t feel guilty! They don’t want that either. #Thanksgiving

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CHARITY URGES BUSINESSES TO CHECK EMERGENCY CORDS

uan’s Guide took World Toilet Day on 19 November to ask businesses to make sure that the red emergency cords in their accessible toilets work. The charity regularly receives comments and complaints from disabled people who have been unable to access the red emergency cord, preventing them from being able to get help in the instance of an emergency. One told Euan’s Guide: “…today I’ve spent 45 minutes on a disabled toilet floor waiting for the emergency pull bell to be answered after I slipped and fell. It took a friend phoning the hospital reception for me to be rescued. I’m in agony and very upset and not even graced with an apology.” Red emergency cords should not be cut short, or be tied so that they’re “out of the way,” but many people find that the cords don’t touch the floor and cannot be easily reached. Euan’s Guide asked organisations to both test their red emergency cords to see if they work correctly, and make sure that they’re installed correctly, with the hopes these checks will become a regular occurrence, like any other alarm installed in a public building.

HOME DEMANDS URGENT ACTION ON ACCESSIBLE HOUSING

en charities and organisations have banded together to create the coalition HoME – Housing Made

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Taking control means you never have to feel vulnerable or compromise your independence.” Sam Renke, p19

for Everyone – in order to call on the government to combat the fact that only 7% of housing in England is accessible. In an open letter, the coalition said: “As we build more homes, it’s more important than ever that we build the right homes. The current lack of standards for ofﬁce-to-residential conversions has resulted in some poor-quality housing, much of it with inadequate space. We are concerned that accelerated planning or extending permitted development rights could also result in yet more homes failing to meet basic accessibility standards, when we

urgently need to be increasing the availability of accessible homes.” Amongst the signatories were Kamran Mallick of DRUK, Sheron Carter of Habinteg Housing, and Kate Henderson of the National Housing Federation. They concluded: “Without action, we face an ever-mounting bill with councils spending greater sums on trying to adapt homes retrospectively and the costs to our health and social care systems spiralling. The cost to individuals is no less damaging. Now is the time to ensure that everyone’s right to a safe and accessible home is met, today and in the years to come.”

ASSURANCE FOR WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU

OUR MULTI-AWARD-WINNING COMPACT SUV NOW ON MOTABILIT Y Experience a car that’s designed to put you first, from the inside out. With our Motability Scheme offers, the multi-award-winning XC40 could be yours for less. Enjoy the comprehensive range of features on our compact SUV, which simplify your journey from start to finish. Intuitive 9-inch Touch Screen | Volvo On Call Optional Park Assist Pilot | Optional programmable tailgate opening height Euro NCAP five-star safety rating | 479 litres of load space VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/MOTABILITY

Fuel consumption and CO2* figures for the Volvo XC40 range, in MPG (l/100km): WLTP Combined 31.0 – 141.1 (9.1 – 2.0). NEDC CO2 emissions 168 – 41g/km. Twin Engine WLTP electric energy consumption 3.7 – 4.0 miles/kWh. Twin Engine WLTP all electric range 26.1 – 28.0 miles. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. *There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown, however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. Metallic Paint is included free of charge. To be eligible to join the Motability Scheme you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment, which will be taken in lieu of the four-weekly rental for 36 months’ duration. 60,000 mile allowance over 3 years; excess mileage charges may apply. Available at participating retailers. Offer not available with other promotions and may be subject to change. For full terms and conditions, visit www.motability.co.uk. Motability Contract Hire Scheme is administered by Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB.

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Are you hanging up your stockings on the wall? It’s the time that every Santa has a ball! Don’t worry about ﬁlling your time - or your stomach - this Christmas, we’ve got you covered!

MOVIES

Need to watch something to get in the Christmas spirit? Here’s a few of our favourites:

THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL If anyone tries to tell you there’s a better Christmas movie than this, don’t let them away with such sacrilege. This adorable musical is just as festive as it is funny, and it’s perfect for all the family.

SCROOGED A classic Bill Murray caper sees another modern take on Charles Dickens’ traditional tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s Christmas revelations. If you’re looking for a really good laugh this Christmas, this is the ﬁlm to go for.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET Editor Ros-approved pick Miracle on 34th Street sees a young man defend old Saint Nick in court after he is institutionalised for claiming to be the real Santa Claus. The original is still the absolute best, but kids may be more inclined to watch the 1994 remake with Matilda’s Mara Wilson.

ELF If Elf isn’t on the telly at least 20 times a day, is it really Christmas? Will Ferrell provides the laughs as Buddy the Elf, a human who was raised in the North Pole. He decides to travel to New York to meet his real father, who turns out to be on Santa’s naughty list.

This is deﬁnitely going to be a favourite of all the mums and grans out there, and for good reason. It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of George Bailey, saved from suicide by his guardian angel who shows him just how much he means to the world.

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02 SONGS PLAY

Last Christmas

Wham!

1986

Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)

The Darkness

2003

Oi! To the World

The Vandals

1996

Feliz Navidad

José Feliciano

1970

Driving Home for Christmas

Chris Rea

1988

2000 Miles

The Pretenders

1983

It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop

Frightened Rabbit

2007

Step into Christmas

Elton John

1973

Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)

The Ramones

1988

O Holy Night

Josh Groban

2007

03 FOOD

You may be aware that we at PosAbility love a bit of a snack, especially at Christmas when everything is “go big or go home”. Here’s a few of our seasonal faves for you and yours this festive season.

BAILEYS CHOCOLATE YULE LOG How much do you love your family? Do you love them enough to give them a sliver of your precious, delicious Baileys Chocolate Yule Log? Over my dead yet festive body will anyone take this from me. It’s a bargain too - only £5 in Asda! Asda | £5

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MARKS AND SPENCER COLLECTION BRIE EN CROT We’re lost for words trying to describe just how stunning this Marks and Spencer cheese dish looks. Just look at it - a beautiful big bowl of puff pastry stuffed to the brim with brie, rosemary and garlic. Never mind the bread, let me stick my face in it. Marks & Spencer | £12.99

HALLOUMI WRAPPED IN BACON How can pigs in blankets be improved upon? Sweet, succulent sausagey goodness, wrapped in delicious bacon? Aldi have cracked the case: swap out the sausage for everyone’s favourite squeaky cheese: halloumi. We’re in awe. Aldi | £2.49

CHOCOLATE, CARAMEL & VANILLA CHOUX WREATH If you’re putting this out for Christmas dinner, please contact the Pos Mag team immediately because we are absolutely desperate for a piece of this. Crisp choux pastry surrounds sweet vanilla cream, topped with Swiss chocolate fondant, white chocolate curls and salted caramel sauce. Waitrose | £13.99

CHRISTMAS CHEERS Everyone loves a special tipple on Christmas day, so we’ve found a couple of libations (and a few non-alcoholic beverages) for a very merry Christmas.

SLOW COOKER BAILEYS HOT CHOCOLATE You’ve never tasted indulgence like this. In a slow cooker, mix a 75cl bottle of Baileys, 500ml of extra thick double cream, 300g of ﬁnely chopped extra dark chocolate, and 2 pints of whole milk. You can half the measurements if you’re not feeding the 500. Let this simmer away for 2 hours, stirring infrequently. Garnish with marshmallows and a Flake for that extra touch.

FAUX FIZZ This one is care of the BBC’s Good Food Guide: make a simple syrup by adding a sliced pear, four dried apricots, 75g golden caster sugar, 25g honey, a few sprigs of rosemary, and a strip of lemon zest to 100ml of water in a saucepan. Reduce to a syrup, add 2tsp of apple cider vinegar, then leave to cool. When you’re serving, add a shot of the syrup to a glass and top off with sparkling water, then garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

NOMOSA We feel as though we may be insulting your intelligence a little with this one to be honest. Some people like to break out the mimosas as a fancy treat to have with breakfast at Christmas, but for kids and people who don’t drink alcohol, it’s not really a treat to miss out. Fill a champagne ﬂute with equal parts quality orange juice and sparkling white grape juice and you have your nomosa! If you’re feeling fancy - of course you are garnish with an orange slice. twist.

MULLED WINE It’s surprisingly easy to mull some wine! Zest a lemon and two clementines, then juice them. In a saucepan, add the juice, the zest, 500ml of water, and a few sticks of cinnamon. Throw in a bottle of red wine (dealer’s choice) and a clove-studded clementine, with 60ml of Cointreau and two tablespoons of brown sugar. Let it boil until the sugar disappears, then reduce it to a simmer. Leave it for 30 mins, then share around with people you really like.

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WHAT TO DO

The challenge of staying occupied over Christmas is not an easy one, and the kids will only watch so many movies. What about a wee day out with the family over Yuletide?

HIT THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

TURN ON THE BIG LIGHTS

Given the speed these markets pop up, there’s probably one being pitched in your back garden without you noticing. Head to your nearest city to enjoy some German food (please try some lebkuchen it’s incredible), some hot boozy drinks, and handmade gifts. Maybe if you’re lucky, there will also be the traditional Christmas fare of churros. Ok they’re not traditional, but they’re so good.

Again, this is one for fans of D- to Z-list celebrity spotting, which makes for quite the fun pastime in the months of November and December. Every city, town, village, and shopping centre will be turning their lights on towards Christmas, and they make for a great family night out. Grab a few hot chocolates, wrap up warm, and head into the town centre to watch the same decorations that have been there since 1993 being lit up against a dark winter sky.

TAKE IN A PANTO

DIY DECOR

Nothing says “Christmas” like the highdrag, camp spirit of the quintessentially British pantomime (oh no it doesn’t, oh yes it does etc). Theatres across the country will be full to the rafters of exsoap stars, and weirdly, Grado if you’re in Glasgow, proving their acting chops in front of the most selective of audiences: wriggly, easily irritated children. If you can’t make it out, ITV often show re-runs of old pantos featuring the likes of Ed Byrne and Harry Hill, which are always worth a watch.

If you’ve got loads of time and nowhere to go this Christmas, why not get crafty with the kids? The Christmas tree can always do with a few more decorations, and it’s really fun for the little ones to get involved with making their own to adorn your festive fir. Paper snowflakes are a nice, safe choice, and the only thing that can really go wrong is you’ll never stop finding tiny bits of paper in your carpet. If you’re really up for a challenge, why not make some marshmallow snowmen, or some Rudolph biscuits to serve after Christmas dinner?

DECORATIONS

Make sure your halls are thoroughly decked with some of the best - but most reasonably priced - Christmas decorations on the market this year!

COSMO BLACK GLASS CHRISTMAS TREE Who needs an unwieldy, massive tree when you can just get this cute little glass number for your table? Little trees like this are ideal when you don’t have a lot of space to work with in your room, and this one from Habitat has inbuilt lights, meaning all you have to do is plug it in and light it up! Habitat | £20

50 PACK CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION SET Is this your ﬁrst Christmas in a new home, or are you looking to refresh your tree on a budget? Are you panicking about getting your decorations sorted? It can be so expensive to accrue all of the bits and bobs you need to decorate your tree in decent time. Worry not - this set from Matalan is a perfect starter kit for those new to the tree decoration game. Matalan | £10

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LUXE SPARKLE ENCAPSULATED GOLD STAR TREE BAUBLE Everyone needs a little bling on their tree at Christmas, and no-one have committed harder to that than Wilko, who have released a stunning range of Christmas decorations for 2019 at extremely reasonable prices. This beautiful little clear bauble is ﬁlled with gilded golden stars, and will twinkle and shine on anyone’s trees. Wilko | £2

FROSTED BRANCHES HANGING TREE Trees take up so much space in a room, and if it makes it difﬁcult to manoeuvre around your home, it might be time to consider ditching the traditional ﬁr tree and opting for something a little more modern and cool. This tree, made from frosted branches, can be hung on walls or the back of a door so that you’re still very much in the festive spirit, but also in the spirit of “moving around your room”. Cox & Cox | From £20

ADVENT CALENDARS What is December if not a time to justify having a tiny wee bit of chocolate for breakfast? It’s Christmas. Go on. We’re not judging you. We’re doing it too. Don’t tell our dentists.

REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER MINIATURE CUPS ADVENT CALENDAR This right here is the reason for the season. Imagine getting to wake up every morning and eat a tiny little Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? That’s how we want to start every day of our lives for the rest of our lives. Do you know someone at Reese’s who can make this happen? If so please give them our email. Thanks. Thank you. Iceland | £5

THE ADVENT CALENDAR Do you want to feel a little fancy this December? Get this chocolate dream on your wall and feel safe in the knowledge that you’re waking up to eat these sumptuous, velvety smooth Hotel Chocolat nibbles, each of which are 50% milk chocolate. The real issue with these is trying to convince yourself that you’re deﬁnitely not going to come in drunk after the Christmas night out and just eat them all at once. Or is that just me? Hotel Chocolat | £12.50

FEELUNIQUE 24 DAY BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDAR If you thought the Hotel Chocolat advent calendar was bougie, get a load of this absolutely incredible advent treat. With an astonishing value of £256, it contains everything you would ever need to look good and feel great at Christmas. Included in this beauty advent calendar are some top beauty brands, like Huda, Shiseido, Beneﬁt, and Aveda. You’ll never want for another beauty product again (haha that’s not true, is it). FeelUnique | £79

CHRISTMAS TEA LOVERS ADVENT CALENDAR Fortnum and Masons is literally where the Queen gets her shopping from, so if that’s not fancy, we truly do not know what is. This advent calendar from the emporium that prides itself on the ﬁnest quality foodstuffs is packed with 24 different teas from across their frankly staggering range. It includes the Royal Blend, which was created for actual royalty, King Edward, in 1902. Fortnum & Mason | £25

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hours a week. I know I am capable of living day to day as independently as possible as I’ve had times with no support, but having a PA, someone who pre-empts my needs, is indeed life-afﬁrming and the positive effect it has on my mental health and my career is phenomenal. We make a great team.

