The first month of the new year is already at an end. I’ve spent most of January 2020 planning ahead for the year, getting back into the swing of blogging and freelance writing and celebrating a certain special occasion:
Disability Horizons
After spending the last few months of 2019 helping launch our new online shop, I’m now back on the frontline of news content at Disability Horizons. It’s been a slow burner so far but I’m hoping the content will be flooding in from February.
Plus, since the departure of one of our team members, I’ve been asked to help out monitoring the main Disability Horizons emails and organising and filing them to the relevant team member and folder. Four of us in the team will take it in turns every third week to go into the inbox and go through up to 50 emails – more responsibility for me!
Also I’m pleased to say that Disability Horizons will be returning to Naidex 2020 – Europe’s biggest disability exhibition, packed with innovative products and services to make disabled people’s lives easier. I attended Naidex for the first time last year and loved it. I will be returning with the rest of the Disability Horizons team on 17th & 18th March 2020 at the NEC Arena in Birmingham. Please come meet me and the rest of the team at stand N114.
Volunteering at Treloar’s
Last year, I mentioned I was in the process of getting to do some voluntary work at Treloar’s – my former school and college. Unfortunately, due to a lack of resources available in the marketing department and a changeover of staff, they had to delay me starting any voluntary work. After Christmas, I contacted them again to see if any work was available. I managed to meet with the Communications and Marketing Manager but at the moment she still cannot offer me any work t this time, which is slightly disappointing.
On the plus side, another lady from the fundraising department has invited me to an alumni futures event in London to share my experiences of life after leaving Treloar’s. It will be taking place on Tuesday 10th March 2020.
Birthday
Now for the certain special occasion – yes it was my birthday on Saturday 18th January. I idn’t do a lot to celebrate though. January is the worst month to be born because the weather is crap and nobody has any money.
Plus all my friends live far away and most can’t be bothered to travel this time of year. Luckily my childhood best friend Pluggy managed to make the effort to travel down from Cardiff to have lunch with me on my birthday!
Drama
I returned to my drama classes at the West End Centre in Aldershot. This term is just workshop based and we’re focussing on monologues and duologues. We still neeed to learn a script but will just be performing in front of our classmates.
Music
As part of my birthday present, I went to see the musical We Will Rock You at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. You can read a full review of the production in my blog roundup below.
Also, last week I booked tickets to see My Chemical Romance, who are doing a comeback gig at Milton Keynes Stadium in June 2020. After being on hold to the disability booking line for four hours, I managed to get three wheelchair seats, three carer seats and a standard seat altogether.
Audio Description petition
Just another reminder my audio description petition still needs more signatures. So far there has been a total of 180 signatures but I’m eager to reach thousands.
The more signatures we get, the more likely changes could be made within the TV & films industries. Please, please, PLEASE continue to sign & share!
Guest bloggers wanted!
I’m pleased to say I’ve already collaborated with two bloggers this year as guest bloggers, which you can read in my blog roundup below. I’m eager to collaborate with even more bloggers in 2020.
So if you’re a lifestyle, disability and/or music blogger, send me your blog stories. Plus let me know if you’d like me to feature on your blog as a guest blogger.
I’m flexible with any type of blog posts; life story, disability awareness, music event, musician promotion – basically anything to do with life, disability or music!
Blog post roundup
In case you missed any of my blog posts this month, here is a roundup of them:
1. 10 perks of being a disable person | Guest Blog on Chelse Munoz Blog
2. Guest Blog: 16 tips to keep in mind about grief and trauma
3. Music Interview: The Hellfreaks
4. Guest Blog: Living with Quadriplegic Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
5. Mobility Aids | Guest Blog on Brains on Wheels
6. Highlights of the decade 2010-2019
7. Review: We Will Rock You at Mayflower Theatre
5 Favourite Blog Posts
Here are my 5 favourite blog posts I’ve read this month:
1. 2020 wishes by The Secret Blind
2. 20 Challenges for 2020 by Ross Lannon at A Life On Wheels
3. Why terms like ‘fully accessible’ don’t help disabled people by Carrie-Ann Lightley
4. Blue Monday! by Kerry Thompson at My Life, Kerry’s Way
5. Booking Your Cervical Screening When You Have A Disability by Fi Anderson at Life of an Ambitious Turtle
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