It’s been announced that
@bbcstrictly
are going to have a wheelchair user this year. I’ve just sat, honestly close to tears, as I’ve scrolled through the ableist comments about how wheelchair users are not welcome on the programme but also in general society.
Popping this out there before more comments come in. I am an ambulatory wheelchair user. In the advert, I dance both in & out of my own wheelchair. This is a first. A disabled dancer hired for a mainstream campaign but showing people CAN sometimes get out of their chairs.
Just a note from me, if you’re in a wheelchair, you can f’kin dance. You’re just as worthy as anyone else to do whatever you want to do and I’m honestly so sorry society makes us feel bad this little sometimes👌🏻
In my (many) years of being a blue badge user that is the FIRST time a stranger has had something understanding to say about it.
Made me a lil emotional.
13 years ago I became unwell & never fully recovered. Today, I made it in
@voguemagazine
To the ‘friends’ who made fun of my disability, to the school who wouldn’t make adaptations, to the (god knows how) many times I’ve been turned down from things
I’m doing alright on my own
Today I parked in a blue badge space (with a badge) and was able to walk into the coffee shop. There was a man standing outside his car next to me, so I thought I’d check I’d left enough room. (Cont)
I’m so used to getting abuse for using my blue badge, so prepared for this. And he literally said ‘I’m all good, you just be careful . I know you’re on your feet but it’ll affect you later. So go enjoy your coffee’
(Cont)
Something that non-disabled people probably don’t know - most disabled people spend every minute worrying their benefits are going to get taken off them or they’ll be called a fraud for doing something on a ‘good’ day.
Our dance academy will be doing our own Strictly inspired classes for anyone who wants to dance throughout Strictly season (wheelchair or ambulatory), so please, don’t let this put you off!
Love to you all x
It’s never too late to change the title of a documentary.
@lizzo
gained the love of the disabled community when she changed her lyrics after using an ableist slur.
Suggest new titles below.
My one…
RJ: Dirty Word
(Please remember to be kind)
I can’t thank you enough for all the support after a very difficult day for the disabled community. Discrimination doesn’t get easier.
I’ll leave you with this, one of my non-disabled dancers who’s found a love for dancing after attending a dance class led by a disabled teacher
It’s been announced that
@bbcstrictly
are going to have a wheelchair user this year. I’ve just sat, honestly close to tears, as I’ve scrolled through the ableist comments about how wheelchair users are not welcome on the programme but also in general society.
Went for a little shop with my carer this evening. We had to fill in a form because she injured her foot, when the assistant manager asked for my details as a witness and said ‘I assume you don’t have an occupation’ because I’m a wheelchair user.
I’m so so tired of this.
.Things that I’m currently fighting for:
- an accessible house so I don’t have to fall down stairs/crawl up them
- a PA/carer so I can do go to/do my job
- a wheelchair
This is the reality of so many disabled peoples lives. It tiring. It’s heartbreaking. It’s basic needs.
Oh
@lizzo
A VERY influential figure, using the word sp
@z
in her new song.
An offensive and derogatory term. As someone who’s written about the use of disability language, especially slang/slur words which have been used in schools, this is a huge step back.
Please, remove it.
Alt: Kate, a white dancer in a wheelchair with her arms in a long diagonal line and her leg extended. She’s wearing a two piece grey set and there is a purple sky background. A quote from a comment says ‘ I’m sorry about anyone in a wheelchair but if this is for real then we
6 year old nephew: Auntie Kate, would you like to swap bodies for the day?
Me: Em, yeah sure, why? What do you fancy doing in my body?
6 year old nephew: Nothing really. I just thought it would be nice if you could be in mine and run again...
Sobbed. 🥺
BBC to help with homeschooling children. Pleaseeeeee hire some of us chronically ill/disabled people with experience with children who are at home. Inclusion is so important from an early age. I officially put myself forward for inclusive dance!
@cbbc
@BBCSport
@BBCNews
The disabled community going to inaccessible places now and being like ‘even the tardis is accessible’
Imagine, Dr Who changing the poor accessibility throughout the U.K.
Yes please.
#DrWho
#ItHasRamps
Disabled community, we got you 💪🏻
Always
(I am only using the hashtag to get this on the thread. There’ll be a significant rise in people using the R word on all social media. Even though we managed to get them to * it, it doesn’t show up on hashtags)
#RosieJones
#AmIARetard
Just want to say thank you to everyone who’s voiced their concerns about the Rosie Jones documentary.
