tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60503225996886279542024-02-07T07:28:41.677+00:00Simon Minty's recent thoughts and moreSminty Ltdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09240001326203810930noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-15877493093802005972020-12-31T14:50:00.018+00:002021-01-28T18:26:22.899+00:00Truth Bullets and Thought Grenades<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span>Whilst delivering training</span></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> (<a href="https://smintyltd.blogspot.com/2020/05/mental-health-in-time-of-covid-19.html" target="_blank">Managing Mental Health</a> in the time of Covid) we were discussing what has been tough this year. One delegate explained lockdown's impact on her work wasn't that novel as being freelance in the creative industries meant her work always fluctuated. However, she said she was exhausted, not because of Covid stresses but because she had spent the second half of the year explaining and educating people, who increasingly asked her about being a black person. She said this took more effort than anything else she’d experienced this year.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT9h9yGdVDb78qukgqk7D-xWNz3K_sl4S44G2z25BFatc3jpxQi8nV9WjcDrq5udfSP4cSq6C2StUZnVJTIMXG054TFSheOuEO7r0o7lPtInl-n93gwD4qjKCC7Vx9skrbxiWlPIrRX0/s2048/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Simon getting ready for another Zoom" border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2048" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT9h9yGdVDb78qukgqk7D-xWNz3K_sl4S44G2z25BFatc3jpxQi8nV9WjcDrq5udfSP4cSq6C2StUZnVJTIMXG054TFSheOuEO7r0o7lPtInl-n93gwD4qjKCC7Vx9skrbxiWlPIrRX0/w304-h235/FullSizeRender.jpg" title="Simon in a pink shirt, clean shave, hair is neat. He is looking straight at the camera" width="304" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>It reminded me of being on a panel on <a href="https://idpwd.org" target="_blank">International Day</a> of Disabled People convened as part of </span><a href="https://www.purplespace.org/purple-light-up/2020" target="_blank">Purple Space’s</a><span> 24 hour worldwide broadcast. It was a rather illustrious panel with representatives from the World Health Organisation, International Labour Organization and the European Union and hosted by the razor-sharp</span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanscottparker1/" target="_blank"> Susan Scott-Parker</a><span>. I was asked to explore if we could measure the progress of disability rights by the prevalence of disabled comedians now performing. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">At the end of the event Susan asked each panelist for a suggestion, an action to do next. The speaker before me said ‘…listen to more people like X in country Y and A in country B, listen to more disabled people’. I was next. I started with what I intended to be a confirmation and then progression of the previous speaker. I said something like...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNoGi1lmDoXcH7vtv2ynWcpLK2iwZXAY_hRZ8dzUaISNZ4cqcrFhC5Flat0uNNkQq8uCfrLAlbHBI15W0XJwlt6rfbM5VS9tvo-3nBmYl2dS0IdLqhuvYKpap_y3MC8denMbDC1Xezbk/s2048/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>"It’s always important to listen to disabled people themselves but haven’t you been listening for decades now? I’m tired of just being listened to. I want to see resulting actions. Being listened to because of lived experience is the minimum expectation, not the end point. Disabled people should be on boards and committees, making decisions, determining actions, developing strategy. Please, no more of 'disability awareness' and then the disabled person leaves the room."</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCJkdd99RsJ3gJAc36rBZvR3apKZ0IdE4tUAjS9_Kea6PI4X-jaGSELqi1fpUMbooM6NuAQpG9AXZIAYBQ8sTn-zvoF5DhTVIKq7xf000g_QKj3W5ipN4550DCjrjPIbGCwdzUv1DiO0/s2048/Purple+Light+up+SSP+session+3.12.2020.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The panel talking as part of Purple Light Up" border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCJkdd99RsJ3gJAc36rBZvR3apKZ0IdE4tUAjS9_Kea6PI4X-jaGSELqi1fpUMbooM6NuAQpG9AXZIAYBQ8sTn-zvoF5DhTVIKq7xf000g_QKj3W5ipN4550DCjrjPIbGCwdzUv1DiO0/w400-h231/Purple+Light+up+SSP+session+3.12.2020.jpeg" title="Eight boxes on screen including Simon, Susan Scott Parker, a man with a purple wig, a lady from Nigeria. Some screens are empty" width="400" /></a>I related this experience to my close colleague, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/philfriend1/" target="_blank">Phil Friend</a>. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I noted that it </span><span style="font-family: arial;">had fel</span><span style="font-family: arial;">t like I was speaking with a different group of people, compared with </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">my usual audience. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Phil rather creatively suggested "You're a new sheriff in town and this is what happens when you move. You’ve been a sheriff to business and in media and the arts. You’ve been rounding up the ignorant and unaware, shooting your bullets of truth and reality. You’ve now got a new audience and you need to start aiming those truth bullets to get them to understand." </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Truth bullets? OK. Not that daft when you hear I once started using a phrase (years ago) called ‘thought grenade’. Whilst training people I’d say something provocative. The plan was my 'thought grenade' would explode in the middle of the room, startling everyone in to re-thinking their assumptions. I wanted this phrase to catch on, which it didn’t. I can add truth bullets to add to my ammunition. That said, I'd rather some additional armour as, as the training delegate said, "It can be exhausting educating people." </span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Before you go...</b></span></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://abnormallyfunnypeople.com/index.html" target="_blank">Abnormally Funny People</a> have a huge show at Southbank Centre, London on 17th January 2021, 7.30pm. It's virtual so everyone can come, (if you're over 16). <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/performance-dance/abnormally-funny-people?eventId=862404" target="_blank">Tickets via clicking on these words</a> £10 and £5. Or <a href="http://www.s">www.s</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://outhbankcentre.co.uk">outhbankcentre.co.uk</a> and search 17th January. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://thewayweroll.buzzsprout.com" target="_blank">The Way We Roll podcast</a> I make with Phil Friend had some amazing shows and top guests this year. We went to weekly shows during Covid Lockdown I and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-adams-spink-99785a5/" target="_blank">Geoff Adams-Spink</a> ably assisted. It's free, take a listen and let me know what you think? </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, I loved hosting the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p091qbnz" target="_blank">Christmas Quiz with BBC Ouch</a> You can listen to some of the fun and joy we had via the link above or go to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk">www.bbc.co.uk</a> and search Ouch</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></div>Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-11849990203588012412020-08-02T16:50:00.004+01:002020-08-04T21:35:19.616+01:00Dwarfism and the ethics of humour<h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I was asked to speak at an event, along with Dr Erin Pritchard, who I believe instigated it, and Tammy Reynolds. There are two paragraphs explaining the topic below and then my response. </i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why is it that people who are shorter than the ‘average’ person, people born with a variety of conditions under the medical banner of ‘dwarfism’ are so often seen as the butt of the joke, an easy target to make fun of. As children many will experience bullying, some to such an extent that they become suicidal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet, there is an industry that exploits people with dwarfism to act in shows such as Snow White and the Seven</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Dwarfs, once being doubly exploited as they were filmed for a TV show about the seven cast members living in a house together as if that’s especially interesting to watch people go up and down stairs, open fridges and even cook their own dinner. It’s a strange phenomenon, no other group of disabled people are treated in quite this way, as the accepted objects of comedy and derision."</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Simon's response</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to <a href="http://midgittebardot/" target="_blank">Tammy Reynolds</a> and<a href="http://erinpritchard15/" target="_blank"> Dr Erin Pritchard</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello my name is Simon Minty, I too have dwarfism. I wear several hats - I run training courses on employment. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I co-host two podcasts <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/episodes/downloads" target="_blank">BBC Ouch</a> and <a href="https://thewayweroll.buzzsprout.com/" target="_blank">The Way We Roll </a>with <a href="https://www.philandfriends.co.uk/" target="_blank">Phil Friend</a>. I sit on a a number of artistic and business boards. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Most relevant today, I am a comedy producer of </span><a href="https://abnormallyfunnypeople.com/" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Abnormally Funny People</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, a collective of comedians with disabilities. I have done stand up but not so much now. I set up Abnormally Funny People with a comedian friend <a href="https://www.stevebest.com/" target="_blank">Steve Best</a> in 2005 as I felt disability and comedy was under represented.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhok92dpDw3KL0upxXiF8uG8hlQ09RfEqgo02WaizppfstjKxeX6F03gNB3Pvl7fYcZt3X55q73KRuOWtFkjCvuFMVq6AtdUYTcRngHeR5OEI0Jt_CSEY_Lw_lpaO7ZGkshJkjhNH8xAsI/s1600/Screenshot+2020-08-02+at+16.02.01.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="882" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhok92dpDw3KL0upxXiF8uG8hlQ09RfEqgo02WaizppfstjKxeX6F03gNB3Pvl7fYcZt3X55q73KRuOWtFkjCvuFMVq6AtdUYTcRngHeR5OEI0Jt_CSEY_Lw_lpaO7ZGkshJkjhNH8xAsI/s400/Screenshot+2020-08-02+at+16.02.01.