SAM RENKE

That is until last month when my PA took annual leave for a week. I’d arranged cover but when Monday morning came I was left in the lurch.

COLUMNIST

I was so angry and frustrated by this massive inconvenience and that week I truly struggled on my own. There were toiletries and foodstuff out of my reach, my electric chair out of battery and no milk in the fridge. I cursed the person that let me down and felt helpless, something I’d not felt in a long time.

Our favourite teacher-turnedactress, Sam Renke, brings you her take on life and the colourful experiences it throws her way.

HELPLESS

’d say I’m pretty darn independent. I suppose the overwhelming desire to be as independent as possible when you have a disability lies in all that internalised ableism. That “I will show them that I can” attitude, not to mention the fact that it feels pretty good to accomplish tasks. We’ve all had that little rush of adrenaline when you make your friends a roast dinner or you pass your driving test, you take your ﬁrst solo trip on a train or drive your powerchair to your local Tesco’s for a pint of milk - or in my case a bottle of wine. Even those small acts of independence like when you drop something on the ﬂoor and you have to go all mission impossible to get it again can be extremely empowering. Let’s face it, not having to rely on others is gratifying. This is however not to say that help can be a wonderful and liberating thing too. It’s all about getting the right balance. Which I’ve recently found out. When I moved to London some seven years ago I was faced with zero

hours of care because as a ‘newbie’ to the capital I couldn’t apply for any ﬁnancial help from the council until I’d been a resident for some months. Not one to be defeated I exhausted myself and enlisted friends to help me maintain my independence. After almost a year of ﬁghting the system I was awarded my direct payments and the support I needed. Fast forward to 2019 and I have the most wonderful PA Louise for 15.5

“Once the victim mentality had washed over me and I looked at the situation through rational eyes I saw what had happened as a blessing”

Once the victim mentality had washed over me and I looked at the situation through rational eyes I saw what had happened as a blessing. I’d become somewhat too reliant on my PA, some may say co-dependent. My life and my environment had moulded around my PA rather than me, she could reach my toiletries or plug socket to charge my powerchair but none of which was any good if she wasn’t there. Once she returned we rejigged my cupboards, moved some furniture and made my environment somewhere that beneﬁted us both. Life can throw curve balls our way when we least expect it, those who are always there may at some point not be and the support that enriches us could be taken away. It’s up to us to not be at the mercy of external factors. I’m not suggesting we all go and live in a bunker waiting for Armageddon surrounded by cans of baked beans, but we can set back up plans in place, care packages and have a discussion with that one amazing friend to say that maybe one day you may have to call on them for some assistance and have a trial run at showing them how to help you in the shower or fold your wheelchair. Taking control means you never have to feel vulnerable or compromise your independence.

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Feast A FESTIVE

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Make this Christmas extra special for your guests who have dietary requirements.

hristmas is a time for the whole family – be they your relatives or the family you’ve chosen – come together to celebrate. What your “reason for the season” is doesn’t really matter, but what does is that you all come together to celebrate and spend time with each other. This often means sitting down during the festive period to a slap-up meal. If you’re a person who has dietary requirements, this can be extremely daunting. There’s nothing more depressing than having to resign yourself to ﬁlling up on bread or brussels sprouts when everyone else around you is tucking into a succulent turkey dinner. Or maybe you’re hosting someone with dietary requirements for Christmas and you’re just not sure where to start. What even is a nut roast? Well, fear not! PosAbility have put together our nutritional guide to help you and your guests eat their ﬁll this Christmas season.

COELIAC Coeliac disease is often a co-morbid condition associated with diabetes and many other long-term chronic conditions. While people have been known to scoff at those who partake in gluten-free diets, if ignored, coeliac disease can lead to the development of certain cancers of the intestines. If you’ve got a coeliac coming for dinner, it’s easier than you might think to avoid gluten. The charity Coeliac UK posts a phenomenally comprehensive list of foods and drinks which are gluten free and can be enjoyed by the entire family. If you’re worried the loss of gluten in your Christmas dinner might bring with it a sense of blandness, fear not: the BBC’s Good Food Guide published an entire menu for Christmas dinner that can be prepared simply and turns out absolutely stunning. You can ﬁnd this through Google, or on their website’s Christmas Planning section.

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INFLAMMATORY BOWEL CONDITIONS Loyal reader, we bet you’re an expert on colitis and Crohn’s disease after reading our nutritional guide in the October/ November edition, but let’s stay up to speed. At Christmas, we’re all terrible for eating a lot of the wrong things and remembering our bodies actually require some solid nutrition alongside all of the Baileys and pigs in blankets. With that in mind, if you have someone dining with you who lives with an inﬂammatory bowel condition, give them some nutritional but still delicious options. Nadia Lim has an absolutely stunning recipe for salmon with cranberries, parsley and a nut crust which is perfect for Christmas, and available on her website. Additionally, don’t skip on the brussels sprouts, because they’re bursting with potassium, folic acid, ﬁbre and vitamin C. Sorry sprout haters!

ALLERGIES This one is more difﬁcult due to the nebulous nature of the term “allergies” – you’ll need to know exactly what it is your guests are allergic to and cook accordingly, remembering to keep their trigger foods as far away from the kitchen (preferably your house) as is humanly possible. These may also overlap with other requirements – a vegetarian who is allergic to peanuts, for example, is going to eye your nut roast with both terriﬁc fear and suspicion. It’s never a bad idea to double-check with guests if they have dietary requirements and allergies, because these can change all the time, and your observance of their needs can be the difference between the best and worst Christmas ever.

VEGETARIAN AND VEGANS Veggie and vegan food have come a long way since the birth of the painfully boring (for some) nut roast which has tragically graced the plate of every herbivore since Christmas immemorial. Those blessed with the ability to cook will probably see the presence of a vegan or vegetarian at their dinner table as a welcome challenge, so if that sounds like you, head to Olive magazine’s website and check out their incredible meat-free Christmas menu that will have all the meat eaters in the room green with envy. If the thought of making a pithivier frightens you (understandable), don’t panic. Marks and Spencers, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and many other supermarkets have introduced vegan and vegetarian Christmas food this year, so you’ll have everything from the nibbles to the main, to the dessert and drinks covered.

KETOGENIC The ketogenic diet is one that is occasionally recommended to people who live with epilepsy and other disabilities, and sees you eating very low in carbs but very high in fat. This may be quite difﬁcult to line up with your Christmas ideals, as carbohydrates are life. Don’t worry, this diet is a lot easier to cater for than it sounds. Consider everything you would do for a vegetarian guest, then immediately do the opposite. Bacon wrapped turkey. A prime rib. Beef. Salmon in a butter sauce. Turkey in a butter sauce. The internet is loaded with keto recipes, and if you’re worried about dessert? Don’t you dare. Websites like delish are full to the brim with incredible keto recipes.

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GET FIT FUN BY KATIE CAMPBELL

The gym is not fun and no-one truly likes going. Now we’ve admitted this to ourselves, let’s get ﬁt and have fun along the way.

n naught but a few pages, you’ll soon discover exactly how we feel here at PosAbility Magazine about the dreaded, diabolical task of setting a New Years’ resolution (hint: not great). You may have already set your sights on a resolution, in which case, best of luck! For a lot of you, that resolution will involve exercise and getting fit. That almost always leads into a frantic sign-up to the closest (and cheapest) gym, and then almost exactly six weeks of going religiously, followed by three weeks of going but not really feeling it, then two weeks of making excuses, then the cancellation of your membership. As with so many other resolutions, it dies not with a bang but a whimper. This, inherently, is because the gym is a bit crap. There you go, we said it, so you don’t have to keep pretending any more that it’s fun and you like it. It is a bit crap! It is! You’re allowed to say it! What you’re not allowed to do is give up on your resolution just because we’ve all collectively agreed and accepted that noone actually enjoys being on the treadmill for 40 minutes, watching people fitter than you go at double your speed while you think about what you can possibly do to never come back to this awful place. There is more to life than the treadmill, and maybe if you are looking to be a little fitter in 2020, you can check out some of these cool and actually really fun sports to get your heart racing without setting foot in Hell On Earth (ie, the gym).

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ROCK CLIMBING

You want a mental workout? Abs? Arms that look like you’re smuggling melons under your sleeves? Get into rock climbing. There are loads of centres across the country that offer accessible lessons, classes, and accessories, meaning that you can get into it no matter your ability level or disability. There’s a real sense of achievement when you get to the top of the rock face and look down to see exactly how high your own power has taken you.

PARA ICE HOCKEY Sometimes called sledge hockey, it’s played as the name implies: on a sledge. Unlike regular ice hockey, you play with a shortened stick in each hand. If you’re looking for a sport which gives you a great cardiovascular workout and allows you to play as part of a tight-knit team, para ice hockey is for you. Alternatively, you could fulﬁl the stereotype of the “crazed netminder,” speak to no-one, and just generally be fun but dangerous. It’s all about personal preference.

MOUNTAIN BIKING Going a place on a bike: a bit boring, sometimes dangerous, people in cars trying to kill you. Mountain biking: extremely cool, dangerous but in a cool way, also it’s really cool. Have you considered getting out on the mountain trails and taking your bike for a spin? Not only is it extremely fun, it’s an incredibly good workout. Adaptive mountain bikes are on the market for those who require them, opening the sport up to anyone who wants to try it.

KITESURFING It doesn’t seem like the most intense workout, but you won’t be saying that once you’ve tried to hang on to a kite on a blustery coast for 40 minutes. If you’re looking to build upper body strength, there’s deﬁnitely less fun ways of doing it, but why sit on a rowing machine when you could get out into the blistering cold of Great Britain’s coastlines and ﬂing yourself about in the ocean? As above, accessible options are available, so don’t be scared about getting in the water and giving it a shot (maybe wait until spring though, it’s pretty cold).

SNOWSPORTS Did you ever play any of the SSX games on the PlayStation 2? If you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, congratulations on a wasted youth. They were the coolest games on the system, and even if they were a little over-the-top about what you could actually do on a snowboard, they were unbelievably fun. Get the old skis out for winter, pack up your snowboard, or more likely head somewhere and rent them because by God the equipment is expensive, and hit the slopes for some serious cardio.

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Domination AT THE WORLDS O BY ROSALIND TULLOCH Great Britain took the world stage by storm at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

ur incredible athletes displayed powerful performances across the track and field events from 7-15 November in Dubai and saw Great Britain finish third in the medal table. Paul Blake kicked off the medal haul with a gold in the T36 800m in a tense race that saw him take the lead from early and hold the pace to secure his third World Champion title. The following days were filled with outstanding displays of sporting prowess on both the track and in the field events. We witnessed the performances of a lifetime from Sophie Hahn who twice stormed to gold medal glory and broke both of her own world records in the T38 100m and 200m. Speaking after her 200m race she told British Athletics: “It’s incredible, I have no idea where that world record came from, I am still in shock!” This is her fourth consecutive gold in the T38 100m at the World Para Athletic Championships and her second gold in the 200m on this stage. The record-breaking times she clocked here certainly bode well for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Hannah Cockroft and Maria Lyle also raced their way to double gold success on the world stage. Hannah Cockroft started off by taking to the track to ﬁght to retain her World Champion status in the T34 400m, not only did she succeed in doing this but she smashed a world record clocking her best time to date of 16.77 seconds. Hannah commented on her surprise victory: “I haven’t dipped below 17 seconds ever

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in my career, not even in training, so I have no idea where that came from. But I’m so pleased it did on race day.” Teammate Kare Adenegan is still Hannah’s toughest competition, hot on her heels, Kare took home silver in both the T34 100m and 800m. 19-year-old Scottish athlete Maria Lyle also dominated her classiﬁcation as she took gold in both the T35 100m and 200m in two stellar performances.

Kadeena Cox had to settle for silver in the T38 400m following a tough year of health issues and Richard Whitehead ran a season’s best to take silver in the T61 200m.

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DEBUT GLORY Race running was included for the first time in the World Para Athletics Championships and Great Britain stole the show with Gavin Drysdale winning the first ever gold medal and breaking a world record in the men’s RR3 100m and Kayleigh Haggo winning the first ever gold medal in the women’s RR3 100m. The silver medals in both events also went to GB athletes Rafi Solaiman and Ellie Simpson. They have set the bar high for the event going forward and Gavin told British Athletics: “Wow, I can’t believe I just did that! I knew I would probably have to break a world record to win.” “It’s absolutely amazing to have race running included at the Worlds for the first time here in Dubai, it opens up the door for people like me to compete at the highest level. I remember watching London two years ago wishing I could compete at the Worlds one day, so to be here two years later is a bit surreal.”

FIELDS OF GOLD Across the field events our GB athletes cleaned up nicely with new father Aled Davies dedicating his gold in the F63 shot put to his baby daughter as he celebrated with his family after his win. Hollie Arnold retained her World Champion title for the fourth consecutive year with a throw of 44.73m and Jonathan Broom Edwards took gold in the T64 high jump. Joanna Butterfield took home silver in the F51 club throw and Olivia Breen managed a podium finish in the T38 long jump as she took bronze.

