I was a trustee for Disability Rights UK (2016 – 2020), the Director of Communications in a campaign that brought about the abolition of disabled car parking charges from all NHS hospitals in England last year and am now (2022) a volunteer at the United Nations.
I was instrumental in the success of the above campaign. I appeared in the Daily Mail, the Times, the Telegraph and on BBC London radio. I worked closely with Sir Vince Cable which resulted in receiving formal endorsement for the campaign from the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives and Labour (following suit) included a pledge in their manifestos.
The campaign was implemented into law in April 2021. This remains the most significant disability inclusion policy change in England during the pandemic.
The campaign also resulted in free NHS parking for frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and NHS staff working night shifts.
My volunteer work with the United Nations (Palestine) includes:
- Making their premises accessible to people with disabilities
- Assisting the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA):
- In tailoring their gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health / rights services to be more inclusive and accessible to women with disabilities.
- In creating targeted interventions to meet disability-specific needs.
I am hopeful of visiting Palestine later this year.
“Sisyphean achievements at great personal cost are more admirable than many a Herculean feat.”