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A screenshot of me with the Disability Arts Cymru logo behind, mic muted. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Back then, there were a few comedians who were disabled but not loads. Plus disability and comedy was an area that in the 80s and 90s comedians shied away from as just too delicate or could be seen as ‘punching down’. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Fifteen years later, if you go to Edinburgh for the festival you can see 20 comedians doing their own shows, all with different disabilities. It’s not exactly a genre but there’s representation on the live circuit. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And for some reason a lot of people with cerebral palsy do stand up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I do think when it comes to humour and dwarfism there is an extra element. On Family Guy they did a joke close to saying ‘little people are gods comedy gift to us’. The Simpsons had a gag about a reality game show called ‘midget or dwarf, you decide'. Ricky Gervais was progressive but slowly forgot to let the butt of his jokes get their own back at some point. I love these shows and comedians but I wince when I see these jokes at the expensive of people like me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m a middle-aged, relatively confident in my own skin and reasonably happy human yet being on the end of such jokes makes me feel uncomfortable. I *think* and I have no evidence for this, the public can still feel sorry for, or have pity, for some disabled people. They assume it's difficult for them or they associate disability with tragedy and so on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">But they don’t feel sorry for people with dwarfism. It’s something else, it’s funny, or strange or other. They can relate to being deaf, using a wheelchair, having depression. But not to dwarfism. Maybe Tourettes is another that falls in to this category?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that’s not too clumsy, it’s a personal observation and needs research.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Abnormally Funny People are part of the comedy landscape. One of the comedians is <a href="https://tanyaleedavis.com/" target="_blank">Tanyalee Davis</a>. She is short too and uses her physicality in her comedy. She is an absolute barn stormer of a comedian, professional and top notch. She can take the roof off a venue. She will make a soldier blush, which feels like a common phrase but I might have just made it up. She is also the only comedian in my time as producer that I have had to speak to about her material. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXYNqOCZblCHf31uCR9yqgcyv3BmCJHY0xrLW8xUmIvzPFnAWL2cYqaPkhNfhO0E-keCJkR7qtYrBEf0kPfSt3ggBQk4Zep04ha3HMJ3dsETZnSX2a738Rp-HdgGtoTHVXIKBFaVHQUI/s1600/DSCF0538-3.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white, group pic of 6 people in a row hugging, Steve Best, Tanyalee, Juliette Burton, Caro Sparks, Laurence Clark, Simon Minty" border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXYNqOCZblCHf31uCR9yqgcyv3BmCJHY0xrLW8xUmIvzPFnAWL2cYqaPkhNfhO0E-keCJkR7qtYrBEf0kPfSt3ggBQk4Zep04ha3HMJ3dsETZnSX2a738Rp-HdgGtoTHVXIKBFaVHQUI/s400/DSCF0538-3.jpeg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of Abnormally Funny People 2015, pic Steve Best</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As producer, I have a philosophy that the comedians do whatever material they want, so long as it works and is funny. Talk about disability if you want, don’t if you don’t want to. Just be as funny as you can be. However, Tanyalee used the <a href="https://www.lpaonline.org/the-m-word" target="_blank">M word</a> which is offensive to me and many other people with dwarfism. I sat down with Tanyalee and said when she’s with Abnormally Funny People she can’t use that word. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She rightly pushed back explaining she too is affected by dwarfism plus it’s a funnier word. It gets a bigger reaction. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She’s right in the comedic sense but I said with us, it’s not negotiable. She’s been great and not said it with us. Reclaiming a word is cool, but it can confuse </span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">and infer that it’s acceptable. I don’t want people to think it’s ok to say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I have some control with Abnormally Funny People. But not over everyone. Nor should I. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And truth is I start to feel awkward about this topic because we start to venture in to judging people’s lives, people’s work, what people chose to do. And in recent years, it is a choice as no one with dwarfism is forced in to entertainment. There are <a href="https://littlepeopleuk.org/information-about-dwarfism-conditions/faqs/will-i-be-able-to-work" target="_blank">many other jobs we can do</a> and many other jobs we do do. I feel uncomfortable as we’re venturing in to measures to restrict individual freedom. I don’t like censoring people. Even people who do performances which I don’t like, they can still be nice people, they have families and they have goodness and kindness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">At the same time, there are people who make a living in a way that can demean me. They make my life practically more difficult every day when I step out of my house. I wish they wouldn’t do it. I am fundamentally a liberal so this makes it awkward for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">My hesitation comes from experience. Many years ago I made a television documentary about a male stripping group called The Half Monty. I’ll admit it’s a cracking name but that was the best bit about them in my eyes. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to explore what the public felt when watching short men (not buff men by the way) taking their clothes off and as I saw, being laughed at, picked up, patted on the head. I wanted to ask if this was an acceptable piece of entertainment in modern society? Despite it being my idea the production ran away from me. It flipped and started to ask if I was being a misery. </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Why can’t people live and let live.” </span></blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnipZK39LhIg6_7vUC0ePApp8IvfMjgRJVvG31f7SIoIXnQUAJgLQ_Of_ReU7_6YlC5Yvhhv07AnpeCp4Hnx-229hC2hS5JKRFpkJLbhXwzZrr7noujDeWVzWVtCHRJ2p_7nc7RxwUPU/s1600/IMG_5154.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnipZK39LhIg6_7vUC0ePApp8IvfMjgRJVvG31f7SIoIXnQUAJgLQ_Of_ReU7_6YlC5Yvhhv07AnpeCp4Hnx-229hC2hS5JKRFpkJLbhXwzZrr7noujDeWVzWVtCHRJ2p_7nc7RxwUPU/s320/IMG_5154.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Simon, leaning forward on a stage, with <br />Abnormally Funny People logo behind</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I recall being interviewed straight after being asked to watch a live performance of The Half Monty. I knew some of the performers. I got very upset as the director abandoned the premise of the doc, suggesting the show wasn’t the problem, I had the problem. The final documentary had 24 minutes of the strippers laughing, being patronised and one minute of me, darkly lit, saying this doesn’t feel great and to recognise there are consequences. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, amazingly, television reviewers at the time supported me. Normally tough critics like Victor Lewis Smith and AA Gill saw my point and were critical of the documentary being biased. </span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">They too asked why this was considered </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">acceptable entertainment?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">But I decided from then on, rather than take pot shots at people doing something that I didn’t like, I would work with people who I thought were doing interesting, progressive work. </span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted the good stuff to be become greater, more prevalent than the stuff that demeaned people like me. Eventually the good would 'dwarf' the demeaning.</span></div>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When I saw the introduction for today’s talk I winced when it said about the impact of negative and mocking portrayal leading to mental ill health or even suicide. </span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m one of those people who plays things down. I look at facts, at </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">evidence, not screaming or attention grabbing. Despite my wincing, I paused and thought harder and recognised something I didn't want to.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I do know of a young man with dwarfism who recently took his own life. I can’t say it was because of one show or one joke but I do know he must have felt it really tough to be who he was in this world. In fact I can give you half a dozen without thinking too hard. And that is the worst case, the end game. It doesn't include a lot of people who face a mental struggle with the level of inappropriate attention. This can be hugely impactful on people’s lives. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1nrGk5cH5Quy-Recf2YxyFRuA2_3khQR-8d6LutU219LLfrcMFEYKUB4UlskUK9peAawr1Y0sTiglOBLPna2vpBKxhsuIsxQZmR8qb1c6NvpTC7aTCmnBLEjinlmRe5F_I_vq7t0-uQ/s1600/Dwarfism+ethics.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1nrGk5cH5Quy-Recf2YxyFRuA2_3khQR-8d6LutU219LLfrcMFEYKUB4UlskUK9peAawr1Y0sTiglOBLPna2vpBKxhsuIsxQZmR8qb1c6NvpTC7aTCmnBLEjinlmRe5F_I_vq7t0-uQ/s320/Dwarfism+ethics.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Screenshot of 17 of around 50 who attended. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">So how do we resolve this? Is there some </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">sort of a ban on demeaning roles? Who decides? What is the ethical limit?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Should it be a free for all? Anything goes? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Should there be better support in childhood and adulthood for those with dwarfism?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Should the focus, as I have chosen, be </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">to create better balanced entertainment? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">How do we make the world understand some </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">treatment of people with dwarfism is h</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">orrific and damaging?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">How do we make the world understand that we have a disability like someone who is deaf or uses a wheelchair who you would not dream of demeaning in that way? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t want pity, I want respect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend has recently adopted a baby who has achondroplasia. I want to know that this child’s life will be full and interesting. The child will have some difficult moments but everyone does. But they shouldn’t have to turn on the television or watch a theatre show or be in their local pub, and flinch because someone like them is being ridiculed based purely on their physical height. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">END</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.disabilityartscymru.co.uk/" target="_blank">Disability Arts Cymru</a>, the organisers, are hoping to allow you to re-watch the event on demand. If you're a good editor, do offer them your help! It's not ready yet (date of posting the blog) so please be patient. In the meantime, you have my talk above although I would add, it's </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">different as I ad-libbed and adapted when live plus I've adjusted the text for this blog.</span><br />
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-20879185517620380562020-05-21T12:20:00.000+01:002020-06-04T19:59:08.396+01:00Mental Health in the time of Covid 19 - a training course<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spend a couple of minutes thinking about the answers to these questions. </span></span></div>
<ol><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<li>What’s working ok for work and for home?</li>
<li>What’s difficult?</li>
<li>What do you do to make yourself happy? </li>
</span></span></ol>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK, I’ve thought about it. Here’s mine...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8nZCvldW4GLgQ50h7sf29ckq1EAI_bmbh97-3fHd9ilgQ7PX-TKvNWI5F67Vrm54vYFwYHICyP0fTSym2kLOglykj8_cLwG9aAvfOnbmAu3q2V9xKqmiKj0pShJtHr_t35GglA_JNUE/s1600/5F5B50D7-18C3-4670-A116-D3A260E42483_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="A light orange floral pattern on a white china mug. On a desk with a computer screen in the background " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8nZCvldW4GLgQ50h7sf29ckq1EAI_bmbh97-3fHd9ilgQ7PX-TKvNWI5F67Vrm54vYFwYHICyP0fTSym2kLOglykj8_cLwG9aAvfOnbmAu3q2V9xKqmiKj0pShJtHr_t35GglA_JNUE/s320/5F5B50D7-18C3-4670-A116-D3A260E42483_1_201_a.jpeg" title="" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Understated mug</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Work </b>- Like many, I’m working from home. For me that means delivering virtual training. I’ve bought a fan to cool me as my office area gets hot. I have acquired two <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MWFC3WN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">understated mugs</a> so, during video calls I look professional and not a teenager with a Simpsons or Snoopy mug. I like my ‘commute’ from the kitchen to the office. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Home </b>- Communication with my family is way more than usual. Video calls, audio calls, even the odd card or letter. I like that. I sleep a bit more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Difficult</b> - The loss of human contact, someone in the same room, a handshake, a hug, a wink. I miss going to dinner with an interesting person, not seeing theatre or ballet. I miss not having these in my diary to look forward to. I long for an overseas trip to plan. I get blue twice a week, particularly if I think too hard or when I assume everyone is in the sunshine with their family. I'm almost always tired. Video calls used to be fun. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVlhsd3xq5wxz0bbQFYP0VLARV1s9RanjY5Tm8myQRyXxelirJRaalXY2oj_l6lSxGZqQt1-AI4phxVGr8VJM226Ugz6r5Nx2zR02Ea8WPAmMkLvtmtpVnfjxZUZJLWTw8LM0QErRw6E/s1600/1B806BA6-6DA9-45D5-983A-02E01BECD499_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two slides of toasted bread with melted cheese on top and sliced tomato just visible under the cheese" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVlhsd3xq5wxz0bbQFYP0VLARV1s9RanjY5Tm8myQRyXxelirJRaalXY2oj_l6lSxGZqQt1-AI4phxVGr8VJM226Ugz6r5Nx2zR02Ea8WPAmMkLvtmtpVnfjxZUZJLWTw8LM0QErRw6E/s320/1B806BA6-6DA9-45D5-983A-02E01BECD499_1_201_a.jpeg" title="" width="267" /></a> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cheese on toast </b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy</b> - I’ve learnt that blue days usually last a day and the next day is different. I’m lucky to be working. Having demands on my time helps me. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think this is a once in a lifetime period and I want to savour it. It brings heartache, restriction and loss. Yet it allows some simplicity and slowing down, more time to cook cheese on toast even.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I go out for long walks (two hours on my scooter) and I get lost, geographically and in music. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friend Jane told me about </span><a href="http://www.outsidetheboxcomedy.co.uk/all-listings.htm" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">live comedy</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (on Zoom) and now Jane, my parents and friends all watch it live and text. It's something to look forward to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I attended a buddhism event and did my first piece of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4iqg28OWmo&t=11s" target="_blank">acting, a monologue</a> written for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Mental Health in the time of Covid 19 training</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The above questions are some of those we ask delegates on a new virtual training course called <i>Mental Health in the time of Covid 19. </i>It is a course with interaction, not a webinar that can be a passive listen. It focuses on looking after yourself as well as looking out for colleagues. It's relevant for managers and staff and feedback says it’s adding a lot of value. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In development, I asked for ideas and critical review from fellow disability and mental health trainers and HR professionals. I examined what other organisations have implemented, (extended bereavement, virtual yoga, financial support, social chats). I sifted the essential elements from blogs and from advice from organisations like <a href="https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/covid-19-support/" target="_blank">ReThink</a> and <a href="https://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/covid-19/" target="_blank">Business Disability Forum</a>. <a href="https://skillboosters.com/" target="_blank">Skillboosters</a> have kindly let me use some of their training videos which add and vary the learning. For a non-traditional time, it has non-traditional elements such as the beautiful <i>A Letter From Italy in</i> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/a-letter-to-the-uk-from-italy-this-is-what-we-know-about-your-future" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> and 25 tips to being <a href="https://www.happier.com/blog/25-ways-to-feel-happier-in-the-next-5-minutes/" target="_blank">Happier</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it of its time? Some elements, yes. But as society has been forced in to making changes, people have started to re-evaluate what is important. I suspect it has longevity, it feels special. Thankfully I've moved from having nerves about technology, and speaking to a screen, to looking forward to it, and speaking with delegates. The client asked for ten sessions, then five more when it was well received. Some teams want their own which is cool. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It feels helpful and progressive. Every session reveals good ideas of what people now do - gardening and walking being popular. Then there’s gems like spending 30 mins each morning, sifting through the magazine mountain, removing the articles to keep, or writing memories of a special time with your mother, and sharing them with her, or, last one, before when you had a bad day, you’d blame yourself and stress about it. Now, you realise it’s a complicated mix of many uncontrollable elements.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It moves mental health to a different space - washing your hands obsessively and avoiding people describes a responsible citizen today. Spikes and lows of anxiety (coronacoaster anybody!) about the future is normal right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">People have said it's allowed them to pause and assess how they are managing, celebrate the good, share fixes to areas that might be improved. The organisation is learning about what is working in the 'new normal' and what requires attention e.g. is there equity of workload? Are Comms clear and manageable? Are people taking recommended time off? In turbulent times can we make work a place of certainty?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s about people; those working at home and those doubling up home schooling children too. Those with full houses and those living alone. Delegates are worldwide but there are no travel expenses. I think I mentioned that my commute is short. </span></div>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-76180714253908202262020-04-26T16:44:00.000+01:002020-05-22T13:27:15.299+01:00Lockdown, shake up, lay down<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well what are we to do? Everything has changed. We sort of saw it coming but by golly, it got big very quickly. I’m in lockdown in London. I don’t have a specific underlying condition in addition to my impairment, making me more susceptible. By the way I prefer the word susceptible to vulnerable any day of the week. However, I am staying in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a busy diary, March through mid-July. And then in the middle of March, I saw diary appointments, conferences, training, travel, all fade away. Within a week, my diary was empty, save a stubborn, optimistic appointment in July. I did my last face to face training on 17th March in Bristol; Managing mental health at work. It already felt like we (me and co-trainer Juliette Burton) shouldn’t be there. The hotel was empty and felt weird when we arrived. Hand sanitiser on every desk, kind staff with strained smiles. Five out of the twenty delegates turned up. Next door was a conference with 175 delegates booked, Maybe thirty people came. I suggested to the trainees, a half day, outlining the salient points but they said no, we’ve made the effort so full day please. One delegate said he was getting married in June and we all wondered. I drove home and heard the Chancellor on Radio 4's PM announce a huge financial support package for the country and got emotional. I’d never heard anything like this, not in my lifetime.