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THE WORLDS IN NUMBERS

1400 120 OVER

FROM

ATHLETES COMPETED

NATIONS

GB TOOK THE NUMBER

ON THE 3 SPOT MEDAL TABLE

MEDALS WON BY GB ATHLETES:

6 9 13

BRONZE

2 2 AND

GOLD

CHAMPION TITLE

WORLD RECORDS (BOTH HER OWN)

WE COLLECTED

SILVER

GOLD

TH WORLD

HANNAH COCKROFT ACHIEVED HER

SOPHIE HAHN BROKE

SILVER

MEDALS IN RACE RUNNINGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DEBUT RACES

43 NEW WORLD RECORDS WERE SET OVERALL

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Essentials CHRISTMAS NIGHT OUT

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

It’s that time of year where we don our gladrags and try not to embarrass ourselves in front of the managing director again. Here’s some essential products for your Christmas night out.

Lime Crime Venus Immortalis Palette

This stunning eye shadow palette takes us back to the days where a smokey eye actually required a black eye shadow to pull off. There’s nothing like the classics, right? Lime Crime’s powders have a reputation for being stunningly buttery, easy to blend and having a ridiculous pay-off, so even a beginner make-up artist can’t go wrong with this beautiful black and white palette. Feel Unique | £35

Alcosense Single Use NF Breathalyser Twin Pack

We don’t want to cramp your Christmas night out style here, but we also want you to stay safe during the festive period, and part of that is making sure you’re safe to drive. You’re (probably) an adult and you (probably) know when to stop, but there’s no harm in being extra careful, especially when it can lead to your driver’s licence being taken off of you. Keep these safe for the morning after the night before, and make sure that if you feel like you’re safe to drive, you can also legally drive. Lecture over. Halfords | £5.99

ASOS Jersey Tracksuit Jumpsuit

This jumpsuit is not only incredibly stylish, very flattering, and perfect for a night out, but it’s made of jersey and it feels like your pyjamas. If you have a sensory issue with clothing, this jumpsuit is ideal as it feels exactly like a massive blanket, and it’s extremely flattering for wheelchair users, too. The 100% cotton jumpsuit is also made from responsibly sourced materials that benefit cotton farmers globally. What’s not to love? ASOS | £30

Sophie Star Embellished Zip Top Clutch Bag

Christmas is a time for turning the bling on your ensemble up to eleven, so make sure your sequin-adorned outﬁt has the perfect bag to match. This clutch is big enough to carry all of your Christmas night out essentials (lipstick, purse, perfume, hip ﬂask), and is adorned with a series of beautiful stitched embellishments and sequins. The wrist loop is attached to the zip, so there’s no need to worry about having to fumble to hold onto a tiny little zipper when you’re trying get your purse out at the bar. Monsoon | £30

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Rolly Flats

The only guarantee after a long night out is that your heels are going to absolutely murder your feet, in cold blood, without hesitation or remorse. Heels are beautiful, they look amazing, and your calves look stunning in them. But the pain? Oh Lord, the pain. That’s where Rolly Flats come in: these fold-away pumps can be tucked in your bag for when the horrors of heels become simply too much to deal with. They’re reusable, and come in a massive assortment of colours – there’s even sequin ones! Amazon | £9.99

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BooHoo Man Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal Jumper

If someone is trying to make a “let’s all go on the night out wearing a Christmas jumper, won’t that be fun” thing happen, you can rest easy, because this is the best and most classic Christmas jumper in the world. Snow scene? No thanks. Santa on his sleigh? Seen it, bored of it. Faux knitted jumper with a throwaway line from a classic John Hughes movie emblazed on the front of it? Oh absolutely, where do I put my credit card details? The jumper is available in red or navy, but we prefer a more festive colour scheme. BooHoo | £14

Do you, or the loved one in your life, sport a beautiful bushy beard? Why leave it out of the festivities? This Christmas Tree Beard Kit is both an ideal gift and an absolutely hilarious way to show up to the ofﬁce party. It includes green shimmer paint for that classic Christmas tree and/or Grinch look, and eight decorative clip-in baubles to adorn your facial fuzz for maximum festive fabulousness. Firebox | £9.99

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Bike Wheel LED Lights

The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey

If you’re looking for something to fill your hip flask with over Christmas and New Year, why not take a socially conscious approach to the great British tradition of getting a bit sauced at Christmastime? The Dead Rabbit is a stunning Irish whiskey with delicate notes of bourbon and vanilla under a fiery spice. The pair behind the drink, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, transferred the brand rights to charity Aware NI, a mental health charity in Northern Ireland, meaning they receive 100% of the whiskey’s profits. Amazon | £49.95

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Christmas Tree Beard Kit

What’s more festive than lighting your wheelchair up like a Christmas tree for the sake of festive fun? You could wrap it in tinsel, but that’ll just get stuck around the wheel and in the spokes, and it’ll just end up a whole palaver. These lights are cheap and cheerful, and have seven different settings “for safety and fun,” so you can have an absolutely great laugh during your night on the town, all while not being run over. Who doesn’t love a multi-purpose novelty gift? Men Kind | £15.99

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Holika Holika Face Mask

An artist would never slap paint directly onto a canvas without ﬁrst preparing the canvas. In this case, the canvas has previously been exposed to some serious winter weather, rain, and cold, so it might need a little touch of moisture before the paint can go over it. The canvas is your face, in case that’s not obvious. Holika Holika are superstars of Korean beauty, which has become incredibly popular in 2019, and for good reason. Pop on one of these masks for 15 minutes of solid relaxation after a shower and feel the incredible difference in your skin. Beauty Bay | From £1.95

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MIK SCARLET COLUMNIST

Follow Mik on Twitter

OH, NO, NOT ANOTHER RANT

’m sorry about this. I always prefer to write something uplifting and positive for PosAbility. Of course, anyone who reads my column regularly knows I don't always manage that, and this issue will be one of those grumpier articles. This week I had to have surgery. The reason for the surgery had started a year earlier, but it had taken until February 2019 to see a specialist. So for nearly 18 months I had been battling with a condition that got worse and worse over time. By the time I had my surgery I was taking loads of medication to cope with the impact of this condition, and could feel my health slipping away. In the time between first seeing my GP, then the specialist and finally getting the surgery to remedy the condition, it worsened dramatically and led to lots of other stuff. It's been a rollercoaster where the ride wasn't much fun and it ended with me being on a rather low ebb healthwise. The delay in my treatment could be the target of my rant, but it isn't. I could rant about how the NHS needs more money or staff but I'm not going to rant about that. I feel two elements of my need for surgery need to be highlighted. What first kicked it off was taking a train to Holyhead, for a holiday break to Dublin. Once on board the train I discovered the accessible toilet was out of order. There was an accessible toilet, but it was on the other side of a narrow corridor that my wheelchair wouldn't fit through. As far as the guard considered, there was a toilet I could use, it was just out of reach, for over five hours. By the time I arrived at Holyhead port

@MikScarlet

I was bursting. I rushed to the nearest accessible toilet only to discover a loo that hadn't been cleaned in decades. But beggars can't be choosers. I tried to wash myself after, but as the whole toilet was ﬁlthy, I obviously didn't do a very good job. Only a week after this I came down with a bladder infection. A really bad one. Then another, and another, and so it went on. When I get infections the increase in temperature means I also have a spike in my pain levels, as the scar tissue that traps some nerves in my spine swells. So as well as feeling awful, I was in agony. I don't usually get bladder issues, so I tried all the stuff online. Cranberry juice and drinking gallons of water, but I couldn't shift it. After a few months of this, off I trotted to the GP. It soon transpired I had a resistant strain of infection, so I was given ever stronger and stronger antibiotics to battle the little buggers who had started squatting in my bladder. I was then booked in to have a camera stuck up my willy, to ﬁnd out if everything was OK in there. I won't regale you with the story of that experience. It turned out my urethra was very scarred so the bugs had lodged in there and were causing more problems. Unless I had surgery, I would keep getting infections and might end up unable to pee at all. Eeek. Why did this happen? Well, in 2003 I had surgery on my spine following a car accident. The crash had caused my spine to collapse again, and while having the major reconstruction of my spine I had two nurses insist I must be incontinent, despite it being clearly stated in my notes that I am not. They wanted to catheterise me to be sure. I'd never had this done before, and I was shocked at how much it hurt, and how much I bled afterwards. I proved all was well and this was put on my notes, again. Phew, never again. I hoped. Fast forward to 2016, when again

I needed surgery. Yet again nurses wouldn't believe me about being continent. Yet again I was told I needed to be catheterised. This time it proved difﬁcult. After a few painful attempts at ramming a plastic tube (which is much bigger than you'd expect) up my willy, a urologist who was visiting the ward came to my “aid”. He then went at me in a way that could only be described as assault. By the time he gave up the blood was shooting out my little fella like a fountain. I was rushed to the operating theatre. I won't begin to tell you the story of what happened next but let's say I had to threaten legal action. What this left me with was a scarred urethra, which allowed the infection to embed itself in my body and become untreatable. Which then meant I had to have surgery. Which leads to me today, sitting at home in a great deal of discomfort following corrective surgery. To correct an issue caused by two separate incidents where medical professionals didn't read my notes. If this was the ﬁrst time this had happened, that would be one thing. But it wasn't. I love the NHS, it's saved my life on too many occasions to count. I just wish surgeons wouldn't think they always knew best. I know my body doesn't function like a textbook spinal cord injury patient's, but then I didn't have a textbook spinal injury. I have lots more function than many other people with SCI, as it clearly says in my notes. Which would be obvious if they were read. I understand that this article may be considered over sharing, but I know I'm amongst friends. I expect many of you have similar stories. It seems it's one of the unspoken elements of being disabled. Anyway, next issue won't be quite so medically detailed and sorry if any male readers are now clutching their groins, going ouch! posabilitymagazine.co.uk

We bring you the hottest and most socially and ethically conscious gifts you can buy your loved ones this Christmas

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QUECHUA SNOW HIKING NON-SLIP GRIP Crampons are a quick and easy way to provide an additional sense of safety and security in snowy or icy conditions. These grips give extra traction to the wearer, ﬁtting snugly over their regular shoe. Made of 100% rubber and with steel shafts, these crampons are highly durable and are ideal for the winter months. £7.99 decathlon.co.uk

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HEATTECH FLEECE TURTLENECK Uniqlo’s patented Heattech technology is fast drying, bio-warming, and insulating. This stylish turtleneck is incredibly thin, meaning it’s perfect for layering. The company have recently redesigned its Heattech line, making movement in the clothes even easier. It’s available in an assortment of cool colours, and from size XXS to XXL. £12.90 uniqlo.com/uk

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A08L FREEDOM ELECTRIC FOLDING WHEELCHAIR With a driving range of up to 27 miles and a top speed of 4mph, this electric wheelchair will get you where you need to go, even over rougher urban terrains. This is the lightest electric wheelchair in the Freedom series. The A08L is easily halted using the electromagnetic brakes, which apply when the armrest-mounted joystick is in neutral. From £2,498 shop.springchicken.co.uk

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BEURER HK 55 EASYFIX MULTIFUNCTIONAL HEATING PAD

UNFORGETTABLE MUSIC PLAYER & DIGITAL RADIO With its funky design, this digital radio and music player is perfect for all ages. It comes with a USB drive, which holds up to 1000 songs, that can be plugged directly into the radio, allowing you or a loved one to listen to your own music. The radio features large buttons with simple functions and gives control over accidental button presses.

This innovative heating pad features three different warmth settings, designed to produce soothing heat for the neck, back or shoulders. It can be easily fastened around the trunk of the body like a belt, providing on-thego relief through its intensive heat therapy. The pad is also incredibly safe, with electric sensors preventing it from overheating.

£98.99 dementia.livebetterwith.com

£28.98 amazon.co.uk

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LUMIE VITAMIN L SAD AND ENERGY LIGHT Seasonal affective disorder can make you feel tired, lacking in energy and motivation, and drive you to over-eat. Combat the effects of the winter darkness with this slim therapy light that can be taken anywhere. The Lumie Vitamin L outputs at 10,000 lumens but is energy efﬁcient and UV-free.

FESTIVE PEAR GIFT BOX Give someone you love the gift of relaxation this Christmas. A stunning set including a pear and cinnamon scented soap, body wash, hand wash, and candle. The Shetland Soap Company, based in the far north of Scotland, employ a ﬂeet of disabled staff, making this gift socially conscious as well as beautiful. £40 shetlandsoap.co.uk

£90 boots.com posabilitymagazine.co.uk

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Smelly stuff is always a hit at Christmas, and the soothing scents of honey and oats are the perfect pair to wind down to after a crazy festive period. With an intricate design from ARTHOUSE Unlimited, the artists behind these products live with learning difﬁculties and complex epilepsy, with 100% of their proﬁts supporting the charitable enterprise.

Containing 25 sumptuous chocolates, each of which has been individually handcrafted, this is the ideal gift for the chocolate lover in your life. Harry Specters is a socially conscious chocolatier, who not only provides jobs to people living with autism, but gives back to their community and to social causes. £31 harryschocs.co.uk

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Want to have a feel-good bath? The Soap Co’s beautiful mineral soaks will have you feeling amazing on the inside and out. The product is made by people who are blind, disabled or disadvantaged, and comes in plastic-free packaging, so it’s better for the environment. Oh – and it smells incredible.

Light this beautiful candle and ﬁll the room with the soothing scents of lavender, frankincense, and jasmine. Morgan Jost believes in leaving the world a better place than they found it, so these hand-poured soy candles feature a biodegradable label paraben-free essential oils, and a recyclable lid and container. Half of their proﬁts go to mental health charity Mind.

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New Year, NEW YOU BY KATIE CAMPBELL Every year we make the same resolutions: lose weight, quit smoking, learn to ride a bike; it’s all the same rubbish and we never stick to it. Take a little time before 2020 rears its ugly head to make some half-decent resolutions.

