Access Audit #1
Everything Up & Coming In The Disability Space
2025 looks set to be *the* year of disability media. From books to live events, disabled folk are set to be at the forefront of new media releases.
Last year, I was struggling a bit with whatever you may call ‘voice’. To have been chronically ill for two years means a lot of recalibration - and the reconciliation of not having a secure friendship group. To not be invited to events because of your illness, as a ‘we thought you’d not come anyway’ gesture, is very isolating. And it makes you doubt yourself so much more. I look around, and it seems everyone else is ahead - more subscribers, book deals, better prospects, let’s settle down. This feels like standing still.
There’ll be a few more changes on The Disabled Feminist for this reason, as part of a ‘soft refresh/relaunch’. Each season will have an Access Audit list for that quarter - the out now and upcoming disability media you should be aware of and why. Be it books or awards, places to pitch or new releases, this is a list of recommendations from The Disabled Feminist.
There’ll also be a new interview series on this newsletter, which will be launching soon. Each month I want to interview a disabled woman, as part of a new series across a range of topics. The full transcript will be available to paywall subscribers as a default - and possible highlights to be sent as a free preview.
Meanwhile, please don’t forget to subscribe and share. The access audit lists will be free to read throughout this year; all I ask is that you either share, comment or think about becoming a paywall subscriber. This allows me to write and continue to manage as a disabled journalist who specialises in disability and social inequality issues; in return, there will be more essays to view from me, resources, etc.
Books
Who wants normal?, a mediation on disabled womanhood by Dr Frances Ryan, will be out on April 17th. A manifesto and handbook, with the insight of an array of woman such as Ruth Madeley, this looks set to become a staple of all bookshelves. Pre-order your copy now.
Contraception: Your Essential Guide To Separating The Myths From The Medicine will be out in March. A first of its kind book from the team behind reproductive health platform The Lowdown, this looks like a great corrective to the gender health gap. Accessible sex education is a start, it’s a feminist issue. An added bonus is that the cover doesn’t have infantilising imagery such as a dripping orange, or the colour pink! (And for more on that, read my interview with Sophie Smith Galer here.) Preorder your copy now.
Outrage: Why LGBTQ+ Equality Is Not Yet Won by
ofwill be out on the 30th of this month. Ellen is a great writer and strategist, and this is one to watch. Order your copy now.
Single: Living A Complete Life On Your Own Terms by
of infamy is out on 13th February. Get your copy now.
Television
The War Between The Land And The Sea, the highly anticipated spin-off of Doctor Who featuring UNIT and starring Ruth Madeley, will be broadcast at some point this year.
We Might Regret This, a hilarious BBC drama-comedy about when your best friend becomes your caregiver with blurred boundaries, has been recommissioned for a second series. Broadcast date to be confirmed.
Events
Lucy Rout, know for her Tabuu brand of accessible accessories, has launched an in-person dating event series. Accessible venues for wheelchair users? Check. Find out more and get your tickets on the website now.
As a reminder: the City Girl Network has a whole range of events across the country coming up, including coffee meetings. All the details are here.
Any writers on here? The Vagina Museum in London is operating a writer’s gym once a month. You come along to experiment with writing prompts. And it’s a pay what you can basis! Book for February and beyond now.
Naidex is coming! Two days, one arena, multiple seminars and events - what more can you want from the UK’s biggest annual disability conference? Get your free tickets now.
Other releases
Primark will be releasing the first mainstream adaptive fashion collection at some point this year. Designed by Victoria Jenkins (pictured), founder and CEO of Unhidden, this is set to be groundbreaking.
AccessAble is currently holding applications for the Ignite Grant of £25,000.
I can't wait to read those interviews. I am in the process of planning a disability-led virtual rally for March. It is myself and another disability woman planning it.