Access Audit #2
Everything Up & Coming In The Disability Space
One of the more popular features on this newsletter since the start of this year seems to be the seasonal Access Audit lists; I had emails, comments, and other people talking to me in person about the list.
Partly inspired by an Instagram influencer from way back when, the idea was the spread a little bit more about disability media - something that’s often under-championed, or is seen as ‘problematic’. It’s something I believe very much in, enough that I wrote about it for The Bookseller earlier this year.
We need new, better, diverse stories. So often we hear about children’s lack of interaction with books - yet, wouldn’t you be bored if there are no new stories, and the same names reissued over and over? (Yet another report has been enacted into the state of play in the UK.) I felt like crying when reading this study; this is just completely and utterly tragic. We need new stories - or we do ourselves a disservice.
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Out Now
Disability Community for Democracy got in touch with me back in January. Today there’ll be the Bed-In: Disability-Led Rally in the US. A virtual event, this seems important for the US - I applaud the organisers and salute you. Scan the image or click here to register for a range of speakers and discussion panels.
Outrage by Ellen Jones is out now.
writes over at ; this is a polemic of what the state of LGBTQIA+ rights is in the UK and beyond. Click here to get your copy now.Pink Pilled by Lois Shearling is also out now. An inquiry into how women are radicalised into the manosphere, this is a vital and much needed read. Click here to get your copy now. (And just to add - I will be reviewing the book on here in due course.)
Primark Adaptive is finally out now. Earlier this year I reported on the launch in this newsletter; I’ve also shared my extended thoughts for The Purple Goat Agency, and there will also be an extended feature in Disability Review Magazine. I went to see the clothing the day it arrived nationally; on attempt two, I purchased the little black adaptive dress. I’m very impressed by this collection - and you can order it online, too.
Hester Grainger over at
will be taking her solo tour, ADHD Unmasked, across the UK. All about later in life diagnosis, this is not to be missed - get your tickets here.
Coming Up
Disability Review Magazine is coming out (very) soon - and this is going to be a dopamine-filled issue with a lot of lively, unapologetic colour. Here come the girls, girls, girls…..
Who Wants Normal? by Frances Ryan is a memoir-manifesto of what it means to grow up as a disabled woman in the twenty first century. A follow up to her debut Crippled, the book will be out on 17th April; I will be reviewing the book on here, too. Click here to get your copy.
The UK’s biggest annual disability conference is back. Naidex will be taking place later this month at Birmingham’s NEC - and ticket are free. Plus, yours truly will also be speaking at the event on day one.
What would you add to this list? Let me know by replying to this email or commenting below.