ONLY

OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS

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“N

ew Year, New Me” is a load of tosh. It’s something we tell ourselves in abject desperation, with the weight of a brand-new year bearing down on us as we clamber to make some kind of meaningful change in our lives, spurred on by having to flip a page on a calendar. What? Why? Who truly cares what day you decide to quit smoking or make that big decision to dig the weights you bought on sale at Sports Direct five years ago out of the garage in one last delirious attempt to finally become your town’s very own Arnie? Change is obviously meaningful. Making better decisions is obviously good for you and has incredible and lasting benefits. But did you know that only 8% of people actually achieve their resolutions? Well, now you do. Feeling obligated to make a change in your life will so rarely result in you actually doing something of value that will truly, gloriously change your life for the better.

Go ahead and make a resolution, though: who are we, the resolution police? We’re not going to come to your house and stop you joining the gym or giving up cigarettes. We’re not your dad. If you want to make a resolution, we absolutely think that’s great, but remember: the more pressure you put yourself under, the less likely you are to join the godly ranks of those 8% of people who achieve their resolution. We might not be your dad, but we do have some pretty good advice on how to make sure you set an achievable goal and actually stick to it.

KISS (KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID) The key to a good resolution is to start small and work up. Joining a gym? Not small. Giving up caffeine? As someone who’s tried that more than once, that is the opposite of small. Learning Latin? Unless you’re some kind of incredible omniglot, you might pass that one over. You are the bearer of a noble cause, young resolution keeper, but you might want to dial it back from eleven, otherwise you’re going to ﬁnd yourself getting very frustrated on 3 January when you realise how hard it is to grasp Latin word order. KISS aren’t just your dad’s favourite glam rockers, but it’s a great acronym to remember when you decide to make

any change in your life: “keep it simple, stupid”. Not that we think you’re stupid, you’re not. That’s the acronym, not us. It’s a good concept to keep in your head when you’re making resolutions, though. Want to learn a language? Download an app and do ten minutes every day. Want to get ﬁt? Work up to joining a gym; start small and go for a jog twice a week. Maybe get the Couch to 5k app and work your way up from there. Want to give up caffeine? Very brave of you, but ﬁrst, cut down. Going cold turkey is about as much fun as stabbing yourself in the iris with a broken coffee cup.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP Think about this in terms of probability. 8% of people actually manage their resolution. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re very likely not going to ﬁnd yourself in that group; it’s very exclusive. What actually matters is that you try. Keep trying. You fail? Get up, get back on the horse, stop making excuses for yourself, and keep going. It’s not important that you get to the end, it’s important that you actually try. You might not end up losing ten stone in three weeks and getting signed to Wilhelmina Models, but even if your goal is to lose weight, why not be happy with a few pounds? Even better, why not be happy with getting ﬁt and eating right, which are far more important? The most important part of making a resolution is making sure that you don’t give up on it. That’s where the “resolve” part of “resolution” comes into play.

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS Ok, so your friend has managed to learn rocket science in a matter of days? Your auntie downloaded Duolingo last week and in a matter of hours she’s gone from speaking loudly at French people in English to get her point across, to reading À la recherche du temps perdu in the language Proust intended. In the immortal words of Miss Shania Twain, that don’t impress me much. Who cares what everyone else can do? You’re not everyone else. Maybe you don’t have a predilection towards languages, but you know you can bake a mean Victoria sponge and you’ve always wanted to try making a baked Alaska that’ll make Paul Hollywood quake in his slacks. They’re not easy, you know. Ice cream in an oven is a recipe for disaster. You might not know your silicon from your silicone, but maybe you know your way around a Rangemaster. You have a unique set of skills and talents that your friends and family don’t. So what if you can’t learn a language or do rocket science, can your friend make a baked Alaska? I don’t think so.

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IN THE KNOW BY KATIE CAMPBELL As we reduce the stigma around mental health, we realise that there are mental illnesses we don’t know much about. Put down the DSM-V; we’ve got you covered.

hen the topic of mental health is brought up, a narrative is inadvertently created which excludes people who live with some of the less commonly diagnosed mental health issues. While hard work is being done to reduce the stigma of mental illness, there is still a level of stigma surrounding mental health conditions like schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder – both of which screenwriters for ﬁlm and television like to assign to villains as an excuse for their treachery in movies like Split. There’s more to mental illness than anxiety and depression, and the best way to destroy the stigma around all mental illness is to ensure we understand them. With that, here’s PosAbility Magazine’s primer on the mental illnesses you’re probably less familiar with but are just as valid.

MOOD AFFECTIVE DISORDERS

These mental illnesses are exactly what they say on the tin: they affect a person’s mood. To greatly oversimplify the conditions within this group, you can split them into two categories: those which cause a person’s mood to hyper-intensify (so become very depressed or very happy), and those which make moods cycle between mania and depression rapidly. Major depressive disorder is a wellknown condition in this group, but so is the oft-misunderstood bipolar disorder. People who live with bipolar disorder experience periods of mania (extreme emotional highs), which may last as little as a week or as long as six months, followed by an extreme period of depression. Both states can result in extremes of personality. Bipolar disorder is not simply about mood, however. It can result in making poorly thought out decisions which are inﬂuenced by mania or depression, which can include large amounts of frivolous spending in mania, or suicidal ideation in depression. Around one in 100 people in the UK have been diagnosed as bipolar, and they are most often treated with psychotherapy and lithium, a mood stabiliser.

NEUROTIC, STRESS-RELATED, AND SOMATOFORM Again, you’ll likely be very familiar with the family of anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder, which fall into this category of mental illnesses. This group of disorders are characterised by chronic distress, which can include anxiety, disassociation, adjustment disorders, and somatic symptom disorders. Anxiety disorders in this category include obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is not just being really clean or turning light switches off ten times. It’s categorised by an obsession with intrusive thoughts or feelings which cause extreme unease and result in the person acting in a compulsive and repetitive way to alleviate the feelings brought on. Dissociative disorders are most commonly thought to be brought on by the presence of a trauma in a person’s life, which has resulted in them mentally “detaching” themselves in order to prevent further perceived harm. Depersonalisation disorder is a controversial and uncommon diagnosis, accounting for less than 2% of the general population, wherein those living with the disorder will experience longterm feelings of being detached from their mental processes or body, experiencing things as if they’re in a dream watching their own body. Similarly controversial is dissociative identity disorder (DID), which was previously known as multiple personality disorder. Again, it’s a highly misunderstood condition, and while it shares a lot of similarities to schizophrenia in that the person may hear voices, it manifests differently. A person living with DID will have multiple alters – or personalities – which alternate control of their behaviour. It’s difﬁcult to say how many people live with DID, but some

SCHIZOPHRENIA, SCHIZOTYPAL, AND DELUSIONAL DISORDERS This family of mental illnesses are all associated with the occurrence of psychosis, which is a state of mind where people struggle to work out what is real and what isn’t. Delusional disorder is a particularly rare mental illness where people will hold strong beliefs which negatively affect their life. This could be the insistence that someone is in love with them, the belief that they are famous, or that they are being persecuted in some way. When diagnosing this, psychologists are very careful to take cultural differences into account.

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL BEHAVIOURS This group of mental illnesses affect a person’s ability to perform tasks that are normal to everyday life, including eating, sleeping and sex. It also includes postnatal mental illnesses, such as postpartum depression. The latter is a situationally speciﬁc form of depression which affects both men and women after the birth of a child, which can be helped through appropriate medication and cognitive behavioural therapy. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, both of which affect self-perception and are categorised by feelings of unease with the person’s body and a desire to be “thin”. Anorexia is categorised by a restriction of eating habits, while the symptoms of bulimia involve the person binging and purging – that is, eating lots of food then immediately vomiting it back up. Mental health conditions like hypersomnia (too much sleep), insomnia and night terrors are considered to be sleep disorders, while sexual dysfunction covers a wide variety of mental health conditions relating to the inability to become aroused, having too much or too little sexual desire, the inability to orgasm, and feelings of pain during consensual sexual intercourse.

Psychosis includes schizoaffective disorders, which is a combination of the symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, hence its categorisation as both a schizophrenic and affective disorder. People living with schizoaffective disorders may experience hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions, while also living with periods of depression and mania. People who live with schizophrenia may experience a number of symptoms, including visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions, muddled thoughts, a loss of interest in everyday activities, and avoidance of friends and family. Schizophrenia does not result in a “split personality,” nor does it make people violent or someone to be feared. It’s treated with a combination of antipsychotics and specially tailored therapy. Subtypes of schizophrenia include paranoid schizophrenia, wherein the person may believe that they are being persecuted (being watched or having someone try to poison them, for example); and pseudoneurotic schizophrenia, where the person also experiences signiﬁcant anxiety in the form of panic or OCD.

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this winter Discover a new-found freedom with the innovative and award-winning WHILL Model C powerchair. Durable, stylish and stable, and with an impressive 10 mile range, it’s perfect for exploring and enjoying life outdoors. Both compact and versatile, the WHILL dismantles into three easy to lift components that will ﬁt neatly into the boot of your car. It also beneﬁts from a lightweight lithium battery which makes it ideal for air travel.

The Model C is life-changing indoors too. With intuitive, responsive controls and unique omni wheels you’ll be able to navigate narrow spaces and tight turns in comfort and with ease. The WHILL will complement your every move. Plus you can also drive the WHILL remotely, lock and unlock it to keep it secure and choose a drive mode that is right for you, all through a dedicated and convenient smartphone app. For more information contact TGA today.

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Power MOBILITY

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

Choosing a powerchair or scooter could be one of the biggest purchases you make in your life and probably one of the most important. The right powerchair or scooter can increase your independence and conﬁdence and can open up a world of new opportunities.

owever, some people are reluctant to make the transition to powerchairs or scooters as they feel this form of powered mobility can make them appear more disabled, less independent, and less capable of doing things for themselves. The high price tag and the size of powerchairs can also deter people from looking into their options, but there is a huge range of powerchairs available nowadays that have been developed to offer people high levels of independence combined with style and comfort. Scooters offer users freedom to get on with everyday tasks independently, allowing them to make trips to the shops, to restaurants, to go further distances and engage on more experiences. Recently our own columnist ventured out into London in her new powerchair and she shared her experience on Instagram:

@SAMANTHARENKE

Today was a real momentous day as I took my new @quantumrehabuk power chair out for a test drive. For years I’d scoff at the mere suggestion of using a power chair. These insecurities coming from as far back as primary school when my teacher said she’d throw me and my chair out of the window if I hit her desk one more time, power chairs can be difﬁcult to manoeuvre in a small classroom. Or the change in attitudes I experienced in high school when I got my power chair. People thought I was more disabled, less intelligent or needed more help. I hated the noises power chairs made and only 3ft9 I hated how cumbersome power chairs were I didn’t like the fact that you saw the chair before me. I also hated how some non disabled people thought a power chair was a miracle cure and would make me 100% independent whereas in reality power chairs are extremely heavy and can’t just be lifted to get up a couple of steps... Fast forward to today and with the generosity of my two beautiful cousins @katrinamontgomery_ @deanne_montgomery the @ brittlebonesociety @quantumrehabuk and all those who donated on @justgiving I swallowed my pride, put all my hang ups to one side and ventured into the big smoke in

my new chair. Honestly it was liberating and I didn’t give a flying monkey to what anyone thought, what matters to me now is my happiness and I was happy today.. The power chair did however highlight how inaccessible London is the lack of dropped curbs was phenomenal and I found people rather impatient by my tentatively slow driving... all of which made me feel like a real Londoner... Maybe this confidence comes with age, or the fact that I simply love who I am and feel very complete with my disabled identity. All I know is I’m grateful #grateful #wheelchair #newwheels #imlovingme #comeswithage #everydayisanewchallenge #powerchair #confidencecomeswithage #loveyourself #actress #presenter #activist #campaigner #stressfree #disabilityawareness #learnerdriver

BUYER’S GUIDE Whether you are a seasoned powerchair user or new to the world of powered mobility, the most important thing for any user is that you do your research and try out as many options as possible to ensure you are making the right decision. We have put together a bit of a guide to help you navigate the world of powered mobility.

LIFESTYLE Consider your everyday life and what you will be using your powerchair or scooter for. It has to fit into your lifestyle and not the other way around. Do you have a wheelchair accessible vehicle that you travel in – will the powerchair fit in it? In your home are there tight spaces that require a chair with a tight turning circle? If you use public transport will you be comfortable using your powerchair to access trains or buses? Where will you store and charge a scooter at your home? If there are restaurants, shops or activity groups you attend regularly you will want to know that your powerchair or scooter will fit comfortably so be sure to check door widths, entrances and ramps. If you plan to cover longer distances you will need to consider the range that the battery offers too.

ASSESSMENTS If you have not used a powerchair before it might be a good idea to get a professional assessment from an occupational therapist (OT). OTs can assess everything from your seat positioning and postural support to accessing charging points in and around your home and they can make recommendations on different control options available. You may want to try and make your way to one of the many independent living exhibitions that take place throughout the UK so you can see a few different options all under one roof. This also gives you an opportunity to speak to the experts face to face and ask every question you can possibly think of about their product.

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Most companies will offer free demonstrations at your home for powerchairs and this can be a great opportunity to try out a product in a real-life situation in your home. If possible try to test out the chair in other environments you spend time in too. Most manufacturers have such a wide product range and endless options of adaptations and modiﬁcations that can be made that any challenges or problems you recognise, can almost certainly be overcome.

MODIFICATIONS There are a huge number of modiﬁcations and adaptations that you can have made to your powerchair to ensure it gives you exactly what you need. Specialist seating options are a major consideration, you must ensure you have the right positioning for comfort and to ensure your position will not exacerbate any existing medical conditions, or bring about new ones. Discuss this with your OT or the assessor to ﬁnd out what seating is compatible with the chair. The controls can be tailored to your needs too, even the sensitivity of a joystick control can be altered to suit your movements. Electric footplates, thoracic supports, arm pads, heating and cooling seating systems, USB charging points, even custom paint jobs can be added to personalise your powerchair. The list is endless.

