As part of Disability History Month All4Inclusion are inviting a range of disabled campaigners and/or role models to participate in one of our 5 minute interviews which are conducted by e-mail.
We will be publishing these interviews in this newly created Disability History Month section of the All4Inclusion website.
Today’s interview is the first interview and appropriately it is with Scott Whitney the founder of All4Inclusion
Questions
Can I start by asking you to tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Scott Whitney. I'm 42 years and have three daughters. I became disabled in 2020 and have multiple disabilities. I am a full-time wheelchair user and struggle with fatigue. I started All 4 Inclusion in February 2022 originally as a fortnightly disability networking group. The idea behind it was that people could ask each other for tips. These could be practical tips, questions regarding benefits or anything else. It became apparent that what people really needed was to have conversation and feel part of something.
We removed some of the structure allowing more natural conversations, This allowed people to really know the others who were attending the groups. This led us to grow and form different groups such as our Art group run by Sarah, our writing group run by Clare, our photography group, online bingo and Carers Club. We also hold an Annual Awards Evening which will be face to face for the first time next year.
2. Many disabled people do not consider themselves to be disabled; do you think or yourself or describe yourself as disabled?
Yes I do. I am disabled whichever way you look at it. There are things that I can no longer do. Whilst society puts up barriers for a lot of things, even when things are stripped back to the basics, I am disabled and pretty proud to be.
3. You are known as a role model for disabled people – do you think of yourself as a role model? If not, why not?
This is a pretty tough question for me to answer. I don't think it is up to me to say I'm a role model or not. Lots of people won't see me as a role model, but if I am a role model to one person then that makes me a role model.
I think it's a title that you don't give to yourself, but I wouldn't decline it if someone wanted to give it to me either. I do what I do to help others and because I think it's the right thing to do and the right way to conduct myself.
4. What do you think are the biggest barriers facing disabled people and preventing them from reaching their full potential and fully participating in society?
I think this is a huge mindset issue. Society as a whole, in general, views disabled people as a problem or an issue. Something that needs fixing and not accepting us for who we are.
In the UK we have 17,250,000 people with a disability approximately and approximately 1,500,000 million wheelchair users. In addition to the wheelchair users, we have parents with buggies and different mobility aids. But most of our buses take one wheelchair and trains may take two. To be included more, we need better transport for disabled people. This includes clear announcements for people who are deaf and blind too. An understanding that an adjustment for disabled people quite often supports non-disabled people too.
5. Can you give any examples of barriers that you have faced? Did you overcome them? If so, how?
I try to face things pretty head on and use examples and analogies to support.
I was at an event this week where it was table service for drinks. Because of the layout of the room, to reach the bar I would have had to go out one lift, go up two floors around the building and go down to floors to get my drink. The same journey but in reverse to get back.Explaining this to the person and having a very vocal ally next to me really supported the table service returning. Had this had not happened I would have missed out on conversations that led to possible business opportunities as I would have just gone home.
6. As a disabled person what is the biggest barrier either facing you or disabled people generally that you would like the new Government to take action on?
Probably around benefits. The conservative government were talking about reducing payments and the process to apply for payments. I'd like benefits to probably increase, make it easier for free travel around the country for disabled people by land and the process to be simpler.
There still have to be checks in place, but in my experience there are people following a checklist overruling medical consultants.
7. Do you think that the British media and the British public have an open and positive attitude towards disability and disabled people? If not, why not?
Media probably not. There are not enough mainstream journalists going against the politicians views and leaving people like Sophie Morgan to stand up for our rights.Documentaries do not get enough airtime or publicity so the British public is quite naive with how some people struggle.
8. Have you heard of the ‘Social Model of Disability’ and do you agree with it?
I don't think the social model of disability works on its own.However good society is, I still can't walk from my bed to my toilet.But likewise, the medical model has lots of holes in it too. I am provided with a wheelchair, but that doesn't allow me to get in to many buildings without a ramp. Bottom line, society needs to do better.
9. At the moment the ‘Assisted Dying Bill’ is receiving a lot of coverage in the media. What is your opinion of the bill? Do you agree with it? Do you have any concerns? Is a private members bill the best way or the correct way to change the law on such an important issue?
These are the people elected to lead our country so I cannot see a different way.
Personally, I have struggled with my physical and mental health. I would love to go out on my own terms when I reach a certain milestone. However, think it would be abused by medical professionals and even family members making decisions or forcing on people. Bearing that in mind, I would rather the bill not be passed even if it makes my wishes harder.
Finally, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
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