This time of year can be a time of reflection for many of us. We tend to look at how far we’ve come in our disabilities or conditions, and to celebrate that we’re still able to enjoy life and share it with our loved ones. Read More
I was flabbergasted when I learned that I had been shortlisted for the 2019 National Diversity Awards (NDA). https://nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/
To be one of 124 nominees after a record number of nearly 30,000 people entered, is no small feat.
I had long been campaigning for disability rights after beating the odds to recover from a late diagnosis of HIV back in 2006. I had been given just two weeks to live; this was a turning point in my life, to say the least.
It spurred me on to set up my own company, Luminate, as a Disability Development Consultant, to raise awareness of HIV and hidden disabilities.
I felt both delighted and humbled to have received a nomination for the Positive Role Model Award for Disability. Read More
A few years ago, as Chair of the Disabled Staff Association for a central government department, I arranged for Alistair Campbell to come in and give a talk about his experiences with mental health. Read More
World AIDS Day 2018 was the 30th anniversary of the event and marked a year of significant developments in the treatment of the condition. Read More
“You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life.” So said Coco Chanel.
I’ve had another birthday this year. Not an unusual occurrence; it happens once a year. Most people experience the same thing. According to the World Population Clock I probably share this birthday with about 20,535,940 other people. That’s a lot of people! So I’m not alone. But perhaps what is a little bit more special about my birthday to me is that I shouldn’t be here. As I count down (or up?) to the fast approaching next big one, each birthday becomes more of a time for reflection than for a merry round of social activities. Read More
What would you do if you were told that you have a life-changing illness like HIV and only two weeks to live? Run around, scream and shout and tell the world that it’s so unfair? Or don sackcloth and ashes and join a silent order, forever in penance for your wickedness? Read More
I am writing a book, publication date Spring 2018.
My book is a story of real triumph over adversity, and my hope is that by reading it, you will immediately receive the reassurance you need that you too can find a way through the tough times. I hit rock bottom, and wanted to end it all, but I didn’t. So if you are struggling, let my words be of comfort to you. I got through, and you will too. Read More
A few years ago, as Chair of the Disabled Staff Association for a central government department, I arranged for Alistair Campbell to come in and give a talk about his experiences with mental health. I clearly remember one of the things he said was that a recent (at that time) piece of research from a Norwegian University had been published which had identified the areas of medicine professionals would most prefer to practice in. Top of the list were childhood cancers and heart transplants. Not really surprising. Vying for bottom place of the list and therefore the ones that the majority of medical practitioners would really prefer not to touch, even with the proverbial bargepole, were mental health and HIV/AIDS. Perhaps even less surprising but still disappointing. These still remain the most stigmatised of disabilities. Read More
“You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life”. Coco Chanel
It was my birthday last Friday. Not an unusual occurrence; it happens once a year. Most people experience the same thing. According to the World Population Clock (http://countrymeters.info/en/World) I probably share this birthday with about 20,535,940 other people. That’s a lot of people! So I’m not alone. But perhaps what is a little bit more special about my birthday to me is that I shouldn’t be here. As I count down (or up?) to the fast approaching next big 0, each birthday becomes more of a time for reflection than for a merry round of social activities. Read More
I ‘acquired’ my disability almost 9 years ago. I went online shopping and there it was. Right colour, right size, how could I resist? And having acquired it I decided that I would ‘declare’ it. Yes, I would stand up on the rooftops, armed with a megaphone and shout out to the world “Here I am, look at me, I’m disabled!” I have ‘disclosed’ my status because, you see, it was such a big secret. Read More