I want to share with you as to why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia and social model of disability.
Over the next couple of blogs I want to talk more about my experience of how society can disable and can enable.
As many of you will know I had a couple heart attacks about a year ago. Its been a long and hard road back to health with a lot of hiccups along the way.
About 8 months ago I went to a Business Gateway even event at the new Enterprise Hub is Glenrothes. Brand spanking new building the Fife Council and its partners were all proud of. Its on the first floor of a building above a bank.
I went in the front door on the building and was presented with two long flights of stairs to climb. It was not easy for me as I was still recovering from my heart attacks but I managed to climb the stairs.
Anyone with any real mobility issues would not have been able to access the building.
This is what I mean when I say society disables...........
Hmmmm maybe the thinking is disabled people cant run a business or be an entrepreneur??????
I asked about an accessible entry point like a lift so that people with mobility issues can access the building. I was told there was none.
The reason being there had not been the funding available to make the building more accessible.
I had a little walk around the building and found no accessible loo and other disability unfriendly issues within the building.
Now I felt stuck between a rock and a hard place here. If I complained officially how would that impact on me and my organization Dyslexia Pathways CIC?
I had to make an official complaint in writing no choice. So I did some research to find a disability organization, local and national, to help me with this. I wrote a e mail complaining to my local MSP.
The MSP still has not got back to me and I could not get any help from any disability organization to help me write my letter of complaint. I wanted the letter to be perfect and I felt I needed support because I am dyslexic.
I did get some support from disability campaigner Susan Archibald who informed my she was not surprised to hear my story because its repeated all over Fife.
Last week I went back to the same building for another training event. Still the same problem of access but I was not surprised about that. This time I went on to twitter and wrote about this problem on my twitter feed. I also complained to my feedback form.
As I walked out of the building a person working there called down to me as I walked down the stairs to inform me they were going to be putting in a stair life. I also received phone calls from the Business Gateway to again inform me they were putting a stair lift in.
I am not sure when they will be doing this or if they will be rectifying the other accessibility issues in the building.
But if they do this will be an example of society enabling........EVENTUALLY!!!!!
I have to finally say I hate being put into a position where I have to complain. I, we, as disabled, dyslexic or, neuro diverse people should not be put into a position where we have to complain.
But unless we do nothing will ever change and will probably get even worse by remaining silent.
thanks for reading
Peace love and groovyness to all
Please share your experiences of times when society enabled of disabled you.
Next blog will be about my experience of employers who can enable or disable
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