The documentary will come out and I want to remind you that the title originally represented multiple disabled people. Not only that, but none of the disabled people featured
With the Paralympics coming up soon, just to say you can be disabled and awesome without being a Paralympian.
I have huge respect for them, but society still views successful disabled people as being Paralympic superheroes.
I know not everyone will understand. People who follow my journey know that some days I can’t even get out of bed... But I want to do this for the disabled community and I hope I’ve done you proud. If you have any questions, go for it.
After many years of campaigning, I signed the tenancy for my own rented bungalow. It’s going to be awhile before I’m in due to redecorating, kitting the place out + struggling with getting carers to cover my needs now I’ll be on my own. But we will get there. There’s hope 🙏🏻
Today I met a girl I inspired to start dancing as she was a wheelchair user when she was younger. Her Mum found me on social media and they watched my videos, so she learnt to dance in her chair.
She’s now ambulatory and in Matilda The Musical.
Just adding onto the ambulatory wheelchair user thread - I got stopped at immigration in Miami because the woman couldn’t believe I a) actually needed a wheelchair and b) was MODELLING for a brand. Made me want to do this campaign 1000x more. Thank you
@Georgeatasda
👏🏻
Hello! I’m back after some serious napping 💤
Had the most wonderful time at LFW with
@UnhiddenFashion
❤️ This adapted dress is PERFECTION & I’m just putting it out there,
@bbcstrictly
should hire
@ToriaUnhidden
if we have a wheelchair-using celeb this season 🦽
Hi, I wrote an article about how I was reported to DWP (multiple times) & the effect it had on me. Not just that, but how people with disabilities are terrified of brown envelopes & the system needs to change. Il be hiding in a corner but read if you like.
Just know I’m a ‘real’ disabled person and I Hope shoots like this will encorouge brands to hire more of us. I also hope this shows people that many of us can get out of our wheelchairs and it’s ok to do so.
Visit to see what it took to do this shoot 🌟
I ignore my assistance dogs signal to lie down when my blood pressure was going today as I wanted to finish my filming and he genuinely started launching shoes at me.
Exactly why I love him.
🥺🐶
Todays travel access fails:
- Refused access on a train because people had put suitcases or were standing in the wheelchair space
- No ramp so wheelchair was carried off the train with stranger transferring me
- Left not knowing what in the world was going on. Again.
Last week, my carer took me to a&e & I was immediately dismissed by the dr. After staying for obs, 5mins later my condition deteriorated further meaning I had to be transferred to a specialist hospital. I can’t tell you how many times, with a chronic condition, we aren’t believed
I taught inclusive ballet last night at an international event - I love what I do 🩰 ❤️
Music not for copyright purposes
Video Alt - Kate dancing slow balletic movements to a Cinderella soundtrack
Do non-disabled people get asked to work for free all the time? I’m genuinely intrigued... because my requests these past few weeks have been 📈 and had to turn down some great things because there was ‘no budget’ for creators 🤯
Please know that I,
@ludawinthesky
and
@Shelbykinsxo
have been through a really tough time with this one and had to consider our careers carefully voicing our concerns, but we always knew that we wanted to do the right thing.
I’m personally taking a bit of time off, sending love
I didn’t have the energy in me to bother fighting but I wish I did because I’m still a bit upset. I don’t ever want to have to explain myself, as I shouldn’t have to, but ya gal works hard ✌🏻
Absolutely lost my s**t at Team Valley. I’m SICK of being bottom of the pile. I’m SICK of having to fight for access. I’m SICK OF IT ALL.
@ChronicleLive
@MetroUK
@hexhamcourant
On world ballet day, this coming week, can we please ask for inclusion. This is my student, Fay. She was told she couldn’t do her ballet exam because she uses a wheelchair. Also, Fay was going to borrow my wheelchair as she doesn’t have access to the equipment she needs.
And finally, and importantly, it’s not ok to hire disabled people for a documentary as contributors and not listen to their voices
Part of my job is working with TV production companies like Channel 4 & there’s a high chance speaking out has lost me a lot of future opportunities
Just this ❤️
I love what I do and I couldn’t even fit it all into 1 minute. But having a disability means that there are constant barriers and access to dance is incredibly difficult (to get right!)