FUNDING Your ﬁrst port of call is your GP and your local NHS Wheelchair Services for a powerchair. If you are able to use a manual wheelchair or walk short distances they are unlikely to refer you for a powerchair, but this does all depend on individual circumstances and impairments so it is worth exploring. If you are eligible for a Motability allowance you can use this towards the leasing of a powerchair or scooter. It is a great funding option and Motability have events throughout the UK during the year which can be a great place to get advice and information on how to do this. Look into charities that offer grants for powered mobility and apply for them, you may be put on a waiting list but it will be worth it in the end if it comes through. Crowdfunding and fundraising activities are great options, where many people have had lots of success in raising money to put towards a powerchair or scooter. It may take some time but if you set a goal and work towards it you would be amazed at the generosity of people and every little bit adds up.

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ON THE MARKET

There is a vast choice of powerchairs and scooters available nowadays to cater for the ever-changing needs of the modern day individual. Manufacturers are constantly striving to ﬁnd ways to offer people more independence through the products they provide, from powerchairs with eye gaze control to electric folding scooters. Take a look at some of the options on the market today…

GENIE V2 STANDING WHEELCHAIR The Genie V2 Standing Wheelchair by EasyRise Ltd is designed and manufactured in the EasyRise workshops in Shropshire. The company prides themselves on producing innovative, life-changing products with quality and durability at the forefront of their design process. Providing independence and comfort through standing, the Genie V2 can revolutionise your day-to-day life and wellbeing. Each Genie is produced bespoke to your individual requirements, from made-tomeasure upholstery to a wide range of posture supports, comfort aids and optional accessories. Providing independence and a better quality of life. For a free demonstration you can call 01952 610300.

GYRO HEAD CONTROL Precision Rehab produce powered wheelchairs and they have recently become one of the ﬁrst UK suppliers to offer the Gyro Glory headset, a revolutionary technology that is now compatible with all of Precision Rehabs powered wheelchairs. The Gyro Glory headset is designed to provide powered wheelchair users with an easy-to-use, discreet headset from which they can control their chair and computer through head, cheek or eye movement. The technology is very accurate and simple to use and it can open up a world of independence for users. precisionrehab.co.uk

S T A N D I N G

W H E E L C H A I R

Providing independence & comfort through standing Designed and developed in the Midlands over the past 15 years the Genie V2 is one of the most advanced wheelchairs available. Combining advanced engineering and practical design, the Genie provides independence and comfort for all levels of dependency. At Genie Wheelchairs we pride ourselves on developing practical and affordable solutions that make your day to day life that little bit easier! Appropriate for all levels of dependency from our basic model through to a complete care system tailored to each individual.

The Genie V2 has been designed with your everyday needs in mind, providing upper and lower body support to allow washing, air circulation and relief from pressure pain. The ability to stand opens up many possibilities such as access to previously inaccessible places or even getting back into the workplace as many of our Genie users have, whilst providing everyday health beneﬁts such as aiding circulation and digestion. Standing is an important part of maintaining good health. The Genie can aid in the prevention of bladder problems and assist with bone development and pressure management. The Genie V2 is incredibly easy to manoeuvre, light and compact when stored. It is easily folded away into a cube which is ideal for transportation on planes or in non converted vehicles, enabling you to do more and go further in comfort. Providing independence for yourself and your carer is our main aim. With its range of control options from the attendant control system, which allows a carer or family member to drive, stand and manage comfort to our unique head control system allowing you to use all functions of the Genie just by head movement alone. The Genie V2 comes complete with hygienic, easytouse toilet facilities that can revolutionise your quality of life. All features are removable depending on your needs. When you can sit, recline, stand up and be mobile in safety without leaving the chair the possibilities are endless.

Everyone’s needs can change. All the Genie’s facilities and functions can be added or removed easily at any time to suit your requirements as an individual. Our base unit is easily adapted to accommodate a wide range of additional features, from vehicle docking systems to our unique head control system. And when it comes to one off customization at Genie wheelchairs nothing is impossible, from ventilator shelving to customised seating if you have any special requirements let us know. Nothing is too much when it comes to your comfort and independence.

• Easy transfers from bed to sitting or standing • Custom built to suit all needs • Comfortable & maneuverable • Enhances quality of life • Provides dignity, independence & mobility • Provides many health beneﬁts • Removes boundaries Designed & Manufactered in

GREAT BRITAIN

To arrange a free in home demonstration of all the Genie V2 has to oﬀer, call Easyrise on 01952 610300 or visit www.geniestandingwheelchair.co.uk

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S T Y L E I N N O VAT I O N C H O I C E Karma Mobility Ltd Unit 6 Target Park, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 8YN T: 0845 630 3436 E: info@karmamobility.co.uk www.karmamobility.co.uk

LEON POWERCHAIR

BREEZE S4

The Leon powerchair from Karma Mobility has been designed to take full advantage of rear wheel drive when being used outdoors. Geared for speed without compromising on stability or control, the Leon has a narrow wheelbase (62cm) which allows for agile manoeuvrability, making it a superior powerchair for even the most active users.

The Breeze S4 brings you the ultimate in advanced comfort, performance and style. At the heart of the Breeze S4 is the all-round, fully active and adjustable suspension. This is advanced motorcycle-style engineering that delivers unrivalled comfort, safety and stability to users weighing up to 31 stone (200kg), allowing comfort and complete control even over rough terrain. A powerful motor, large wheels and pneumatic tyres provide maximum ground clearance, making kerbs and rough ground quite simply, a breeze.

Featuring a full suspension system for an extra comfortable ride and a top speed of 8mph, the Leon is available in a range of colours. There are also a range of seating and power options which include power tilt and power recline which can be applied independently or together, depending on the user’s individual requirements. For more information or to ﬁnd out your nearest Karma Mobility retailer visit karmamobility.co.uk/ where-to-buy or call 3436. 0845 630 3436

It can be conﬁgured to suit individual needs, whether that be choosing what side to have the controls on or adding a foot pedal to operate the throttle. TGA offer a wide range of scooters, powerchairs and wheelchairs, visit tgamobility.co.uk to take a look at their range of products or call 0800 804 4344 to discuss your needs.

GO GO ELITE TRAVELLER SPORT The Go Go Elite is designed to make travelling with a scooter easier. It is easily dismantled into five lightweight pieces to fit in the boot of a car, making it easy to take apart and reassemble. It features an innovative design with a full complement of unique standard features, a charger port conveniently located in the tiller, front and rear LED lighting, 9-inch wheels at front and rear, an additional 2-inch deck space and an increased weight capacity of 23 stone 3lbs. Comfortable seating and a front basket to keep all of your belongings conveniently close to you makes this a great scooter for getting out and about. To find out more about the scooters on offer from Pride contact 01869 324600 or visit pride-mobility.co.uk.

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PRETTIER THAN

A BUTTHOLE EMBRACING LIFE WITH A STOMA. BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

here has been a really positive movement happening over the last few years on social media of people embracing stomas and sharing their experience of living with a stoma.

Personal posts from across the globe can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter of people coming out of the ‘stoma closet’, embracing their stomas and dispelling myths around the reality of living with a stoma. This movement has opened up conversations, informed the average joe on the realities and benefits of having a stoma and highlighted awareness of bladder and bowel disease. There are now streams of photos of people baring all in bikini shots and swimming trunks, crop tops and tops off, confidently showing off their stoma bags and sending the message that there is no need to hide this part of yourself. People don’t generally talk about poo, but it is a fact life and something that we all do, so it’s refreshing to see so many people sharing their experiences through social media. We recently spoke to Eilidh Gow, a 22-year-old film maker who shared a video on BBC’s The Social.

Eilidh has had her stoma since she was three years old, but she only shared this part of herself in 2017 when she was 19 years old and living alone in London, dealing with some serious health issues. Eilidh decided to tell her friends and followers all about her stoma and her history battling a complicated and undiagnosed problem with her gut, by doing what she does best; making a video. In her video she describes her childhood, her 20 plus surgeries, the pain she has and still does endure, her determination to do and see as many things as she can when she is well and ultimately how terrified she was to share all of this information with her world. Eilidh said the reaction was amazing and full of support: “It was really nice, there was lots and lots of support and stuff, which was really nice, but kind of surreal after because I had been hiding it for so long.” She likened telling everyone about her stoma to coming out, something she had done previously, and went on to tell us how much it had positively impacted her confidence. “It was definitely a big relief and ever since then I wear crop tops and stuff all the time even if it’s cold. I guess it’s still a kind of novelty to not be scared of having my stomach visible.”

posabilitymagazine.co.uk

“The myth that they smell is untrue. I use periods as a metaphor a lot, it’s kind of just something you are aware of and you worry that there is going to be a smell or a leak, but actually that doesn’t really happen.” Eilidh has no regrets about coming out of the stoma closet and boldly shows off her stoma bag in its pretty cover at any given opportunity. It does not stop her being who she is or wearing what she wants and as she says in her video “it is prettier than a butthole”. Who can argue with that?

A BEAR NAMED BUTTONY This great project was started by Eilidh’s mum, inspired by Eilidh herself.

The video she made for BBC’s The Social is funny, upbeat and honest, and something Eilidh felt was important to share to help empower others: “I guess for me it was partly thinking how seeing more stuff like that when I was younger would have been good for me. “My mum does this charity called A Bear Named Buttony – they make bears with stomas on them for kids who have had stoma surgery. She started that because of me when I was younger and not having anyone like me out there to see. I guess I was thinking of that and all the kids out there and how it could really help to see more people talking about it.”

Buttony is a bear with a stoma who is donated the kids throughout the UK who are going through surgery to create a stoma. Buttony has gone through similar surgery and is designed to be there for your little one to provide comfort and friendship, and to remind them that they are not alone, there are others out there with stomas. The bears can also be a great tool in helping to explain to children, siblings and family members what a stoma is all about. The project relies solely on donations and you can sponsor a bear for just £30. To find out more search for ‘A Bear Named Buttony’ on Facebook.

Clarifying some myths that people have around stomas: “When I was younger I’d only heard people speak about stomas in the context of older people and the only places I heard about stomas in the media were jokes and stuff about older people having them. Or jokes about them smelling, but neither are things that I have found to be particularly true. There are a lot of people in the UK that have stomas, of all ages, far higher than you think. Everyone probably does know someone with a stoma, whether or not you are aware that they have one.

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WIN AN

ACCESSIBLE BREAK IN CORNWALL!

What is the spa in the St Moritz Hotel called?

Enter here for your chance to win a two-night stay for two people at the St Moritz Hotel in Cornwall, on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

t Moritz is a sleek art deco styled hotel on the north coast of Cornwall between Rock and Polzeath in the quiet hamlet of Trebetherick and is the destination for an indulgent spa break, a family get-together or a couple’s cosy mini break. The hotel offers guests a stylish escape all year round with a restaurant and bar on site, an exclusive Cowshed Spa, which is the only one outside of a Soho House property, and miles of coastline on the doorstep, including popular surﬁng beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay. The hotel also has a complimentary Land Rover shuttle service which will take you down to the ferry point in the upmarket village of Rock and pick you up again when you’ve had enough of browsing the quaint shops and eateries of Padstow. During your stay you can enjoy unlimited use of the heated indoor pool with Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. The Cowshed Spa has a treatment list sure to relax, revive and soothe you and dinner is served in the Shorecrest Restaurant where you will choose two delicious courses from the a la carte menu of fresh local dishes cooked to perfection. In

the morning you’ll get to enjoy a full Cornish breakfast. As part of the prize you’ll get the choice of one of two rooms; the fully accessible suite which includes an accessible kitchen, bathroom facilities ﬁtted with grab rails throughout and a Chilton Invadex Hoist, or a spacious and airy Garden Suite with its own private sun room and direct access to the coastal gardens. To ﬁnd out more about the St Moritz Hotel visit stmoritzhotel.co.uk.

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize simply answer the question below:

Pigshed Donkeyshed Cowshed Email your selection and contact details to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or ﬁll in your details and post this form to the address below:

St Moritz Hotel Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind Est Glasgow G46 8JT

Name: Address:

Postcode: Tel: Email: ü

St Moritz Hotel would like to send you more information about their products. If you would like to receive this please tick the box. By ticking the box you are consenting to us providing your details to St Moritz Hotel.

Please tick box to accept the Terms & Conditions

T&Cs: The prize is a two-night stay including breakfast and a two course dinner each night at the St Moritz Hotel in Cornwall. The winner must redeem the prize before the end of March 2020. The prize is non-transferable nor can any cash alternative be offered. Travel costs are the responsibility of the winner. Entrants must be 18 or over to enter and must not be an employee of the St Moritz Hotel. Anything not detailed in these terms is chargeable. Closing date for entries is Jan 31 2020. Winner will be picked at random and contacted. If the winner does not respond within 10 days we reserve the right to choose another winner.

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Slovakian SECRETS

BY JANET MYERS Discover the gastronomic wonders of Bratislava

ratislava is the capital of Slovakia and spans the Danube River on the border with Austria. It is surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian Mountains, and overlooking the Old Town Bratislava Castle stands like an illustration from a fairytale storybook. In recent years the town has been climbing the ladder of top destinations to visit and tourists have been discovering its diverse gastro experiences. Sterling might not be at its best exchange rate but eating here is not expensive and very memorable. With Christmas just a short time away its Christmas markets together with its abundance of quaint shops also offer excellent Christmas shopping.

