Emmerdale's down syndrome storyline

 I don't normally write about the bad but so much has happened. 

In a short space of time I felt I needed to write something. 

I always try to share the voices of disabled talent to anyone who will listen/read and make a point of speaking and writing about artists and production companies I feel deserve it. 

In saying that sharing voices of those also speaking out about the  bad.

One of Emmerdale's most recent storylines features Laurel Thomas and Jai Sharmar who plan to abort their baby. 

After discovering they will likely be born with down's syndrome. 

I follow many disability advocates including Rachel Mewes who's daughter Betsy, now three.

Is a happy, lively, dancer who loves nature and  animals,who just happens to have downs syndrome. 

At just 7 months pregnant and  having stated she "didn't want to talk about termination" Rachel recalls being forced to consider it. 

Told she would be having "a child for life" and other "derogatory lies." And now has PTSD as a result 

Since covid theirs has been a massive increase in disability hate crime and ableism throughout the media. 

There are so many ways this storyline could play out in a positive way for example they think of abortion then doctors advise them to go and meet others with down syndrome and their families so they decided against it. 

If they wanted to highlight abortion they could of done it without attaching a condition. Going about it from a completely different angle. 

There are many charities promoting achievements of the down syndrome community,Including positive about DS who highlight the many achievements of the DS community. 

You're not disposable if you have a disability, there's no doubt life is harder, but there's help out there and I don't know any disabled person who hasn't brought light into the world. 

Including Betsy who as her mum says "has a positive impact on all around her" and is "surrounded by an amazing team who work with her to help her achieve." Rachel also added that she's " always struggled" with her mental health" , Betsy has brought her "peace and happiness." 

If you are interested in finding out more,reading the open letter written by those with down syndrome to Emmerdale's production team, which has so far been ignored. 

Or helping towards this cause Rachel has set up a petition to call upon emmerdale to edit  or remove this harmful storyline. 

Please sign and share

Inclusive Christmas gifts

 Bear hug gifts~ Run by the chronically ill Bear hug gifts are a gift box company designing  gift boxes for any occasion. You can also donate a gift box to someone chronically ill in need of a pick me up. https://bearhugsgifts.com/

The Miranda Shop ~ The Miranda Shop run by Miranda Hart and her Gallop team are still donating half of their profits to Astrid and CISFA two amazing chronic illness charities. https://themirandashop.com/

CISFA ~ CISFA are also putting together their regular chronic illness packages for purchase, all money will go back into making more packages to go out to those in need. https://www.cisfauk.org/our-team

No such thing as Normal~ No such thing as normal is a run by Megan DeJarnett who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at two years old. Megan promotes diversity, inclusion and acceptance in all she does and has designed a box set that makes the perfect present for Christmas. 

This box includes the no such thing as normal book. 

 a book, a children's book teaching kindness,inclusion and acceptance.  

As well as a kindness room sign, pair of earrings, stickers and a pin set.

Gary's gigantic dream and Lia's kind mind~ Created by Nicole Julia Both of these books teach the importance of inclusion. 

Gary's gigantic dream follows giraffe Gary and his adventure to be fitted with his very first wheelchair whilst Lia's kind mind follows Liom Lia who is struggling to master a new gymnastics, with the help of her freaked she masters the balance beam as she does her birthmark.

20% of the sale of both books goes towards creating inclusive playgrounds. https://theablefables.com/

fforaofficial a disabled clothing brand

~Mia Tui brings to you the Samatha Bag designed by disability rights activist Samantha Renke comes a fully inclusive handbag that can be brought with wheelchair clips https://miatui.com/

~Come on Life ~ Nicki Lily has recently brought out a guide on how to live your best teen life, by including snapshots of her own ups and downs. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikki-Lillys-Come-Life-Highs/dp/1406392820/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=nikki+lilly+book&qid=1606403897&sprefix=Nicki+lily+&sr=8-1