We try our best. And I really mean we, because the whole academy is a team.
Fell off a pavement in my wheelchair yesterday because there were no dropped curbs and I needed to cross a road. Hurt my neck so didn’t sleep well last night because of the pain and slept through a lot of today with a headache. Wish the world was more accessible 🦽
Pet peeve: support workers who take disabled people on outings and sit on their phones. Watched a whole group out today and have no interaction because all staff were on their phone. Not. A. Fan.
I don’t want to be a poorly/disabled person in the U.K. anymore. Absolutely sick of being thrown at the bottom of the pile for everything. Let everyone else had no restrictions whilst we get even more isolated. How’s this fair?
First ambulatory wheelchair user to be featured by many big dance brands & modelled for multiple high street brands. Nah mate, don’t have enough followers.
Brands look for the ‘tick’ for collabs but they’re so hard for disabled influencers to get. Sort. It. Out.
@tiktok_uk
Just a little message to say, again, thank you so much for the support from my last post 🫶🏻 So much I could say about ambulatory wheelchair users, including the fact I’m dancing with an 11yr old, broken chair because my disability doesn’t entitle me to an active chair on the NHS.
Agreed to the title, which was originally ‘Rosie Jones’ and it was even going to air without the asterisk.
Putting a slur in a title is not the way forward to stop people using it, in my personal opinion.
5 mins into class and Spencer alerted. He was very persistent so I knew it was time to call it a day, lie down, get meds and fetch a human. Well done boy 🐶
Video is of Spencer, Kates assistance dog, nudging her leg to indicate she’s going to have a medical episode & needs help
Watching the
@LNER
train manager announce over tannoy that putting luggage in the wheelchair space is against the disability discrimination act and see everyone run to get their suitcases was the best part of the journey. Didn’t move when we were struggling earlier did ya 😂
I went to do some modelling today and when I entered everyone held up their negative lateral flow test for me as extra reassurance they hadn’t just faked it (I’d asked them to do one before the shoot) + I just was like 🥺
That’s protection. From strangers who are now friends ❤️
Happy Pride ❤️ I still have lots to learn about in the LGBQT+ community and I thank everyone who helps educate me 📚
It’s taken a LONG time, but thanks to my best friends I’m now confident enough to tick the ‘bi’ box on forms which I was always terrified to do 🌈
Sorry a child just stopped me to say she liked my doggy’s COSTUME and my heart melted. It’s his assistance dog jacket and I’m calling it his costume from now on…
Little nephew did his disability badge at Beavers today.
‘I hope you don’t mind, Auntie Kate, but I stood up and told them about how you became disabled at 14. But, it doesn’t stop you from dancing’
THIS BOY 🥺
I taught a little girl in her new powerchair to dance for the first time today as her mum watched and cried. I will never forget how special that feels. What a day 🥹🦽✨
People underestimate me all the time as a disabled women. I’m a dancer & the number of times I’ve been told ‘you can’t dance because you’re in a wheelchair’ is beyond me. It’s time to change the views of disabled people is society. We are dancers. We are doctors. We are activists
Turns out, I’m an alright person. I was selected as a ‘Woman of The Year 2021’ by a complete stranger who read about me in a magazine.
Not many words on here, but thank you to all those who support and believe in me. I love you.
Also,
@sueperkins
pic because I was so excited!
Just to let you all know
@Tesco
are now scrapping their cheap delivery slots and will charged a fixed fee of £4.50. For many of my disabled friends out there who can’t get out to shops & barely afford food, the world has put up another barrier 😔
Passenger assistance didn’t come get me at Newcastle so I was left on a train at 1am in the morning wasn’t I ✌🏻 ANYWAYS made it home eventually. What an absolute rollercoaster travelling can be 🎢
Me: I’m so hungry
Friend: Go get some food then
Me: I can’t, my parents are in bed and I’ve had my medication so I can’t go down the stairs on my own to get food. Disability life.
Just a small insight about living in a non-accessible house. So many disabled people struggle.
Spencey, for 3 + 1/2 years you have always been known as a ‘good boy’. But today, I did notice when you were helping bring in the food shopping you sneakily took a pork pie & hid it in your bed. You’re ‘good boy’ status remains, for now, as you did hand it over uneaten. Cheeky 😂
I mean for my first competition ever entered as a wheelchair user, finding out I’m No1 in the U.K. for Paradance fast freestyle and No2 for Paradance slow freestyle when I’ve both trained & choreographed it all myself... I ain’t mad 🦽 🎉
Had a lil cry that I’m finally in my bungalow. Still a bit of a rocky road ahead with care/payments, but such an achievement.