GOURMET TASTING EXPERIENCE If you have ever wondered what it would be like to sit down to one of those gastro delights shown on any of the MasterChef programs on TV then you need to pay a visit to Globo near the Old Town’s main square. From outside it looks unpretentious as even here city planners insist that historical buildings must conform to their heritage, but inside the decor beﬁts the experience it offers. The tasting menu not only delivers great taste but is accompanied by theatrical performances to enhance the senses. The chef is renowned Branislav Križan and all of his dishes are prepared using locally sourced, fresh, organically certiﬁed ingredients. Many are created from long lost recipes using a contemporary twist. Such creation does not come at a budget price but there are few places in the world where you can afford such excellence. The wine cellar too offers excellent choices. Be prepared to be amazed.

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WINE TASTING

Slovakia is a small country and under communism its vineyards were torn up. A MEAL When the country was liberated thirty years ago WITH A VIEW new vines were planted The UFO, as it is affectionally and these are now coming called, sits perched on the into their own. The wines tower of a bridge shaped produced are unique and like a ﬂying saucer, it houses delicious and special due a restaurant, a cocktail bar to the soil in which the and an observation deck. Its grapes are grown. Finding cuisine is international and them on supermarket it is elegantly furnished but shelves is not possible here it is more about the view due to the limited amount than the menu – that’s not to that can be produced, so say the food is not good! It for those who enjoy good offers stunning views over the wine Bratislava offers an Danube, the Old Town and interesting choice. Prices the Petržalka district. are cheap and in season vineyard trips are popular. The Kamzik Radio Tower is set high on a hill. Its revolving restaurant is known as Altitude and offers far reaching views beyond Bratislava. At night the vista appears in a myriad of bright twinkling lights but the castle can still be identiﬁed. That is until the revolving platform journeys you through 360 degrees as it moves within the square tower to move you nearer and then further away from the panoramic windows - more like a fairground ride in ultraslow motion! In the autumn pumpkin features high on the menu. There is even a pumpkin strudel!

TEA TIME Bake off followers will be blown away in this tiny tea shop in the Old Town named Konditorei Kormuth. Inside the walls and ceiling are exquisitely painted with intricate ornate ﬂowers on a backdrop of pale blue. Ornate dark carved wooden cabinets on the wall display old artefacts and tea and hot chocolate are served in beautiful old crockery embellished lavishly with gold. Here you feel special as you are greeted by a dapper man in a black coat who seats you and takes your order. The homemade cakes and desserts from its special bakery use the ﬁnest ingredients.

COMMUNIST HAND CRAFTED BEER CONNECTION For those who like nothing more than to roam a beer festival with a chance to sample numerous offerings then Bratislava is a great choice. Slovakia boasts a number of breweries and a rich beer culture. It takes its beer seriously and there has been an explosion of new wave independent microbreweries. In a traditional gastro pub you also have a chance to sample goulash with dumplings (try the ones with beetroot) or even a Vienna Snitzel - half the price of one in Vienna which is only an hour’s drive away.

The tasters provided on the authentic tour around the old communist districts in an old Skoda could be considered more quirky than a slant on a substantial meal but they provide an insight into life in communist times. Unable to give their citizens Coca Cola the party developed a thirst quenching substitute of their own known as Kofola. Our guide also provided us with wafer biscuits, spirits and cans of a berry drink.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION For an added bonus why not visit when the Christmas Markets are in full swing and the town takes on an added shopping experience. Music ﬁlls the air from the packed churches and church bells ring out in celebration. Instead of sitting down to turkey enjoy a meal of goose or duck. It is the traditional gastronomic specialty every autumn. Many people used to organise family sessions where they could enjoy this roasted delicacy with traditional pancakes called “lokše” and red cabbages but today there are many excellent restaurants where you can ﬁnd it on the menu. For those celebrating New Year remember to look up at the statue on top of the column in the main square. It is said he makes a full rotation as the clock strikes midnight. If you fail to see it you haven’t had enough to drink.

BRATISLAVA Bratislava is becoming a popular year-round destination so booking is essential. Both the UFO and the Altitude have parking and a single lift to their dizzy heights Globo Restaurant is in the Old Town which is pedestrianised but not far from parking globorestaurant.sk The authentic tour trips are in an old Skoda or van and arranged to suit their clients including mobility issues authenticslovakia.com The Old Town is best seen on board the unique old timey vehicle which also offers a commentary. A visit to the castle is also available. They can be boarded at the main square. The city card - available from the tourist board or online is an ideal choice for those wanting to make use of the town’s transport options.

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Abletoholiday Accessible holidays in Portugal

Abletoholiday have specialised in wheelchair accessible holidays for over 13 years. They have three ground floor apartments in the Algarve that are fully equipped with everything you need to provide a home away from home. Each apartment has the full use of a wheelchair accessible courtesy vehicle that allows groups and families to explore the amazing attractions and scenery that the Algarve has to offer.

coastal cave boat tours, dolphin watching sea safaris and great restaurants, there is something for everyone. However, if you are looking for some time to simply relax, you can stay in your accessible apartment and enjoy the heated swimming pool that has hoist access for all. Abletoholiday offer specialist equipment at no additional charge, including profiling hospital beds, shower chairs, mobile transfer hoists and rise and recline armchairs. They also offer a wide range of specialist children’s toileting and shower equipment too. From the beginning of your holiday the owners, Hazel and Bryn, will personally collect you from the airport and as they live on site, they are on hand to assist, offer advice, book excursions and make reservations. And, if you need a carer, they can arrange that support too.

HOLIDAY REVIEW

The Algarve boasts the best European weather and is less than a three hour flight from most UK airports. Enjoying long summers and mild winters, spring flowers start to bloom as early as January with clouds of beautiful almond blossom and the colour continues improving until the floral climax of May. Temperate summer weather generally continues into October, making it very appealing to British tourists looking to escape the cold, dark, winter weather of the UK. Offering beautiful sandy beaches, dramatic west coast cliffs, vineyards, orange groves, sleepy hillside villages, the Monchique mountains, board walks across lagoons and cliff tops, art galleries, markets, museums,

“We took our son to stay at Funchal Ridge – we had such a great time. The best way of describing it – like staying with friends who live in a lovely part of The Algarve. We were looked after so well, from the emergency fixing of George’s wheelchair, to the guided tour, arranging of activities and finally a dash to the emergency Pharmacy. Hazel and Bryn went above and beyond for the week. The accommodation was just right, accessible and comfortable. The nearby town of Lagos is old and enchanting, especially after we had been shown where to visit and blue badge parking. A great week that we hope to repeat.”

GET IN TOUCH To find out more contact Hazel at abletoholiday@hotmail.com, give her a call on 0044 7977 269936 or visit abletoholiday.co.uk.

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17 & 18 MARCH 2020

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ith 20% of the UK’s population identifying as disabled, it’s time for disability to be in the spotlight. Welcome to Naidex 46! Europe’s most established event dedicated to the disability and independent living industries is back for its 46th anniversary, on the 17-18 March 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC. Always looking to bring you the latest solutions that allow disabled people to live more independently, this year’s show will put its focus on the key topics taking the industry by storm - from inclusion and accessibility to mobility and employability, Naidex 46 has you covered.

You’ll be able to shop from 400 world-class suppliers and try before you buy, but Naidex has always been much more than a marketplace where visitors can find the latest innovations - it is a place where people come together and learn about the industry’s future. As the epicentre of the disability and healthcare world, Naidex 46 will also boast an unparalleled speaker line-up, providing you with 300 inspirational seminars. Throughout both days, seminar theatres will be brimming with information and advice, leaving

audiences uplifted and empowered. What’s more, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in countless interactive features, test the very latest mobility products on the Mobility Test Track and get involved in the Live Sports Arena to discover your next passion. With all this lined up, Naidex will once again become the hub of the disability world, offering all the innovations that are empowering disabled people. Register for your FREE ticket at naidex.co.uk.

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Alcoholics Anonymous has over 4,440 groups throughout Great Britain dedicated to helping those with a serious alcohol problem learn how to stay sober. Groups are made up of people from all walks of life and all age groups. Through friendship and mutual support, members assist each other in coping which is made easier by meeting others with the same problem. There are no dues or fees for membership and anonymity is carefully preserved. Anyone who believes they have a drink problem can contact Alcoholics Anonymous by using the helpline number above or email; help@aamail.org Further information may be obtained from the web-site above or from the General Service Office at the address below. For information: P.O. Box 1, 10 Toft Green, York. YO1 7NJ Tel: 01904 644 026

WIN HAVE YOURSELF A

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CHRISTMAS You could be in with the chance of making yourself into a minﬁgure!

COMPETITION TIME

he team at minifigs.me just love customising LEGO minifigures to represent all sorts of people. They started out making Olympic and Paralympic athletes back in 2012, and now have a huge selection of mini people in their range. From Frida Kahlo, to Stephen Hawking, to Muhammad Ali, they have loads of fun creating historical figures, characters and other iconic people in minifigure form.

Miniﬁgs.me are now offering an exciting prize especially for PosAbility readers - a £35 voucher to spend on anything you like from the miniﬁgs. me website!

To be in with a chance to win this amazing prize simply select the correct answer below.

Which of these famous artists have minifigs.me made into a minifigure? Vincent Van Gogh Frida Kahlo Salvador Dali Email your selection and contact details to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or fill in your details and post this form to the address below:

Miniﬁgs.me Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind Est Glasgow G46 8JT

Name:

Using their Minifig Builder, it’s also possible to build yourself or someone you know as a tiny plastic person: just choose the best head, hair, outfit and accessories from their huge range of parts. They also offer mini wheelchairs, prosthetic legs and communication aids. The resulting figures make adorable gifts, which are great fun and truly unique!

Address:

If you’re feeling particularly creative, you can even doodle your own minifigure: draw your design onto a template and minifigs.me will print it onto genuine LEGO minifigure parts. Or you can create a personalised jigsaw, with your drawing or photograph printed onto LEGO tiles. Pretty cute, right?

Postcode: Tel: Email: miniﬁgs.me would like to send you more information about their products. If you would like to receive this please tick the box. By ticking the box you are consenting to us providing your details to miniﬁgs.me.

Please tick box to accept the Terms & Conditions

T&Cs: This prize is an electronic voucher, valued at £35, which will be emailed to the winner. It can be used to purchase anything on the miniﬁgs.me website, subject to stock availability. Once issued, the voucher must be redeemed within one year. Closing date for entries is 31 January 2020.

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Life after traumatic injury can be challenging Blesma is here for all serving and ex-Service men and women who have experienced loss of limb, use of limbs, hearing, sight or speech, either during or after Service

Get in touch to find out how we can support you and your family Tel: 020 8548 7080 Email: membersupport@blesma.org Find out more: www.blesma.org

Kids’

CORNER

e wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! It’s happening – it’s here – it’s Christmas! Well, it’s nearly Christmas. With the sheer volume of festive tunes that have been on the radio since mid-November, it might as well be Christmas. If you’re mulling over what you could do with the kids while they’re on holiday for two whole, exhausting weeks, we’ve got a few wonderful ideas for you on page 62. Speaking of some festive tunes, columnist Dan White is this issue regaling us with the tale of how both he and his family came to fall in love with Neil Diamond’s music. There’s something wonderful about the warm, happy

PRODUCTS

feelings that some music – especially Christmas music – can conjure up inside of us. Even if it is Neil Diamond! Our last Future Voice of 2019 is Lucy Mills, who loved the recently released movie Last Christmas for more than just the inclusion of Wham! If you haven’t seen the movie yet, be prewarned, page 69 contains spoilers. Find this on page 71 As ever, we’ve got loads of brilliant products on page 66, and a fantastic competition on page 65. If there’s anything you would like to see us include in our Kids’ Corner, please don’t hesitate to drop us an email over at ros@2apublishing.co.uk.

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Magical MOMENTS BY ROSALIND TULLOCH Christmas is such a magical time of year and a great opportunity for lots of family time. Here are some ideas to help make your festive season fun-filled and magical.

CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHT

here is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit with your kids than having a movie night. Choose your favourite festive ﬁlm, perhaps The Snowman, The Grinch, The Santa Clause or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, any of these ﬁlms will get you in the Christmas mood. Grab the blankets, fetch the festive snacks and treats, dim the lights and get into the Christmas spirit.

SWEET TREATS Getting into the kitchen with the kids can be great fun (albeit sometimes quite stressful), just take a deep breath and let them make a mess, it’s all part of the experience! Why not try some star-shaped peppermint creams or Christmas tree crispy pops, both adapted from BBC Good Food recipes.

CHRISTMAS TREE CRISPY POPS Ingredients 200g marshmallows 3 tbsp golden syrup 100g Rice Krispies 6 ice-cream cones 500g icing sugar ½ tsp green food colouring Sweets and sprinkles to decorate Lolly sticks

Method 1. Melt the marshmallows and golden syrup in a pan, then stir in the Rice Krispies. 2. Working quickly, pack the mixture into the ice cream cones and push a lolly stick into each. 3. Chill the cones for 1 hour in the fridge until completely ﬁrm. 4. Mix the icing sugar with the food colouring and a little water (add little drizzles at a time to avoid making the icing too runny). 5. Dip the cones in the icing and sprinkle on the decorations. 6. Pop on a wire cooling rack to set.