~A girl behind dark Glasses 

I've written about this many times before but Jessica Taylor-Bearman's book a girl behind dark glasses really hit home for me and I would definitely recommend it to any M.E sufferers or their families if they want to know more about the condition. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Behind-Dark-Glasses/dp/1999805356/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+girl+behind+dark+glasses&qid=1606403812&sprefix=a+girl+behind+dark+&sr=8-1

Kara Jane~ It's still ME ~ Another incredible person I did a blog on this year was Kara Jane. A severe ME sufferer who has recorded an entire album from her bed. Kara's album is now available to purchase in CD form as well as digital download. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Still-M-Kara-Jane/dp/B08DL2HL6W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kara+jane+it+still+m.e&qid=1606403856&sprefix=Kara+jane+&sr=8-1

Miracle Tree book~ Created by Austin Highsmith Garces Miracle tree book is the story of her childhood life in hospital. 

This book aims to help any parent explain hospital tests to their children allowing them to feel more at ease whilst in the hospital. 

Every purchase of this book is being out to a child in the U.K or US who is experiencing hospital treatment. 

A world with friends charity single and Christmas cards~ A world with friends have created six Christmas cards with lyrics to last years Christmas song all proceeds will be going back into their incredible work 

Another few worth mentioning are •fforaofficial a disabled clothing brand

•Barbie's recent additions of wheelchairs, cochlear implants and many more inclusive dolls. 

Part two will probably be out soon as I'm looking for more companies to support.

Happy shopping

http://www.lewishine.co.uk/a-world-with-friends.html

Interview with Cassidy Huff

 Having performed on many stages across her seattle eighteen year old Actress,singer,songwriter and author Cassidy Huff has most recently made her voice over debut on "DreamWorks's Netflix original "Spirit riding free: "Riding academy" 

Voicing a disabled horse rider named  Eleanor who she described as "very sassy, going on to say "she’s very competitive and motivated in everything she does." 

And can come off a little bit rude sometimes, "but at the end of the day, she just wants what everyone else in this world wants. She wants true friendship and connection with others, which are things that all human beings crave!" 

Cassidy hopes that after watching Eleanor is that "people with disabilities are just like everyone else. We can do everything everybody else 

can do, we just have to accommodate some things sometimes!" 

I was very pleasantly surprised when I first heard of how DreamWorks was adding a disabled character into the "Spirit riding free" world, even more so when I discovered how much research was put into the writing,drawing and correct. 

It was nice to see noone question Elenor's disability and how they all knew her for being an amazing rider and thier first thoughts weren't her disability.

This is always great to see because it teaches people that there is more to a disabled person other than their disability,I also loved how DreamWorks's incorporated clicking noise for Eleanor's chair as she was riding it. 

It's something so small but to me it just made it feel more realistic. 

She also believes that if production companies are willing to put as much research into their disabled characters as DreamWorks did it "would not only open the door for more disabled roles, but it would make more opportunities available for disabled actors/performers." She also added that she was "very pleasantly surprised" when DreamWorks told her of all the research they had put into the writing of Eleanor" 

  I was very pleasantly surprised when I first heard of how DreamWorks was adding a disabled character into the "Spirit riding free" world even more so when I discovered how much research DreamWorks put into the writing,drawing and correct. 

Whilst watching the episode it was nice to see how noone questioned Elenor's disability and how that they all knew her for being an amazing rider, her disability rightly wasn't an issue. 

This is always great to see because it teaches people that there is more to a disabled person other than their disability,I loved how DreamWorks's incorporated a clicking noise for Eleanor's chair as she was riding it. 

It's something so small but to me it just made it feel more realistic. 

Another of Cassidy's works includes a best selling book she co~wrote called “Becoming An Exceptional Leader” alongside her friend Mai Ling Chan who wanted to tell the stories of those within the disability 

community,trying to make the world a better place. 

Although hesitant and not sure anyone would want to listen to a eighteen year old girl who had "no idea" of what she was doing.  She agreed to help write a piece leaving her balancing auditions, attending high school, performing, training a service dog and preparing for graduation.