Please know this isn’t the end of the accessible housing fight. I’m still campaigning and will support any cases I personally can ❤️
Funny how it’s
#DisabilityPride
yet the country doesn’t seem to see any pride whatsoever in disabled people or protecting them. Once again, bottom of the pile. Don’t come back and ask us for help when 1 in 3 get long Covid & we have a national disability crisis ✌🏻
Should we listen to disable people? Nah, let’s put celebs in wheelchairs. That’ll REALLY give everyone an idea of disability. For a day
You can’t use blackface to help understand racism. So, you can’t stick celebs in wheelchairs to understand disability
New term is starting soon & I’ll start teaching advanced ballet for 45mins a week very soon. It will be mainly from my chair & it will floor me for the rest of the week but I know I am a capable teacher. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not because you have a disability.
Sorry I know this is controversial but I wish they’d just drop the term special needs a replace it with additional needs. Putting ‘special needs’ kids in a ‘special school’... Additional needs and disabilities sounds much less degrading. 🙄
Can we have confirmation the Rosie Jones title will not even be allowed to be announced on air until after 9pm?
With your guidelines, I’d say this has scope for you not to publish in places younger audiences, especially, will see.
Ditch the title.
@Channel4
Right everyone, I need some help please. Got a pretty tough task of trying to get 2,500 signatures in around 2 weeks. If you didn't know, Newcastle City Council are starting to charge for blue badge spaces in their car parks from July. 1/2
We all know the care crisis is disastrous right now but this morning I agreed to go into a care home for a few weeks so my family can have a break from caring. If I had a full care team, I wouldn’t need to do this. If you know anyone near Horsley, Newcastle after a job, hmu 🤙🏻
Clinically extremely vulnerable: we advise you to stay away from people but don’t want to tell you it’s mandatory because then we’d have to provide support and we know that would be a headache for us. Then again we didn’t do much during shielding did we.
The Government x
Something to brighten your day 🐶 I can’t get into my dance studio, in fact, I can’t really go anywhere as I’m in the high risk category. However, I can go to a quiet/empty park to exercise Spencer. We both are missing dancing! 🩰
#highriskcovid19
#socialdistancing
#superspencer
Sick of ‘if you’re a wheelchair user you’ll need to sign a disclaimer’. From flooring to housing, why not just make things so they’re suitable for everyone? So frustrating not being able to get warrantees simply because of my mobility aid 🙃
Only in London would passenger assistance for the tube tell you to ‘take a run up’ in your powerchair for the gap between the platform and the train when the gap was dangerously big at our stop.
LOVE ACCESS LOVE LIFE✌🏻
My powerchair is broken. Today my mum & a nurse has to hold up a faint Kate to stop her from toppling to the floor & cracking her head. The fact there’s not funding for most powerchairs when it not only increases quality of life but also safety baffles me. This needs to change.
Just to let my dance students know we won’t be doing the Six the musical dance workshop I planned for today. I stand with all my disabled community that ALL access is essential and it’s a sad day when it’s taken away from us.
Instead, last minute choreographing is happening.
SAME QUEENS. DIFFERENT PALACE! 🏰 We’re moving to the Vaudeville Theatre from 29th September!
The 24 hour Queendom Presale (with no booking fees) is happening right now! 👑
Click the link to book your tickets:
#Queendom
#VaudeVIIIe
A little girl peeked her head around the studio corner. ‘Wow, I want to dance like her... Mam can I have a wheelchair for Christmas?!’
And that’s how it started. ♿️😂
Taken yesterday when my carer couldn’t understand my speech I was so unwell. Super Spencer lay there with his paw around me all afternoon. Love this little bundle of fluff 🐶
"If offensive words are to be eliminated in the narrative around disability, they must be taken out of circulation entirely. They should be regarded as truly unspeakable."
Thanks so much for the support from the ableist comment last night! I’d love to do a proper post on my Instagram and share… If you’d like the chance to be featured, please pop the following in the comments with a pic:
My name is (name)
I’m a wheelchair user
I’m a (occupation)