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SANTA’S GROTTO

PEPPERMINT CREAMS Ingredients 250g icing sugar 1 egg white Few drops of peppermint essence Dark chocolate Star-shaped cutter

Method 1. Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl. 2. Add a little of the egg white and few drops of peppermint essence and mix really well. 3. You want the mixture to come together as a soft dough, so keep adding little bits of egg white (you might not need it all). 4. Add more peppermint if required. 5. Divide the mixture into 20 balls and squish them down into discs using your ﬁngers to smooth them out. 6. Space them out on some baking parchment on a tray. 7. Break the dark chocolate into a bowl and place over a pan of simmering hot water. Stir the chocolate as it melts and remove from the heat once melted to ensure you don’t burn it. 8. Take a peppermint disc and dip half into the dark chocolate and place back on the baking sheet. Repeat for all the discs and leave to set for 3-4 hours.

No festive season would complete without a special visit to see the big guy himself. The magical meeting with Santa Claus that allows kids to tell him face to face what they want for Christmas is great fun and a wonderful photo opportunity. However, the queues can be crazy and the noise, lights and excitement can be too much for children with autism or sensory impairments. Most shopping centres throughout the UK do offer accessible grottos for your little ones to meet Santa and there are autism-friendly experiences available throughout the country at different venues, a quick google search will hopefully ﬁnd your closest one.

CRAFTY CHRISTMAS

If your house is looking a bit light on decorations, why not get the whole family together for some Christmas crafts? Making paper snowﬂakes is so easy - all you need is paper and scissors. You can make them fancier by going to a craft store and getting some fancy paper and glitter, too. Pompom snowmen are also an easy craft to make; all you need to make pompoms are some wool and a little donut of cardboard to wrap it around. Again, it’s a really easy craft to make fancy - some glittery wool, felt to make carrot noses and scarves, and pipe cleaners for arms can turn it from amateur hour to an expert craft in seconds!

SANTA’S COMING Christmas Eve is a magical night, the excitement is palpable as kids across the world prepare their living rooms, ﬁreplaces and bedrooms for Santa’s visit to their house. Mince pies and carrots are plated up, a little whisky (or whatever Santa’s tipple is) is left to quench Santa’s thirst and letters are posted up the chimney. Why not make a tradition with the kids to post their letters to Santa, you can have great fun creating their lists and decorating letters, this can be done on any day in December or left to Christmas Eve, and it can really get the family into the spirit of Christmas. Whip up some hot chocolates and put out some Christmas treats as you melt into the magic of Christmas.

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TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS!

MR TUMBLE

Mr Tumble holds his Tumble Tapp and when each of the ﬁve different icons is pressed, this activates some of Mr Tumble’s favourite sounds and phrases from the show. Mr Tumble also features two songs for little ones to sing along to and watch as his nose magically lights up at the same time!

MERU is probably best known for its tiny Bugzi wheelchair that offers powered mobility to under fives. However, they now offer a range of adapted toys so that an accessible button or switch will work them. They can also adapt toys on request too! s a special Christmas treat MERU is giving away three sets of switchA dancing plush llama toy from adapted toys that you can win in Zuru. Boppi the booty-shaking time for Christmas. llama dances wildly when you The toys on offer are: press the button on her side. When activated, this llama dances to one of three songs, shaking its A great first Scalextric set, the hand head and twerking in throttles on this set are fitted with special time to the music. tamper-proof skill level dials that can be set It’s absolutely by an adult to suit the ability of the young hilarious to watch player. It is also specially designed for ease and is of use: each lane, car, and hand throttle emerging is colour-coded to help the younger racer as one of and the figure of eight circuit is easy to the mustassemble. have toys of the year!

BOPPI LLAMA

SCALEXTRIC

To be in with the chance of winning one of these fantastic sets of toys, simply select the toy set you would like below: Scalextric Mr Tumble Boppi the Llama Email your answer and your contact details to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or post to the address below:

MERU Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind Est Glasgow G46 8JT

Name: Address:

Postcode: Tel: Email: ü

Meru would like to send you more information about their products. If you would

We will do our very best to make sure these toys arrive in time for Christmas so make sure you get your entries in quickly as the closing date is 16 December 2019 and we aim to post these out on 17 December 2019.

like to receive this please tick the box. By ticking the box you are consenting to us providing your details to Meru.

Please tick box to accept the Terms & Conditions

Find out more about adapted toys at meru.org.uk T&Cs: Closing date for entries is 16 December 2019. One entry per household. Winners will receive one of the sets of toys which will be posted out on 17 December 2019. Please note we cannot guarantee the arrival of the toys before Christmas Day.

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Kids’ PRODUCTS

GIRAFFE BALANCE BIKE This cute balance bike is designed to encourage movement, coordination and motor skills. It can help little ones with mobility or balance problems achieve independence in the home and outdoors. A great way of allowing younger ones to keep up with older siblings who are using bikes. amazon.co.uk

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KITY STAR NIGHT LIGHT

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This projection light ﬁlls your child’s room with a magical starry sky that captures their imagination and creates a relaxing and ambient atmosphere for bedtime. The perfect night light for those needing a little distraction to drift off to sleep. amazon.co.uk

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£11.99

COLOUR IN IGLOO This excellent little den of creativity is ideal for young ones who love to get creative. The igloo is cardboard and offers kids the chance to colour, paint, or use stickers, glue and glitter to make it their own personally decorated den. It is easily assembled and affordable too. hobbycraft.co.uk

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£7.50

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SOFT MODELLING FOAM A soft and lightweight modelling clay that can be used over and over again to create different shapes and characters. The pack comes with six different colours and the strange, coarse consistency of polystyrene beads allows your kids to mould them into anything they want. They won’t dry out either; a great way to keep busy minds amused. createandcraft.com

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£6.99

WEIGHTED SENSORY SNAKE This soft, cuddly snake is ﬁlled with 1.7kgs of beads, the perfect pal to wrap around your child’s shoulders or curl up on their lap. The deep pressure offered by this soft snake is a great addition to a daily sensory diet and he is fun to play with too. exploreyoursenses.co.uk

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£35.95

CHILDREN’S EPILEPSY SEIZURE ALARM The Medpage Model MP5V2 epileptic seizure movement detector is designed to detect a variety of seizure types from all ages, babies to adults. The highperformance sensor and control software positively identify seizure movement from a sleeping person, ignoring usual sleeping movements. Detected seizures are notiﬁed via two carer pagers. Additionally, the included camera is automatically triggered to record seizure activity. easylinkuk.co.uk

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DISABILITY

YOUNG PEOPLE

MENTAL HEALTH

HOMELESSNESS

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disabled rage. Doctors constantly tell me I’m lucky to be alive, but you don’t feel alive when you can’t live. ‘Halfdead’ is exactly how I feel – felt – because I saw someone who thought like me, so I didn’t feel alone but alive.

FUTURE VOICES Each issue we will be shining a light on a young disabled person who is blazing their own trail. Whether that be campaigning for access, giving up their time to help their community, achieving success in the sporting or arts arena or educating their peers on disability.

LAST CHRISTMAS BY LUCY MILLS

ast Christmas has been slated by critics as a ‘mouldy tangerine of a movie’. That quote came from The Guardian who gave it one star. I however, loved it, not because it’s the best movie or that it’s filled with WHAM! And George Michael (but that helps), but because it’s the best representation I’ve ever seen. Before I go on, I must insist that there will be spoilers ahead. You have been warned. Kate, played by Emilia Clarke, has previously been ill and is now trying to figure out her place in life, when she meets the charming Tom. With subplots about a former Yugoslavian family and the threat of Brexit, acceptance of self and family, and the homelessness crisis in London; it’s easy to forget this film is a rom-com, but it has heart in all the right places. We find out that Kate suddenly got ill, had a heart transplant and is now in recovery. I, myself, have been through trauma and as a result now have several chronic illnesses. Kate’s life has changed, and so has her lifestyle, but she’s in denial and abuses her body and mind. This leads to her breaking point in Tom’s arms. Here a beautiful monologue is spoken that hit my heart. She spoke of how doctors told her how lucky she was to be alive and yet she didn’t feel it; she felt ‘half-dead’. This is why disability and chronic illness representation are so important, because I saw myself for a few seconds on screen. I have, what I call,

Having Emilia Clarke play Kate gave the performance weight. She has had two brain aneurisms and has recovered from them. She set up a charity, SameYou, to help young people recover from brain injuries and strokes. Having an actor play the role of someone who has experienced the trauma of a life-threatening situation and survived recovery grounds the performance, but also makes illness more visible. It doesn’t patronise the audience, it’s not pity porn because it’s reality. This is why disability and chronic illness representation is important. This is why I love this film. This is why I feel seen. The film also represents race, sexuality, immigrants, gender expectations especially men, and disability as well. They had disabled actors play disabled characters. It’s that easy, and yet so hard for Hollywood. The disabled actors play people helping in homeless shelters and the homeless people themselves. According to BBC news: “The number of physically disabled people affected by homelessness in England increased by three quarters during an almost 10year period”. People with disabilities are still not getting the help they need, so homelessness becomes a real possibility to them. As the film says, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to help others because helping feels good. This could be helping at a homeless shelter, or a food bank, buying a Big Issue Magazine, talking to a homeless person on the street, or donating to Crisis at Christmas to give a homeless person a Christmas Dinner and a day of warmth. It can also be talking to your disabled family member, friend or neighbour to see what is important to them, to hear what needs to change and then vote to help that change happen. You could even help disabled people get to the polling stations because everyone deserves to vote, be heard and be seen.

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DAN WHITE

long months of pregnancy. The album took on a greater signiﬁcance however when we were ﬁrst made aware that Emily was going to be disabled. That album became a therapy; a place to escape into, something to hang on to, and something that was reassuring. We only found out our little human was disabled three days before birth and Neil Diamond’s music became a constant background noise, a source of comfort to two people whose lives had taken the most unexpected of turns. The album became a source of strength. In fact the calming melodies became ear worms, louder and more powerful than the voice of fear that was calling.

COLUMNIST

Follow Dan on Twitter @DeptOfAbility Dan White, creator of the amazing Department of Ability superheroes and dad to Emily, who is 13 years old and has spina biﬁda, is a regular face in PosAbility as he shares his experiences of life as a family with a disabled child.

When my wife went into hospital, we played that CD on a continual loop for the whole period of labour. 24 hours of Neil Diamond sounds like a sort of Guantanamo Bay torture, but it acted like a reassuring visiting relative and a lyrical anesthetic. We went into the unknown with an old friend singing us into the future.

MUSICAL MEMORIES

hristmas is almost upon us and that means endless music from Cliff and the irresistible Slade on a permanent loop. Music has always been there for me in my life. Music has seen me through the highs, the very lows, and back up again. Indeed music is a coping mechanism for Emily, my daughter, often using it to soothe the trials of her PDA autism.

“That album, became a therapy, a place to escape into, something to hang on to and something that was reassuring”

I spent my teenage years in a state of musical exploration. I was terrifying my jazz-loving parents with Captain Beefheart. They got their revenge however on a Sunday morning with an 8am James Last alarm clock. Once I met my equally musically wonderful wife, we soon went weird together with many a gig and festival. We saw The Who’s “last ever, we really mean it, all ﬁnished” tour and watched Roger Waters rule Glastonbury through a rainy Sunday mist together. Bliss. We loved the loud and the weird. I remember lambasting people of a certain age who adored Neil Diamond. But all that changed when I heard a track on the radio one afternoon. The song was “Oh Mary” and I loved it. However, my work colleague nearly wore my coffee when Ken Bruce told me it was Neil Diamond. Soon the album Twelve Songs was endlessly playing in the house. This album, not only destroyed my musical snobbery, but was the only album we listened too as we waited expectant, for Emily, our daughter, to arrive during those

Emily was born and was perfect. She has spina biﬁda and a soundtrack album all of her own. She is now 13 and somewhere in her trace memory, Neil is still there, bringing her into the world. Her music taste is a bit like her wheelchair driving, erratic to say the least. From Black Sabbath to Ed Sheeran, Emily is certainly our child. Her Alexa blasts out enough volume to displace her recently won National Diversity Award for age. It’s odd however, that since Emily ﬁrst told the world that she wasn’t going to follow the supposed rules of disability that Neil hasn’t been heard. Perhaps his only mission was fated to be our companion solely for those strange days of pre-birth and the early days after. Perhaps his job is done, who knows? Maybe he is musically unemployed because it may be too raw to listen too. However you celebrate Christmas, music will be a part of it, a soundtrack. Music is the soundtrack to our lives, good times and bad times, there are no exceptions, even a James Last alarm clock.

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THE BLUE BADGE BLUES What do you do when someone confronts you about parking in a disabled bay?

TV legend Paddy McGuiness found himself in a spot of bother last month when an ignorant member of the public questioned him about parking in a disabled bay – despite displaying the blue badge that he has for his two children, Leo and Penelope, who live with autism. The comedian was taking his children to a play centre when he was confronted by an angry member of the public who informed him that they didn’t “look disabled”. Paddy, who tweeted that he admittedly wanted to “bounce him off every car” in the car park (a feeling we’re sure is not alien to a lot of our readers), but instead calmly explained to the person that not all disabilities are visible. He tweeted: “If you ever ﬁnd yourself in a similar situation, stay calm, take the deep [breath] and educate the ignorant. You’ll feel better and you’ll still have a job to pay your mortgage and look after your family.” Paddy’s response was praised by many people and parents who have been in the very same situation, who offered their own stories and advice about what to do when confronted by ignorant people.

We asked our readers for their advice on what they would do – or have done – when in Paddy’s situation:

01 Elayne tweeted: “I just politely

remind people that not all disabilities are visible. We need to get the word out there and educate.”

02 On Facebook, Kirsten Taylor said:

“We’ve been approached by a trafﬁc warden accusing us of using it fraudulently! Didn’t even apologise when corrected! I try and ignore any looks/comments/ tuts. My hubby gives them the biggest verbal dressing down they’ll ever experience. I’d rather have my daughter be able to live an independent normal life than a blue badge any day - people’s aggression and ignorance can be astonishing.”