The book has been a massive success contributing to a "outpouring of 

support" for those involved. Something Cassidy never expected and made the tiring months of writing worth it. 

Looking into the future she hopes to continue her activism within the disability community by bringing awareness to the challenges faced. 

Going on to say that she has confidence that  the entertainment industry come to a point hit a where she and other disabled actors "can be recruited for roles that don’t have 

the word “disabled” in the character description." 

Working in a  industry that says they are “accepting of all” and actually means it  and actually means it and if questioned upon diversity or disability inclusion,will be able to answer and follow through. 

Along with a longing to " see more disabled doctors, nurses, actors, singers, 

engineers, real estate agents, in our world" and for the world to  " get to the point where society 

doesn’t think it’s “inspiring” for disabled people to be functioning members of society" 

And would advise any productions wanting become more inclusive that shows should be "reflective of the world that we live in." Because if all you see in a movie "are characters who are Caucasian, straight, and able bodied, and then go out into the real 

world and don’t see that exact image you just put into my head, of course I’m going to be supposed and a little bit prejudice to the people I didn't see in this image" and that 

We’re all a little different, but at the end of the day we’re all the same in the 

sense that we’re all just human beings trying to live our lives. So by putting people who 

don’t necessarily “fit the societal mold” into your products, you’re actually changing the 

way people see those of us who aren’t represented very often. You’ll also be helping to change the industry into a more inclusive and accepting place for all of us!" 

Her advice for anyone with a disability wanting to peruse a career in entertainment would be that even though 

"there will always be people in this world who tell you not to pursue your dreams. Prove 

them wrong. There will always be people who turn you down. You will get a million 

“no’s” before you hear your first resounding “yes”. So work hard, be kind to yourself, be 

patient, remember that your “yes” is the one that’s meant for you, and it’s coming for 

you, keep holding on, don’t just chase your dreams, catch them! And if no one has told you yet today I'm proud of you keep being you and go and change the world"

 Cassidy's team for allowing this interview to take place and of course to Cassidy herself for taking so much time and care over my questions. 

If you want to keep up with Cassidy and her work including her latest podcast "I'm not your inspiration" with a 

youth-led radio station from Seattle, Washington! You can follow her

Instagram @cass_huff and theirs 

@gzradio

 

Pages and co series book review

 Every bookworm feels as if they have lived their favourite characters world,cried with them, laughed with them & been a part of their lives. This book is based on that concept but it is so much more than that. The start of the book shows,main character Tilly struggling with starting secondary school and wishing her old best friend still wanted to be friends. Tilly turns to books for comfort and soon discovers she can have real-life adventures in them.  

I adored how real this book felt, I felt I was Tilly I and that all these beloved characters were with me whilst I went about my day. 

I also admired the addition of Oskar, 

I'm twenty one and looking back I can't remember any dyslexic characters in books when I was growing up,

giving him dyslexia but allowing him to love books is a really great idea. Anyone can have a passion for reading no matter who they are & that stories are always with us no matter how we choose to access them.

I felt I could relate to Tilly especially when she is commenting on the ups and downs of friendships, I could Oskar more enjoying stories as much as I do but not always being able to read I acses books through audible versions. 

Pages and co has a special place in my heart, I began to regain my ability to read ,write and concentrate when the first book was released.

 It was one of the first audiobooks I properly got into,

 being able to concentrate on an audio version is a massive thing for me. And pages gave me one of the first experiences of books I'd had in a long time. 

The best part of this book was finding new stories I'd never read or listened to before,  listening to them, then understanding the story on a whole new level. 

It's important for old loved classics to be brought back into circulation so a whole new generation of children can love them as much as the last. 

Moving on to book two 

Pages & co: Tilly & the lost fairy tales 

I loved this book just as much as the first the way it links up to the first yet still has its own storyline with new & complicated characters. 

