Tokenism?!
I’m not hearing much disability wise about the new Equalities Bill that has just gone through – either good or bad! Usually there’s something that I can get my teeth into (got them in today have we?! – Ed) … that Colin can be so cruel! As I was saying … there’s usually something that I can create a nice controversial cartoon about – hopefully giving our new Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman a bit of a hard time. But náda! Brantub cartoon
So, what do you do in a situation like that? Well, I try and portray the uncertainty of the situation, which is what I’ve tried to achieve in this cartoon. And if you look carefully, you’ll see that our Harriet even has the fingers crossed on the hand behind her back. I think she’s even more confused than we are!
So we’ll have to see won’t we? Will the New Year bring with it the status of true equality with the other oppressed groups, or will we be left holding the token bran tub toy? I can imagine it looking like one of those little monkeys that you used to get that banged a couple of cymbals together in a slightly manic way. The batteries are fading and as we watch, it slowly grinds to a stop … and then falls over. But I might be wrong!
Anyway, whoever you are, and wherever you are, have a good holiday and I’ll see you again in the New Year. Thanks for all of the emails and messages that you’ve sent during the course of this year. Although some of them, especially from our non-disabled brethren (they just don’t get it sometimes do they?!) have made me even more cynical (Surely not?! – Ed)!
Oh yes. And a big hug for our mate Colin, who without him working his little socks off, we wouldn’t have this blog or any of the others on the DAO site. Thanks Col, you’re a star!
e-books - Oops, nearly forgot (oh yeh?! - Ed). Instead of doing an annual cartoon book like I have on previous years, I've put up a new e-book of the postings that I've done on this blog over this past year - along with the cartoons. Main reason for this is that I've not done a lot this year on disability other than the weekly DAO blog postings (most of the other cartoons and e-books that I've produced this year have been whilst wearing my mainstream 'Sox' hat or privately commissioned works). I'm hoping to get my finger out next year and produce a few more Crippen books for you along with a couple of other disability based projects that are in the melting pot - I'll keep you posted.
My web site if you're interested is www.daveluptoncartoons.co.uk
Have a good holiday and see you all again next year!
Cuddly toys
Most of you know me as a bit of an old cynic (A bit?! – Ed) when it comes to anything remotely resembling a charity run by non-disabled people for Disabled people. They inevitably end up portraying us as a pathetic group of sub-humans; patronise us and sell us to the general public as pitiable objects in need of their money in order to make our lives at least bearable (or am I being a bit harsh again?!) custard cartoon
However, something caught my eye this morning whilst dropping my breakfast toast crumbs over the keyboard which gladdened my heart.
It’s about a charity called AbilityNet which is making toys and games more accessible for Disabled kids and which will be on sale this Christmas. The toys, which include remote controlled boats and cuddly animals, were adapted using technology originally developed to help a young boy paralysed from the neck down to drive a radio controlled car using head movements.
They seem a decent bunch of people over at AbilityNet, despite a few faux pas on their web site (the term ‘special needs’ and ‘children with disabilities’ being a couple that jumped out). Also the guy on the video wasn’t the usual sort of patronising charity person that we’ve come to expect. He had a nice way with the kids, and related to them in a positive, upbeat way.
There’s just one thing that worries me though. I wonder if they’ve remembered to let Santa know about these toys … I’d better drop him a line just in case!
Here is the link for the Guardian video that caught my eye, if you’re interested.
Pressies - And while we’re talking about presents, I thought it worth mentioning that I’ve got some new books going up on the Crippen products page just in time for Christmas (STOP! What have I told you about plugging your web site on this blog?! – Ed) Er, you mean - www.daveluptoncartoons.co.uk? (Yes! – Ed)
(Damn, he’s done it again! – Ed)
Calling Manchester! - Clair darlin’, your email address keeps bouncing. Can you check it out and let me know if it’s something my end. Ta X
Enlarged image - If you want to see an enlarged version or get a description of any of the cartoons on this blog, then just click on the middle of each cartoon and it will open as a much bigger version along with a description for your software to read.
Hide and seek
I often lay awake at night worrying about the fact that Joe and Jolene Public have a really difficult time relating to those of us who have long-term illnesses, those of us with psychological conditions, and not forgetting our brothers and sisters who are learning Disabled – in effect those of us who have hidden impairments. It must be so hard?! wheelchairs cartoon
And now, just to make it even more difficult for them the government are putting into place all of these new initiatives which are designed to get Disabled people into the workplace alongside of normal working people. Where will it all end?! (Don’t look at me, I didn’t vote for them!)
And surely it’s an exaggeration when they tell us that based on findings from the British Workplace Behaviour Survey (2008), the Equality and Human Rights Commission has discovered that those people with hidden impairments are much more likely to be bullied and harassed, and experience actual physical abuse in the workplace than non-disabled people. But what can you do?!
I’ve got it! If we give EVERY Disabled person a wheelchair Joe and Jolene Public won’t know which of us have the hidden impairments, so won’t have the problem of relating to us (and won’t have to go to the trouble of singling us out for bullying at work either!). And as an added bonus, there’ll be so many wheelchairs buzzing around the place that the government will have to make society more accessible otherwise most towns and cities will grind to a standstill and end up looking a bit like the M25!
OK hidden impairment people, who’s first for a free power chair?!
Enlarged image - If you want to see an enlarged version or get a description of any of the cartoons on this blog, then just click on the middle of each cartoon and it will open as a much bigger version along with a description for your software to read.
Do I come here often?!
Do you ever get to where you were going and then forget completely why you were going there?! Or find someone coming towards you that you know, and for the life of you, can’t remember their name (I did this when approaching a mirror once … scary!). Memory cartoon
I suppose that it’s another aspect of getting older. The old short term memory just starts to fade away. I can remember what I had to eat for breakfast during an event some 23 years ago, but can I remember what I did yesterday … er, yes I can actually. OK, bad example, but you get my drift?! Fortunately, most of the stuff I learned about the Disabled People’s Movement, about access, the Social Model understanding of disability, etc., is all in my long term memory now. It’s all the new stuff that I’ve got to worry about!
But having said that, nothing much that’s disability related seems to have changed has it? Take last month’s blog entry about a young Disabled woman being stranded on a train. That was happening twenty odd years ago. No change there then. And what about charities still trying to undermine Disabled people by portraying them as helpless, needy individuals (in order to get more money from the general public)? That was happening twenty odd years ago as well. No change there either.
Phew, that’s a relief. I don’t really need the short term memory when it comes to thinking up ideas for cartoons and this blog. I just have to remember something from long ago, and be safe in the knowledge that nothing will have changed!
Enlarged image - If you want to see an enlarged version or get a description of any of the cartoons on this blog, then just click on the middle of each cartoon and it will open as a much bigger version along with a description for your software to read.