03 Jenny Cole told us: “It can be hard

not to let it upset you sometimes, but I usually just point to my blue badge and tell them I’ve been assessed as needing it (and if they have a problem with that, then they are more than welcome to contact my medical team/the DWP/the Council to discuss it further). Most of the time this is enough for them to go away. If they start to argue or become more aggressive, to be honest I would just walk away (or if it’s at a store, perhaps report it to store security). As much as I would sometimes like to argue back and tell them they’re wrong, if they’re already being confrontational/ aggressive, it’s just not worth my time or limited energy to try and engage with them.”

04 Robert Logan said: “I’ve been

approached twice and on both occasions I very politely tell them that if you want to moan I can sit here all day and listen, both times they couldn’t come up with a reply.”

Photo: James O’Hanlon, Flikr

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EMBRACING INDEPENDENCE BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

We explore the benefits of installing a stairlift or home lift.

s the old adage goes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;home is where the heart isâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and this is never more keenly felt when the prospect of leaving your home is looming over you. We all develop an emotional attachment to our homes; it is the place we feel safe, comfortable and most at ease. We know where everything is, we feel the blanket of familiarity and happiness when we are surrounded by a place filled with memories and it can be a very difficult reality to face when the time comes to leave that safe haven. It may be yourself or a loved one that is facing a prospective move â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this may be due to deteriorating health conditions or an acquired injury leading to loss of independence in the home. However, there are avenues that you can explore to keep yourself or a loved one at home and independent for longer, and one of those options is to install a stairlift or home lift to ensure full access around the home and to avoid any risk of falls.

STIGMA For many people whose mobility is deteriorating, they may feel some stigma surrounding the idea of installing a stairlift or home lift. It can be difficult coming to terms with any loss of independence and getting older unfortunately can throw many of these challenges your way. Installing some form of lift may be viewed by many as an admission of old age which can be frustrating and can deter some people from taking that step. There are also concerns over the look of these installations and the damage they could do to the interior of your home, however things have come a long way in the last few years and manufacturers are far more in tune to the fact that customers want style as well as substance in their products.

STAIRLIFTS The benefits of a stairlift far outweigh the negatives. Staircases can be lethal to those struggling with balance, frailty and mobility problems and in circumstances where stairs have become a real danger pose a high fall risk. Stairlifts can be hugely beneficial and can help avoid major injuries and hospital admissions. The choice of stairlifts available on the market nowadays is vast. You will find stairlifts that can negotiate tight turns and corners, curved staircases, narrow staircases and even outdoor staircases. Style is also something that is considered by manufacturers now. They appear to have finally received the memo that people would rather adorn their homes with items that are both beautiful and functional. As a result you will now find sleek and stylish options of stairlifts that are designed to be discreet and complement any room. Did you know that there is also the option to rent a stairlift on a short-term hire basis? This can be an ideal option for those recovering from injury or going through rehabilitation. It keeps you from having to fork out the full price for a stairlift and most companies will organise the installation and removal quickly and easily.

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HOME LIFTS Domestic home lifts, or through floor lifts as you may know them, are a surprisingly realistic solution nowadays. You would be forgiven for thinking installing a home lift is a very luxurious, expensive and slightly futuristic option, but they can be a more reasonable solution than you initially realise. Growing ever more popular, you will find more and more people are considering installing home lifts because not only do they provide a solution to access problems, but they can also blend in seamlessly to your home, can be installed with minimum fuss and they can even add value to a property as it has been future-proofed for potential future owners. Options are endless. You can install lifts that can carry two people, lifts that can carry wheelchair users, larger lifts that can accommodate wheelchair users and other people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even the family dog if you need to. Depending on the structure of your home, most lifts are installed in the corner of a room, keeping it discreet and out of way. It will transport its passengers through the floor to a room or hallway upstairs, the great thing about them is that if you do not want to have the lift sitting in your living

room all day, perhaps if you are entertaining guests, you can just send it upstairs and out of sight. It does not leave a large unsightly hole in the living room either, this area is left clear and in keeping with the rest of the room. Intelligent technology is used with many of these lifts which avoids any real structural damage, some are self-supporting and some use hydraulics to ensure a smooth, quiet and seamless journey between the levels in your house. Some are even simply powered by a domestic 13 amp plug, so they are definitely worth your consideration.

EMBRACING INDEPENDENCE At the end of the day, if you or a loved one is in the position of looking to remain at home for as long as possible then lifts and stairlifts should be viewed as a gateway to freedom, not as a negative addition to your home to counteract the effects of old age or disability. We should embrace any technology or product that provides us with a little more independence and keeps us safe in our homes for longer. Positive moves like this can have a dramatic effect on the lives of the individual requiring a lift and any loved ones or carers looking out for them as it offers peace of mind for everyone.

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2019 A YEAR IN REVIEW BY KATIE CAMPBELL So much has happened this year, hasn’t it? Except Brexit, which was supposed to happen three times, and did not happen three times. Did anything else happen? Honestly, we’re trying to remember.

JANUARY

03 Greggs releases a meat free sausage roll. A lot of people get mad for seemingly no reason regarding this. This is a recurring theme in 2019. 15 The Commons rejects Theresa May’s deal on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Hope you like talking about Brexit because we’re going to be doing that a lot. 28 British Retail Consortium warn of higher food prices in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The UK collectively comments “duh” upon hearing this news.

FEBRUARY

01 Hundreds of schools close across the UK due to snow. YouTube simultaneously became flooded with hundreds of videos of people falling on ice in hilarious ways in the background of news reports on snow. 15 Thousands of school children strike for climate change. A lot of people once again get very mad even though we literally all need the climate to survive. 25 The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK in February is reported. The people mad at children campaigning for climate change conveniently do not notice. 26 The temperature record from the day previous is broken, followed by wildfires Same people as yesterday: “what fires?”

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MARCH

12 Theresa May’s Brexit deal voted down a second time. Honestly this year was mostly big Brexit chat. 15 Thousands of children strike for climate change. Same people get very mad. Climate change still persists in its existence, despite their anger. 29 Theresa May’s Brexit deal gets rejected. Again. Was Theresa May ok? I would have been emotionally devastated by this point to be honest. 31 Petition to revoke Article 50 reaches 6,000,000 signatures. The Government upon seeing this: “New phone who dis.”

APRIL

01 Britain leaves the EU. April Fools, no they didn’t. Hahaha. What levity. 10 UK and EU agree to extension of Article 31. It gets extended until 31 October, thus ruining Halloween for everyone. 15 Extinction Rebellion begin a week of protests in Central London. You’re probably wondering, were a lot of people angry about this? Yes. Yes they were.

MAY

13 The Jeremy Kyle Show axed from ITV. Amateur shock comedians across the UK mourn the loss of their primary source of material. 16 Boris Johnson announces he will run for PM. UK’s sphincter collectively tightens. 18 UK ﬁnishes last in Eurovision. We all decide to blame Brexit but secretly we know it was because we’re crap. 21 Jamie Oliver’s restaurant group collapses. The Turkey Twizzlers ﬁnally got their revenge. 24 Theresa May announces her resignation effective 7 June. BoJo begins suspiciously eyeing up 10 Downing Street. 30 5G goes live in six cities across the UK. Conspiracy theorists extremely pleased to have something new to post about on Facebook.

JUNE

03 President Trump begins three-day visit to the UK. Baby Trump balloon begins soaring majestically over the skies of London. 07 Theresa May resigns. Thankfully, she didn’t dance out of Number 10, because that would have been mortifying. 29 Met Ofﬁce records more record-breaking temperatures. Same angry people from earlier say “it’s not that hot,” as people fry eggs on the pavement.

JULY

11 Tommy Robinson found guilty of contempt of court. Signiﬁcant numbers of people turn out not to really understand how “contempt of court” works. 23 Boris Johnson chosen as leader of Conservative Party after ballot. “Hahahahaha oh no,” says (some of the) UK. 25 UK experiences hottest day on record. “It’s not that hot,” say climate change deniers while physically melting into a puddle.

AUGUST

23 UK government expresses concern over ﬁres in the Amazon rainforest. It’s still on ﬁre, incidentally. I feel like we should maybe worry about that. 25 Record temperatures recorded over August bank holiday weekend. “IT’S NOT THAT HOT,” says the gurgling puddle where a climate change denialist previously stood. 28 Boris Johnson asks the Queen to suspend Parliament. The Queen does it, and we collectively get extremely mad about it.

SEPTEMBER

02 Boris Johnson decries potential general election. Spoilers: MPs do it anyway. 07 Amber Rudd resigns as Conservatives are “expelled”. This was the ﬁnal straw, says person who was the head of the DWP. 28 Thomas Cook collapses. This isn’t funny or anything, it’s just a break from all the stuff about Brexit. Sorry about your holiday.

OCTOBER

08 Parliament is prorogued until 14 October. Everyone in the UK who doesn’t have a BA in politics Googles “what does prorogue mean”. 19 Brexit is delayed until 31 January 2020. Halloween can once again be enjoyed by all. 29 MPs vote to support general election in December. UK’s sphincter collectively retightens.

NOVEMBER

06 Parliament is dissolved to prepare for general election. You’d think that would provide respite from all the Brexit chat, but you would be very wrong. 08 Flood warnings issued in Midlands. The puddle where a climate change denier once stood is washed away by the biblical downpour. 29 Black Friday occurs. Lots of people ﬁght over tellies they don’t need. The discerning individuals wait for Cyber Monday.

DECEMBER

15 Brexit happens/doesn’t happen. Depending on your personal preference. We don’t know. We wrote this midNovember. 25 Christmas happens. It’s great, everyone gets nice presents, maybe a new phone or some jewellery. Good stuff. 31 Hogmanay. Jools Holland smashes it, we all have a lovely time, the people of Scotland miss Jackie Bird.

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Dream JOB GET THAT

BY JANE HATTON

SELL YOURSELF It can be a good idea to imagine that you are the recruiter when applying for a job. If you were the recruiter, looking to fill this position, what would you be looking for? Make sure that’s what you emphasise in your application. I once accompanied a colleague to an interview, for support. This was a role he really wanted, and was absolutely ideal for. He had all the qualifications, skills and experience that they needed, and more. We were both hopeful that he would be successful, ending a prolonged period of unemployment. We met just before the interview, as he was quite nervous, and spent a bit of time rehearsing some of the things he might say at the interview. His time of not being in work had clearly not been a barrier for the employer, as despite this being clear on his CV, he had still been invited for interview. I reminded him that they must have liked his application, and thought he was a possible match for the job, otherwise he wouldn’t have been shortlisted.

perspective, their first impression of this candidate was all about potential problems, and nothing about what they might gain from employing him. Needless to say, he didn’t get the job, although he may well have been the best candidate. So, what could he have done differently? He could have spoken about his interest in the field of work he was applying to move into. Maybe mentioned relevant experience. He could have talked about the organisation and why he wants to work there. He may have described similar work or projects he had worked on previously. Talking about workplace adjustments needs to happen at some point, but if they are the first things mentioned, they may well put off the recruiters from the outset. Workplace adjustments can be discussed once the job has been offered. Let them be impressed by all you have to offer before introducing things they may see as problems. Once they have decided you are the best person for the job, they are much more likely to be receptive to discussions about adjustments. In summary, think what is going to impress the recruiters, and mention all of that first. Your chances of success will be so much better! For further tips, and jobs from inclusive employers who are looking to attract more disabled candidates, have a look on the Evenbreak website, evenbreak.co.uk.

We went through the requirements of the role, and he was able to give evidence of meeting each one, with examples to show his competence and experience. We didn’t know anything about the other candidates, of course, but we knew he would be perfect for this role. From the recruiter’s perspective, they just needed to know that my colleague had all the qualities (and more) required for the role. I thought he had a really good chance. In the event, the interview didn’t go as I had imagined it would. The recruiter asked the question (often used at the beginning of interviews), “Tell me something about yourself”. This is, in my opinion, a very poor question to ask. This should be the opportunity for the candidate to shine – show themselves to be knowledgeable, pleasant, and having done their homework about the company. My colleague is autistic, and chose to answer the question by telling the panel exactly why they shouldn’t employ him. He mentioned that he doesn’t like working in teams, would not want to work in an open office, doesn’t like taking instructions, would say what he thought even if it upset people, and so on. Whilst all of these things are relevant, they are certainly not the best way to open an interview. From the recruiters’

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● Shower chairs ● Air or pressure mattresses ● Local care available ● Adapted kitchens

We are only 15 mins from Truro and 30 mins from the Eden Project, making Treworgans the ideal place to explore this beautiful county.

01726 883240 / 07762 173860 www.treworgans.co.uk

Located on the stunning Exmoor Coast

FR I

I-F

Lodges & Cottages

Self-catering

Set in 3 acre gardens on a quiet country lane on the edge of the Exmoor National Park yet within 1 mile of shops, pubs and the beach.

About

Single storey disabled access lodges, three with wet rooms, shower wheelchairs, ramped access and adjacent parking.

For booking and info visit www.woodcombelodges.co.uk call 01643 702789 or email woodcombelodges@outlook.com

Alba Highland Cottages

Alba Highland Cottages are luxurious and modern, self-catering cottages with wifi, full disabled access, accessible toilets and wetrooms. · 2 accessible adjacent cottages · Situated a mile from Boat of Garten, 5 miles from Aviemore · All rooms are accessible to wheelchairs (upper level access to rooms is by stairs only) · Downstairs wetrooms, adjoining parking and ramps · Free use of a wheelchair can be arranged

To book or to find out more call 01505 842 062 / 07748 432 648 or visit www.albahighlandcottages.co.uk

Free wifi and pets welcome

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