 I love fairytales & this book is a fantastic mix of realism & fairytale. Telling new stories whilst creating new & updated versions but preserving old ones to keeping them alive. This book does that brilliantly. 

Another thing definitely worth a mention is the ceremony that takes place in order to find a new Liberian. 

One of the candidates happens to be in a wheelchair, something so simple but it makes alot of difference. 

I would love to see book wandering from this characters point of view. So much of the real world isn't accessible so presumably that would reflect in books. 

I would love to see other character's reactions upon seeing a disabled person especially within older books where there would be much more prejudice.

Following on from book two pages, Pages three (Tilly and the map of stories) adds new exciting characters and a magical train. 

Tilly and Oskar travel through layers of stories to save book wandering, along the way they realise they can travel into plays as well as books.

Anna James has a brilliant way of mixing reality with fiction and in this book as Tilly and Oskar follow a strange alternative map historical events and timelines fit into Tilly's world as well as ours. 

This years been tough on us all but these books gave me a real escapism and not for the first time. 

If you are looking for a Christmas gift for a young family member I cannot recommend these books enough.

There's a real sense of family connection,friendship, fantasy and a whole lot of inclusion in many forms.

I really struggled writing without giving too much away so I hope this review does these books justice without giving too much away.

 

25years since the disbility discrimination act

 November 8th 2020 marks 25 years since the beginning of the disability discrimination act. 

Replaced by 2010’s Equality act throughout the U.K exempting Ireland where it 

Still applies. 

I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t know much of this history, thinking something much longer than my existence kept disabled people from discrimination.

Finding this act is  4 years older than myself  was shocking, the first disability act 1944’s Disabled person’s employment act. 

Looking back on my life I realise disability discrimination has been a massive part of my life especially within school, many disabled or chronically ill people have had similar expirences to me.

 ranging from  simple things to  more complicated things. 

I've realised that the way my exit from school was handled was illegal as was much of my school experience. 

Over the course of the pandemic there has been a big increase in the rise of ableism, 

I thought covid might bring us together, allow the muggles to understand our way of life.

Reality has been far from that, so many of my friends have experienced it,myself included. Being older and realising what was going on broke me and that’s when I started to figure out 

that’s part of the reason I tend to associate myself with sick people, they get it. 

I don’t feel misunderstood or feel like I'm. I have to pretend I’m not experiencing pain or falling asleep. 

It’s been difficult seeing my friends feeling the same has hurt, I have strength knowing that we're all united and trying to do something. 

This ranges from petitions all the way down to shareable text posts. 

The only way to get people to understand is through education,to mark the Disability

Discrimiantion acts 25 year anniversary The BBC have created a range of shows written and featuring Disabled artists these include. 

Crip Tales: A BBC Arts and BBC Four production

 Mat Fraser has put together a series 

Of six, fifteen minute monologues. 

 Based on true events, each episode will span over the last fifty years as characters experience their disability in a way they have ever before.

Each monologue will focus on a important moment that will

test and change the main character forever.

Although based on fact these monologues are

Written as fiction and are all performed by disabled People.

This series will star:

Liz Carr (Silent Witness),Ruth Madeley (Years and years) ,and new talent as well as and award-winning writers including Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials; Wonder. 

Locked In

Shot and directed by filmmaker, Xavier Alfmade 

Produced by: BBC StoryVille ,Rolling Marble for BBC Four 

Supported by the BFI, Doc Society and The Wellcome Trust. 

Executive producer is Sacha Mirzoeff.

Xavier Alfmade  filmed and by  Xavier Alfmade

Comes this documentary based on his own irreversible chronic condition.

 As his illness begins to take hold he finds the courage to glimpse into his own future. 

Following others  at different stages of recovery, from an illness closely related to his own, known as Guillain Barre Syndrome

Confiding and listening to others stories of thier illness. Reveals the importance of talking about the things that scare us most.

The Disability Paradox:

 For BBC Four/Northern Ireland 

by Triplevision Productions 

 co-directed by Eamonn Devlin and Gerard Stratton.

  Executive producer  Fiona Keane.

"The disability paradox" explores what makes us happy and how we can improve the quality of our life. 

38-year-old filmmaker Chris Lynch has Osteogenesis Imperfecta and has used a wheelchair since the age of six.

Chris uses his own knowledge and experience as he exames if the "disability paradox" is true in his own life.  Chris meets others with disabilities to learn more about them and their experiences. 

While exploring the "disability paradox " and how it relates to body image, health and social normality. 

The News:

BBC Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox will  mark the anniversary  BBC News bulletins looking at how disabled people fought for their rights by chaining themselves to buses and bringing parts of the country to a standstill. 

 plus reflecting on how things have got better, or worse during that era.

 Nikki will provide analysis and feedback to Questions Answered surrounding disability on the BBC News channel.

 BBC Ouch podcast:

Will  feature an episode discussing life before disabled civil rights,life after and life now. 

There will also be a range of articles on BBC News online,hosting  in depth video footage of disability protests from the time. 

BBC Radio 5 Live:

 will host a dedicated Your Call phone-in.

 The day after the anniversary, BBC News will release  results of a survey in partnership with YouGov examining  how disabled people feel they fit into society.

If you have made it this far thank you,please visit the article where I found these commissions.  As there is videos clips from some other commissions.

 shoes, I will be blogging on new commissions as they come. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/disability?at_campaign=64&at_custom4=2625F4DA-1911-11EB-8AAD-55F4923C408C&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom3=%40bbcpress&at_medium=custom7&

Endlings

 

Set in 2040, Endlings begins when fourteen-year-old runaway orphan Julia is escorted to her new foster home by two policemen. At the farm, Julia meets her new housemates Johnny, Tabby, Finn and her new foster parent, Mr. Leopold. 

Soon after, Julia, along with her housemates, gets swept up into a supernatural world. They discover aliens really do exist and that they need to save them and other endangered species before they are all really gone. 

During their adventure, they encounter one of the world's last remaining elephants, Tuko. She was thought to have vanished mysteriously from her sanctuary earlier on.

Endlings had a great way of delving into the past by using flashbacks. A really great way of telling important parts of the story whilst connecting it to the present.

Finn's connection with the alien pilot was really touching, the aliens can't communicate with words and neither can Finn. Meaning a mutual understanding is formed. 

I loved how we got to see the adult's backstories, as well as the children's. Many kids shows, only show one perspective, that of a child's or their friends. Endlings shows us the children's perspective, the adults and animals. 

Against all odds, the foster children that were once outsiders to the rest of the world, manage to come together using their knowledge to save the Endlings and surrounding endangered wildlife. 

All whilst being investigated by Hewes and her team, who is researching these extraterrestrial beings for experiments for an unknown reason. 

Netflix's Locke&Key

 After the tragic loss of their father, the Locke family move into his childhood home. A house full of mystery uncovers many secrets and truths unveiling the past, a house full of magic brings them together. Helping three lost souls come to grips with the past whilst consulting the future. 

One thing I loved was how subtly disabled characters were present. 

Despite whispering keys being in residence they have no effect on the Locke's grounds keeper  Rufus Whaldon, for whom they have no powers. 

Sharing a love for action figures he and Bodie quickly become friends and along with his adoptive Mother Ellie they plan a way to defeat Dodge. 

I talk alot but how important it is to cast authentic actors in the correct roles. Locke and Key's castings team did an amazing job at this Rufus's actor Coby bird also has autism and is a strong disability rights activist. 

 As is Eric Graise a amputee whose character Logan Calloway,

made up for the T.V series sends out a strong message. One of his  first scenes shows him keying a car parked in a disabled bay without a blue badge. 

When questioned about wearing shorts whilst snow is falling. Logan responds with "Do my legs look cold to you" 

Other sub plots covered in Locke and Key include. Nina's alcohol addiction which she again begins struggling with,Tyler shows signs of what could become an addiction problem. Also Loss,grief and PTSD along with teenage mental health especially within Kenzie's arc as she ventures back into her own head to bury her fear.  

 There's such a strong sense of family, there's moments where you think a Locke will spiral out of control. By leaning on each other they  get through.

I hope you enjoyed this blog, I have struggled to complete this blog so I'm hoping it makes sense and explains well without giving anything away. 

Thank you for reading.

 

Covid&disability acses

 Covid has affected us all,I was curious to what the differences were within the chronic illness community. Many of whom  already isolated. 

When lockdown started

 I saw many posts claiming it's impossible work/stay at home and were remarkably angry, living a life many of us routinely lead.

Thousands experience 'lock down' life everyday, we have no choice and ironically are the ones who hope that people will try to minimise the risk of spreading covid by being sensible and taking government advice.

99% of chronically ill people have lost friends,jobs,education or family through lack of understanding. I'm used to the way I live,what plays on my mind is other people's perceptions. Glimpsing our lives for a few months has hopefully given others an idea of life for a disabled or chronically ill person.

Who now feel left by society as everything begins to ease. confessing it seems unfair that pubs,restaurants,cinemas and theme parks can reopen whilst they still can't get access to treatments. 

Many carers/parents have Struggled to balance everything whilst looking after their child or multiple children, without access to help. 

As everything begins to gain normality again,businesses and high streets are cutting off vital disabled access, to allow for social distancing. Instead of ensuring safety

and providing vital disabled access to those who need it. 

A prime example in Stroud is the council who have recently cut off on-street parking,leaving many blue badge holders  frustrated and upset. 

Noticing the impact on mental and physical health. Activist @wheelsnoheels set up a petition to get our rights back. Disability charity Scope are responding by sending an open letter to the government to these issues seen to. 

If you would like to sign the link is below: 

https://www.change.org/p/justin-tomlinson-mp-bring-back-disabled-parking-access-is-a-right-not-a-privilege?recruiter=1142806896&recruited_by_id=920440b0-e27bd-11ea-9771-079c563a79db&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard

Toy like me

 As a child Rebecca Atkinson struggled to find toys that represented her way of life.

Noting how this can make a person feel she decided to do something about it.

With over twenty years of experience working in T.V production and Journalism and a passion for change,

In 2015 alongside writer Melissa Mostyn,former Ragdoll play consultant and Karen Newell whose son has a visual impairment. 

She established ToyLikeMe in hope to strengthen the global toy industry and encourage them to start positively mirroring the 150 million children worldwide who have a disability. 

The team began by looking over pre existing toys, recreating them to represent disability fighting back against normal prejudices and interpretations that surround it. 

Designing playmobil guide dogs,wizards with wheelchairs and many more,kicking off a petition for change. Backed by fifty thousand people. 

Toy like me's inclusive designs hit the press,their story shared all over the world, playmobil quickly acknowledged the success, and aided by Rebbecca began creating products inspired by toylikeme's designs 

After this success another petition was set up calling upon Lego, this petition reached over 20 thousand people. Athough never responded to Toy like me didn't give up, instead uploading a wheelchair father Christmas design to legos ideas platform. Where fans can vote for their favourite design. 

 In January 2016 Lego's first ever wheelchair-using mini-figure was displayed at Nuremberg Toy Fair. This story built up Worldwide coverage praising ToyLikeMe’s influence, to legos new product. 

February 2016 sow Tinkerbell in a whole new light, as images of Toy like me's design  donned hot pink cochlear implants. These images were shared thousands of times,making global press. 

Over the years Toy like me has grown to become an arts and play based non profit organisation. 

 Whose aim is to  create more art and design projects,continuing to educate by holding workshops and public exhibitions. Their hope being  to influence the global toy industry into becoming more inclusive. 

If you would like to read more you can find Toy like me here: 

https://www.toylikeme.org/ 

https://m.facebook.com/toylikeme/

https://twitter.com/toylikeme?s=09 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/341147740501642563/