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With an empty diary I pondered. My business is in<br />good health as I’ve been busy for two years and had built a cushion. But what about my purpose, responsibility and something to do? One of my comedian friends, Steve Day, said we should do some Abnormally Funny People comedy and get it out there. I wasn’t sure how we could plus subtitling hours of stand up is a necessary but big job. I do a monthly podcast with Phil Friend so said to him, shall we go weekly, update the news that affects disabled people, speak with interesting guests and then some topical comedy at the end. That’s what we’ve done. Steve Day was on the first show and brilliant. Five weeks in, or is it six, we have a library of fantastic shows. Phil does technical and editing, I do content, guests and promotion. What do you mean you’ve not seen it? The 40 minute final show takes up two days a week. I’m chuffed when people like Baroness Jane Campbell said ‘this is important and needed, regular listening’. When next generation Abbi Brown say ‘Thank you for doing it’ Unintended but lovely.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've attended three board meetings, all online, (do I need to say that?) in the last month. Two for arts organisations where I am trustee and one for a business where I'm a Non-Executive Director. I’ve been shielded in that no one in my close circle has been affected, yet. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for some who have lost loved ones. It is the board meetings that have given me the greatest insight in to the impact this is having on so many people. A good position is people working from home, doing yoga, gardening or mindfulness. Common is the imbalance, with some people working more hours and others unable to work as there's no audience or those they deal with have closed their doors. Some have decided to furlough staff which is smart but has an element of uncertainty. Thankfully all three organisations are run well with robust finances and morally right leadership. The biggest question is to plotting the way forward, 12 to 18 months ahead but not knowing how this will progress. Recovery is going to take time, and for some, life will not be the same. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To my surprise, within a month of the last training in Bristol I was doing it again on 16th April. Online now, a Disability and management course originally booked in January. The client was keen to still go ahead so I adapted it, and I warned the participants it might be different. Three hours face to face naturally shrank to just over two hours online. I learnt that if you’re asking questions, everyone nods or shakes their head, or gives a thumbs up but they don’t say anything. I was looking at the slides at the time so didn’t have a clue. If you’re training online, try and get two screens - a tablet with your slides on and your main screen to see the people. They gave me a round of applause at the end, which I think was because I threw a few extra funnies in, rather than them confusing me for a NHS or key worker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another client asked for some online training and I’m putting final touches to that. It’ll be to London, New York and Asia. I had a video call with the New York contact and was surprised at how routine it had become - almost an acceptance that everyone would get Covid 19 if you live or move in New York and New Jersey. Don’t get me wrong, it was awful and sad but a resignation perhaps? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which reminds me, a big tech company who are around the globe did one of the nicest things. Early days and as everything crashed around me, my contact in New York (a different NY person to the one above) wrote to me. She said, ‘when this has all settled down, we should look at how we can work with you, we want to support you’. Nothing may come of it, something may come of it. It was just a generous and kind thing to say in those early worrying days. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Soon after shut down a colleague I’d met at a the fabulous Names Not Numbers conference asked me if I’d work with him on a new idea - Lockdown Theatre. He is a writer, amongst other things, and has a series of monologues he wanted actors and people to perform. He asked me to perform one called ‘Diff’. I’ve been practicing it, allowed the odd tweak to the script and I got notes from an actor colleague. I have just sent my best filmed version to him. I’ll put a link up here when (if?) it’s published. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t buy in to the ‘do all those jobs you’ve promised yourself’ or the ‘learn a new language / a new skill / paint a picture whilst you now have the time'. I think we are allowed to go with this as we feel is right for us. I think getting up, washing, eating, a bit of exercise and a bit of daylight and human connection are essential. As they always are. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, having performed the monologue I can say I’ve done something new. I’m not an actor. The other discovery is how much I’m enjoying housework. My cleaners have done it for twenty plus years but not right now. Invariably four times a week I spend 30 mins doing something, like cleaning a bathroom (I have two!) wiping down everything in the kitchen, vacuuming (least favourite). When I’m feeling glum or blue, which happens on two days out of seven, I do a bit of cleaning and I feel better. I'm shattered afterwards, vacuuming hurts my knees and makes me hot. Don't misunderstand me, my cleaner will be back once it's allowed and she may be the first person I hug, if she allows it! But me enjoying housework, I didn’t expect that. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn’t expect a lot of this. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take care, wash your hands, stay safe and do speak with people. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Links</span></span></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">
<li><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4929957" target="_blank">The Phil & Simon </a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4929957" target="_blank">Show </a>now weekly</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQdn4rzQtGJ7gA0sSFNKYeg" target="_blank">Lockdown Theatre</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQdn4rzQtGJ7gA0sSFNKYeg" target="_blank"> </a>Company </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://namesnotnumbers.com/" target="_blank">Names Not Numbers </a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/episodes/downloads" target="_blank">BBC Ouch podcast </a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Subtitling <a href="https://www.headliner.app/" target="_blank">- </a></span><a href="https://www.headliner.app/" target="_blank">use Headliner </a></li>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-64057206690565972172019-05-29T13:58:00.000+01:002019-06-14T00:01:26.658+01:00Can you really have too much of a good thing? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Simon about to go on stage at EY, with a poster <br />quote above him asking 'why do uncertain <br />times need the certainty of purpose?'</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been quite a start to the year. Various projects were postponed from the end of 2018 and like a concertina, they bunched up into the start of 2019. That meant a lot of travel, including two trips to Berlin, one to Munich, then to Zurich, one to Australia and one to the USA all before April. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A trip to a very cold Berlin, in January was for pleasure as was the long trip 'down under', but the remainder have been work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love travel and working abroad. You can read how much in a <a href="http://smintyltd.blogspot.com/2018/02/international-work.html" target="_blank">blog</a> from last year. Indeed, I've recently written a chapter for a forthcoming book about international consultancy and diversity with Middlesex University. However, on the final trip when I was in the USA I got what I only can describe as travellers’ blues. I've talked about it on stage at a few conferences subsequently with Clifford Chance, PwC and the International Underwriters Association. I had a more in-depth two way conversation with Phil Friend on our podcast about it too. The blues lasted 48 hours. I think tiredness, loneliness, apprehension, jet lag and missing home were all instrumental. It reminded me of the maxim, 'be careful of what you wish for'. As a 25 year old, to travel and work was my dream and here I was, not enjoying it. My solutions were spontaneous - numerous WhatsApp messages to understanding friends in the UK, changing my hotel room to a brighter, larger one and a little talk to myself in the mirror (I really did do this) asking 'What's up?' and telling myself 'It'll be ok'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That I am now reading a book about the meaning of life might well be connected. I'm throughly enjoying '<i>Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it' </i>by <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EEQ9LW8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Daniel Klein</a>. As a youngster and when a philosophy student, Klein used to jot down short phrases from philosophers and great thinkers. He believed his specially curated quotes had inherent wisdom, a life understanding or some wit. Now in his 70s he is re-visiting them and asking if they still are valid and, inevitably, did he live his life well? He has asked more than once whether there should have been more hedonism in his life. Can you have so much joy that it becomes redundant? Or did he expect too much happiness, thereby resigning himself to disappointment? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's an accessible philosophy book, like a non-preachy self-help book, full of reflections and considered thought. It's funny, human and relatable. I have laughed a few times, I even dropped the book, gasped and put my hand on my forehead after reading one line.* I now look forward to picking the book up at bedtime. It is packed full of quotable lines, not surprising as Klein is all about quoting great thinkers. Here's one, about the value of thinking and reason, and how lucky we are as humans to be able to do this. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Simon speaking at the PwC Dawn <br />Network in May 2019</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>[Bertrand Russell] wrote, “The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason. To such a man the world tends to become definite, finite, obvious; common objects rouse no questions, and unfamiliar possibilities are contemptuously rejected. . . . [But Philosophy] keeps alive our sense of wonder by showing familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next six months are shaping up well. More work travel, yes, and I think I'm better prepared this time. I even have a new toiletry bag which will make all the difference. **</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you would like to listen to me interviewing others or chatting away do check out the two podcasts I co-host, links below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* The sentence that made me gasp and pause for thought? It seems so obvious, so simple now but I've missed it up until this point in my life. Klein says 'When Camus wrote <i>Youthful Writings</i>, "You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life," he was suggesting...the meaning of life is not something we <b><i>look for</i></b>, it is something we <b><i>create</i></b>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">** It might help. Being with more of my familiar items and extra space for treats sounds sensible to me. And necessitates a better toiletry bag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Phil & Simon Show <a href="https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4929957" target="_blank">Audioboom </a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3juFgjdb2Wi1uRfXBkPTxt?si=SHl7_qtuTR6LLq9iq9J21w" target="_blank">Spotify </a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-phil-simon-show/id1116192842" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BBC Ouch </span> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/episodes/downloads" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">BBC Ouch! </a><br />
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-19614588246478414582018-12-17T13:07:00.000+00:002018-12-17T16:09:46.863+00:00Talking Loud and Clear<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not so much a blog, more to let you know about what I fear might be too many podcasts! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My regular monthly ones, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw" target="_blank">BBC Ouch</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/philandsimonshow/" target="_blank">The Phil & Simon Show </a>have cracking new shows out. There's also a new one, where I am a guest. This podcast is called<a href="https://wb40podcast.com/" target="_blank"> WB-40 </a>and I was interviewed by the most excellent<a href="https://twitter.com/ballantine70" target="_blank"> Matt Ballantine</a> who was asking how comedy and humour can be used to influence people. I've put links to the shows in the title and links to the individuals by clicking on their name. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If find yourself needing a distraction from Christmas television or want to try out the new headphones someone gave you as a present, take a listen. Let me know what you think. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/episodes/downloads" target="_blank">BBC Ouch</a></span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHTQY3nAPT45CeZbbwtMKn89T06gSba4AYYucQ4Qm0QjOD_WsJDhPFretkap3iR4ZjdlZhGTah80NV4tTGgQfNJ8s_CztZBAkkUJH7rDejrjOi3GUkfJZ7V7DK6j4WmaiTpdat1MIkvQ/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo of seven people including Simon, Kate Monaghan, Purple Space Kate Nash, make up and cover girl Lucy Edwards, pianist Derek Paravacini, author Christian Donlan" border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHTQY3nAPT45CeZbbwtMKn89T06gSba4AYYucQ4Qm0QjOD_WsJDhPFretkap3iR4ZjdlZhGTah80NV4tTGgQfNJ8s_CztZBAkkUJH7rDejrjOi3GUkfJZ7V7DK6j4WmaiTpdat1MIkvQ/s400/IMG_1885.JPG" title="Photo of seven people including Simon, Kate Monaghan, Purple Space Kate Nash, make up and cover girl Lucy Edwards, pianist Derek Paravacini, author Christian Donlan" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Left to Right - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">author <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unmapped-Mind-Neurology-Multiple-Sclerosis-ebook/dp/B076B8LBMX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545051272&sr=8-1&keywords=christian+donlan" target="_blank">Christian Donlan</a>, co host Kate Monaghan<br /> <a href="https://www.purplespace.org/" target="_blank">Purple Space's Kate Nash</a>, co-host Simon Minty, Derek's assistant<br /> <a href="https://twitter.com/derekparavicini?lang=en" target="_blank">pianist Derek Paravacini </a>and <a href="https://twitter.com/lucyedwards" target="_blank">make up and CoverGirl Lucy Edwards.</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://wb40podcast.com/2018/12/10/episode-90-make-them-laugh/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">WB-40 </a></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWfKfdOGcJHee8spcCwZMRyENggfqCMNdCS4Jkeks0-cuZ6ysFPYVvekeIR9COXZgHdprajHhB3zm9IeuiaQgF7T0Zh99AQSiSz4IK3W6HiJCgMRJxM93cEgouEaABd0_w79V8reTmLo/s1600/fullsizeoutput_c34f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Matt Ballentine and Simon Minty smiling" border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWfKfdOGcJHee8spcCwZMRyENggfqCMNdCS4Jkeks0-cuZ6ysFPYVvekeIR9COXZgHdprajHhB3zm9IeuiaQgF7T0Zh99AQSiSz4IK3W6HiJCgMRJxM93cEgouEaABd0_w79V8reTmLo/s400/fullsizeoutput_c34f.jpeg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/ballantine70" target="_blank">Matt Ballantine </a>and Simon Minty</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/7115339-the-phil-simon-show-no-26-guest-susan-scott-parker" target="_blank">The Phil & Simon Show with Susan Scott-Parker</a></span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JIJCjcNetg-R7uWqLUdQ_ZEJTXT4MrxZ_vBRAQIYk-BFlWdwUk-ge7V9myON0s6HFkXBQdLLDwKeX68xBWkTVz-LuKuInmQlJiS725AiW4BZpVtaTmlfyqy0tdwthNAVfNm9WJCg_Js/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JIJCjcNetg-R7uWqLUdQ_ZEJTXT4MrxZ_vBRAQIYk-BFlWdwUk-ge7V9myON0s6HFkXBQdLLDwKeX68xBWkTVz-LuKuInmQlJiS725AiW4BZpVtaTmlfyqy0tdwthNAVfNm9WJCg_Js/s400/IMG_1845.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Left to Right - Phil Friend, <a href="https://www.businessdisabilityinternational.org/" target="_blank">Susan Scott-Parker </a>and Simon Minty</span></td></tr>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-34377085445139322862018-10-05T11:18:00.002+01:002018-10-10T12:37:10.563+01:00Names Not Numbers <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time last week I climbed aboard a coach to travel to conference called <a href="https://namesnotnumbers.com/NNNAutumn/docs/programme-and-participants.pdf" target="_blank">Names Not Numbers</a> held at Oxford University. Now in its 10th year, it is a remarkable conference with a remarkable group of people. It is both professional and personal, about networking and connections. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />The conference theme was 'Judgement' and each speaker or session incorporated the concept in some way. As the conference began, I soon found myself instinctively jotting down notes - pithy sentences, profound points, startling facts and emotive thoughts from the various speakers. My intention was to able to reflect on them at a later date. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, I've changed my mind and I have set out some of them here. That’s a risk as it might be a case of 'you had to be there'... how can they have the same impact in a blog when compared to hearing them from the person’s own voice, in the context of the rest of their talk? Worryingly, such excellent speakers might be a tad unimpressed that I've filtered down hours of their work to a sentence or two! My hope is that they don’t mind this nor that their wit and wisdom is shared with you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've put a link after the person's name so do look them up and check out their work in greater detail. If I have made a mistake, please do let me know. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Baroness Helena Kennedy QC </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Authenticity and facts are not the same. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can have your own opinions but you can’t have your own facts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Mark Walport </span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/UKRI_CEO" style="color: #657786; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">UKRI_CEO</span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/UKRI_CEO" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/UKRI_CEO" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></a>Look at the <i>body</i> of research not just the <i>latest</i> research. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Mark Walport <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/UKRI_CEO" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">UKRI_CEO</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is an authentic painting in the mass production and collaboration of today? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alice Sherwood <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/AliceVSherwood" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">AliceVSherwood</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/AliceVSherwood" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></a>Checking facts has never been easier. Authentication is harder. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alice Sherwood <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/AliceVSherwood" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">AliceVSherwood</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/AliceVSherwood" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></a>Neat shortcuts help our mind misjudge people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mary Ann Sieghart</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/MASieghart" style="color: #657786; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">MASieghart</span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/MASieghart" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></a>Unconscious bias isn’t so unconscious with women. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mary Ann Sieghart <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/MASieghart" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">MASieghart</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cognitive dissonance, if you voted to remain then someone who voted to leave must be shallow and ignorant, and so we justify our belief that they are wrong. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michelle Baddeley <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/mcbaddeley" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="color: #657786; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">mcbaddeley</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are in need of mavericks and contrarians otherwise group dynamics kick in and it becomes the same. With mavericks and contrarians we explore more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michelle Baddeley <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/mcbaddeley" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">mcbaddeley</span></a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr4VBh9-82EPWBUiFtmH67qnJ9GbpjJRC2UFT1Bqp3WqA65jWl2BFi7bZM4VYyNcpRrTK0GfXvQZgVaIlDjtHPJ-RPgSF-BW57PM0KAwuIE43Q8Mz8wMYyYHWMZ254sXv4tr8yDmSVRQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_b830.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr4VBh9-82EPWBUiFtmH67qnJ9GbpjJRC2UFT1Bqp3WqA65jWl2BFi7bZM4VYyNcpRrTK0GfXvQZgVaIlDjtHPJ-RPgSF-BW57PM0KAwuIE43Q8Mz8wMYyYHWMZ254sXv4tr8yDmSVRQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_b830.jpeg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sir Simon Schama interviews Sir Martin Sorrell.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/mcbaddeley" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></a>What gets more research, a man's orgasm or a woman’s? There's 8000 nerve endings in woman's clitoris and 4000 in man's penis. That actually refer to a ewe's clitoris and ram's penis. And that needs to be verified. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stephanie Theobold <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/stephotheo" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">stephotheo</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/stephotheo" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/stephotheo" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></a>When I was a child, my dad said, 'If you want to say something important and serious you need some entertainment in it." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Simon Schama <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/simon_schama" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">simon_schama</span></a></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wrote The Story of the Jews book as increasingly I felt they are seen as victims or bullies. The book is about vitality not mortality. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Simon Schama <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/simon_schama" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">simon_schama</span></a></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Allow people to make mistakes without other people knowing. Then they can correct them and learn. That’s hard with modern management and the speed of communication.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Handy" target="_blank">Charles Handy </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We need to teach for uncertainty. Not certainty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charles Handy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Business schools are teaching an orthodoxy that is fading. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charles Handy</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Tell me, what is it you plan to do </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with your one wild and precious life? </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- The Summer Day, a poem by Mary Oliver </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On authenticity, 'If I may quote myself.' </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peter York </span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/PeterPeteryork" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">PeterPeteryork</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surfeit of a safe space can be awful. We still need to get out there and experience the rough and smooth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Aaronovitch </span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/DAaronovitch" style="color: #657786; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">DAaronovitch</span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Populism is about flattening things out, exclusionary, as you must fit it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Aaranovitch <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/DAaronovitch" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">DAaronovitch</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/DAaronovitch" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></a>When you wake up in bed one morning and you are content and think everything is right...then it is time to change and get that mild anxiousness back, to show you’re alive and progressing. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Handy" target="_blank">Charles Handy</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierw7-E6oxTqIvnadLnMcD68Q6-ev0XX7Dd10dq11GnXcIryWiIoVyqciyXM4rf89510AILbGgxwq2vnrTUa-GaYWxxlxdXZs9Sf5l6O1BKFuXH1G__rBm5uuKzvra4HhTzD3yWQi-xuQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_b870.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierw7-E6oxTqIvnadLnMcD68Q6-ev0XX7Dd10dq11GnXcIryWiIoVyqciyXM4rf89510AILbGgxwq2vnrTUa-GaYWxxlxdXZs9Sf5l6O1BKFuXH1G__rBm5uuKzvra4HhTzD3yWQi-xuQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_b870.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>L- R Angie Hobbs, David Aaranovitch, <br />Hannah Crabtree, Julia Hobsbawm</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photographer Liz Handy would get her subjects to gather five objects that represent their life. Can you get five objects to do that? Photographic work by <a href="http://www.lizhandy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Liz Handy</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />There is the 'golden seed' the thing that is special inside of you. You might not know what it is, indeed it is unlikely you do. Often others identify what it is about you. So, not as analysis, but go and ask fifteen people who know you what one thing they think you're really really good at. It might be different to what you think it is! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charles Handy </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />A life line might be long line with peaks and curves. It dips before it goes up which is where there's a change, you re-train, something alters in your life and it stops climbing for a while. That’s the investment before you hopefully head up on a second curve. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charles Handy </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I was told, "Do the best at what you're best at, for the good of others." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charles Handy </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA29kxLMn0IDpm8SvjE9kiQ5KdGp8SdVNdVqpKuL6RDZEBjq-sWAwWhJgB3pYLk0Xsz7DMbd74LP6yabXZzCj8SqXUlX0YmArIPheT7AtuaaSISif1rTWKjfgVlbvQaU79e6y6L-puAUY/s1600/fullsizeoutput_b858.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA29kxLMn0IDpm8SvjE9kiQ5KdGp8SdVNdVqpKuL6RDZEBjq-sWAwWhJgB3pYLk0Xsz7DMbd74LP6yabXZzCj8SqXUlX0YmArIPheT7AtuaaSISif1rTWKjfgVlbvQaU79e6y6L-puAUY/s320/fullsizeoutput_b858.jpeg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Julian Hobsbawm (centre) is congratulated by <br />Alice Sherwood (L) and Sir Simon Schama (R)</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Much of online chatter, Facebook or tweets becomes digital dust. Some of it however becomes huge and then we have large outfits that become significant players in our political world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Helen Margetts <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/HelenMargetts" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="color: #657786; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">HelenMargetts</span></a> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everybody is able to do everything. But some are magnificent at it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Fickling <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/DFB_storyhouse" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="color: #657786; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">DFB_storyhouse</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We know what good writing is even if we can’t explain it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Fickling <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/DFB_storyhouse" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">DFB_storyhouse</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I worry that there might be thirty or so, 40-year olds making huge decisions about our lives in a boardroom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Nigel Shadbolt </span><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/Nigel_Shadbolt" style="text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Nigel_Shadbolt</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Technology is too often presented as too difficult to understand. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Nigel Shadbolt </span><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/Nigel_Shadbolt" style="text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Nigel_Shadbolt</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's good to know many hundreds of years after the earliest of the libraries was first built, it remains a place of learning, of quiet reflection and students are increasingly coming back to it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Richard Ovenden <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/richove" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="color: #657786; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">richove</span></a> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(From my memory, not a direct quote) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Some people I would like to mention, who I enjoyed speaking with in the in between moments and are worth you checking out too:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My co-speaker, defence journalist and consultant, Alexander Woolfson <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; text-decoration: none !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/DasWoolf" style="text-decoration: none !important;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target">DasWoolf</span></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; text-decoration: none !important; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; text-decoration: none !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">Digital and people person, Matt Ballantine </span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/ballantine70" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">ballantine70</span></span> </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Funny person, a poet, Mr Gee <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/mrgeepoet" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">mrgeepoet</span></span> </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Has philosophy at her fingertips and is immensely articulate about it, Professor Angie Hobbs <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/drangiehobbs" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">drangiehobbs</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thoughtful and with some great questions of me, author, Ziyad Marar <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/ZiyadMarar" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">ZiyadMarar</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Funny, always thinking, writer and performer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_Candappa" target="_blank">Rohan Candappa</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A former advertising exec, now a creative person, a fine person, Marcus John Henry Brown <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/MarcusJHBrown" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;"><span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; unicode-bidi: embed;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: normal;">MarcusJHBrown</span></span> </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Names Not Numbers at 10 28 - 30th September 2018 #NNN@10</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And what is this all about?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://namesnotnumbers.com/" target="_blank">Names Not Numbers</a> is one of several activities its parent organisation, <a href="https://www.editorialintelligence.com/" target="_blank">Editorial Intelligence</a> provides. It is the work of the amazing <a href="http://www.juliahobsbawm.com/" target="_blank">Julia Hobsbawm</a> <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/juliahobsbawm" style="color: #657786; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="color: #657786; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">juliahobsbawm</span></a> </span>and her excellent team. Their mission statement is "Editorial Intelligence is committed to helping individuals and corporations seeking personal and professional excellence, by developing deeper personal connections and having a more profound understanding of today’s information overloaded landscape."</span>Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-4865793510650913982018-05-29T15:24:00.001+01:002018-08-02T13:07:53.162+01:00'That's not normal!'<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Acting on Disability team, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>L-R Georgie, Ben, Simon, Don and Juliette</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just back from a trip to the USA to provide training for a global tech firm. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sminty team, all five of us, decided to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">walk the ten blocks from our hotel to our first event in downtown Manhattan. We thought we would make a striking alternative to the famous <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/7-facts-about-reservoir-dogs-1202403659/" target="_blank">Reservoir Dogs </a>photo - two men on mobility scooters, two women with hidden disabilities and a man who has Aspergers. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we walked I was talking about how polite New Yorkers were, how they move out of the way for wheelchair and scooter users and often say hello or smile. An older lady, wrapped in a thick scarf in sweltering heat, saw us. She stopped and as we passed her, pointed at me and yelled ‘Now that is not normal!’ My fellow scooter user waited a moment and then asked me ‘Well how do you feel about that?’ I paused to process it and then answered, ‘I feel I should be angry or upset but actually I am rather pleased. I now have an opening line for the event we’re about to do’. And so it proved to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This trip had a few firsts for me. I wasn’t alone and had a team of talented people alongside. What was more familiar were the demands, many hours of </span>flying<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> in short space of time, delivering two three hour events in different locations, being New York City and Silicon Valley. Then there was the </span>client: they </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">employ the brightest of people and there was a subtle but evident pressure</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Be</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fore the trip, they were extremely thorough: scripts and slides had to be approved by many of their people. I'm not used to that. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Ben and Juliette on stage</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We were delivering </span><a href="http://sminty.net/services.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">Acting on Disability</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">, a form of training using </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_theatre" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">interactive theatre</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">. The actors play out management scenarios, live in front of an audience. As MC, I interrupt the scenes at specific moments to ask the audience for their </span>thoughts, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">what they think of the manager's behaviour, </span>what could be done better.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Whilst </span>writing<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> the </span>scripts,<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> I researched common first names used in the US, what American companies call departments such as UK ‘occupational health’ being 'employee benefits' in </span>the<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> US. Place names were changed, for example we talked about Whole Foods not Sainsburys. This helps the audience to identify and adds to the realism. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This style of training is highly interactive, it can pack a dramatic punch and more importantly, it is practically helpful. I like it when </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a member of the audience puts their hand up to say ‘The manager has a point, and yet I can understand what the individual is saying. I’m not sure what to do!’ </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many years after such an event I’ve had people tell me ‘I still do that thing suggested in the scene’. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This performing </span></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of complex but relatable situations allows us to develop the skills of the manager, showing how they can navigate their way through what might feel like an impasse. Sometimes making an adjustment ('accommodation' in the US) is simple, but you don’t need training for that. We’re more about the shades of grey, when personalities and assumptions override need and impairment. Making an adjustment can affect other people, it can be complex and awkward to talk about and the question of reasonableness is part of managing disability at work. Individuals can be forthcoming or </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">secretive</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> about a disability. That’s the stuff we like to talk about. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">All of the Sminty team have a disability or impairment. It’s one of </span>our<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> professional rules. So if a character has sight loss or a mental health issue, so does the actor. That can make it hard to find the right skilled people but I constantly search, assess </span>and<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> collect </span>email<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> addresses. The insiders' knowledge they bring adds depth to the scene and delivers the most impactful moments when they step out of character and talk of their real life experiences. </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg3xPq9AkPbT2bwqhO2n13-Pjq8OVTDW2U_40MeEa9gh4AU7caaJmsaK1nmwxlRLyA0_cMeTh72NJ7eSmL9LkNKWThaAkOowHlYtNkaAj8HNK9IN0FODfN-gSkti0Xuz-HvgWrXsCz2M/s1600/Simon+stage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simon is on stage, dark background. He is looking to his left with his left hand on chin and has a half smile." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg3xPq9AkPbT2bwqhO2n13-Pjq8OVTDW2U_40MeEa9gh4AU7caaJmsaK1nmwxlRLyA0_cMeTh72NJ7eSmL9LkNKWThaAkOowHlYtNkaAj8HNK9IN0FODfN-gSkti0Xuz-HvgWrXsCz2M/s400/Simon+stage.jpg" title="" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Simon on stage, looking thoughtful and happy</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our team comprised of me, a short person who uses a mobility scooter, someone with cerebral palsy, someone with sight loss, someone with mental health issues and someone with Aspergers and dyspraxia. The trip included three 7 plus-hour flights, multiple transfers and never more than two nights in any one location. A combination of detailed forward planning and </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">open conversations with the team about needs and preferences allowed the trip to pass smoothly. A</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> brilliantly helpful airline in </span><a href="https://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/special-flight-requirements.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Virgin Atlantic</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (thank you, thank you!) lovely staff at </span><a href="https://www.yotel.com/en/hotels/yotel-new-york" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Yotel</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in New York (one offered to walk three blocks with me just to hold an umbrella) and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.aloftsiliconvalley.com/" target="_blank">Aloft </a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.aloftsiliconvalley.com/" target="_blank">in Silicon Valley</a> (those big rooms, a pool and a r<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6nLuDmNoh4" target="_blank">obot that delivers items to your room!</a>) Plus, a diverse team where one would support another if needed as we played to our strengths. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feedback has been amazing. In New York they’d had the cast of Hamilton and Hilary Clinton visit in recent months, tough acts to follow, especially with the word 'disability' in your title. Satisfaction scores for our events, by asking attendees ‘was this worth attending? would you recommend it?’ were 98%. Being the perfectionist task-master that I can be, I want to know where we lost the 2% but I’m wise enough to know this is pretty good. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This type of training might seem risky for the client, for their teams, their reputation. They’re bringing over people from a different country to talk directly about a difficult subject. But sometimes taking the greatest risk gives the greatest reward. </span></span></span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue";">I received a lovely compliment</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue";"> </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue";">from the individual at the tech firm who asked me over to do this work. I was told during the planning there was concern, even hesitation, about the project. My supporter apparently said ‘It’ll be ok, it’s Simon’. In fact, it wasn't just me, I had a great team alongside me. And thankfully I was told this bit afterwards.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue";"> </span></span></div>
Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-57642441708002930672018-05-24T18:02:00.001+01:002018-05-24T18:35:01.017+01:00Disability training, Abnormally Funny People style<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A little while back the great people at <a href="https://skillboosters.com/2018/05/06/laughters-the-best-medicine-for-disability-confidence-training-film/">Skill Boosters </a>approached me to see if I'd like to make a training video with them. The topic was to be disability, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">employment and customer service. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I said I'd be interested, but how about we do it a little differently? I suggested we make it with Abnormally Funny People, the comedy team I'm part of. To my delight, they agreed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm pleased to say after a lot of brilliant, creative, hard work, it is ready. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the promo video. If you want to know more, contact Peter Thorpe, at Skill Boosters 020 3859 4308 peter.thorpe@skillboosters.com </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Opd1ZA1wz_g/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Opd1ZA1wz_g?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are dynamic subtitles included and the next sentence is a link to the transcript if you prefer. </span><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/skillboosterscatalogue/Transcript_sb_disability_awareness_promo.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Transcript of Skill Boosters disability training video made with Abnormally Funny People </span></a><br />
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-74439081817724342812018-02-22T17:15:00.006+00:002018-02-25T22:23:17.619+00:00International work<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Calibri; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><b>Whilst chatting with a long standing client</b> she exclaimed “Simon, I had no idea about your work internationally. You need to tell people about it!” </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">We were attending a meeting at Middlesex University to hear about new research in to how diversity strategies have been implemented in global organisations. I was invited by the British Council, an organisation I've worked with for many years, who had commissioned the research. I was asked to speak outlining my experience and the work I’ve done. This is work I love and have enjoyed immensely over the years. So here we go...</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLiemIUXfA48awqEopvNQVq-qLektgUWSOi4l3mP__-22qYGhKNZ58Zl_pHFtYOgrd9pOWctjwtkXSOYHci0h8fFRUJCqPo3_ON07I3icjyZ0nG7JHCOTdroXKNUFxVEuTpXZtEIRYVY/s1600/DwD+HK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Simon is greeted and shaking hands with a number of Hong Kong people." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLiemIUXfA48awqEopvNQVq-qLektgUWSOi4l3mP__-22qYGhKNZ58Zl_pHFtYOgrd9pOWctjwtkXSOYHci0h8fFRUJCqPo3_ON07I3icjyZ0nG7JHCOTdroXKNUFxVEuTpXZtEIRYVY/s320/DwD+HK.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">I should clarify I specifically work in field of disability rather than the broader diversity arena. I have been working internationally since 2002. Around half of those trips have been because the British Council have asked me to go to a region. The other half has been for a range of organisations including Bank of America, Google, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and McDonalds. I’ve a long term relationship with <a href="https://www.communitybusiness.org/" target="_blank">Community Business</a> in Asia who ask me to help out from time to time. Finally I’ve chaired international conferences or hosted a <a href="http://www.diningwithadifference.com/" target="_blank">Dining with a Difference </a>event for senior leaders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Much of this work is speaking, be it a keynote or within a training course but it’s not just that. Dining with a Difference has become something rather special when I'm abroad. I host the dinner, provide structure, take feedback and keep things on track but individual tables are hosted by a local disabled person (whom I've briefed beforehand) and they lead the discussion on their table. It's been amazingly powerful, impactful on the night and a starting gun to longer lasting change. Consultancy projects pop up from time to time, be it writing a disability and employment guide for the Bulgarian government or creating a disability and media organisation with <a href="https://dredf.org/" target="_blank">Disability Rights and Education Fund</a> (DREDF) in Berkeley, California. This project was to show US news media how to be more accurate and inclusive when reporting disability stories. I met with the Washington Post at their offices, and was overawed by the journalistic history. As a comedy fan, meeting with television executives at 30 Rockefellar Plaza was a treat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Enough of the work, tell me where you've been, I hope you're asking? </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the Google team in California</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Albania, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Dubai, Egypt, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine and the USA Several of these I’ve visited multiple times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">A different country often means a different cultural view of disability and of disabled people. I try to understand this approach, see where it is strong and useful to progress towards the independence and inclusion of disabled people. I also look for where it’s a hinderance, often where disabled people themselves have not had input. The cultural differences fascinate me, and they can frustrate me. I cannot ignore them, nor assume I have all the answers. If I arrive and expect the same as the UK and don't develop my thinking, I will miss a trick. There’s diversity in disability! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Some of the eye opening conversations have included the impact of religion in a country, and how this informs how disabled people are viewed. Some cultures see disability as bad karma, paying for sins in the past. Perhaps the biggest hurdle, and not unique, is the soft bigotry of low expectation*. This is not limited to overseas of course, nor to just non-disabled people's thoughts - it can be the disabled people themselves. If you’ve had a limited education, been excluded, not spent time with independent minded disabled people and been wrapped in cotton wool, or worse, hidden away by a family or in an institution, maybe you won’t think you can do much. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz-VuOLPi225hKeY_6i4Myz2RSIBxjwJl4hMwq55KRfzv19N2NGyJrdZmmjmY9Zc0tbPBo1Uy4aKrSAWv7ILNCfx3HjhQe8ZXHt8bGXjAL87gxxA4CH_OV-CvcH-Q32UrzJPI3oEil_U/s1600/Simon+Cairo+Dec+07+British+Council.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Simon sitting on some conrete steps, with an Egyptian man wheelchair user and two other people" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz-VuOLPi225hKeY_6i4Myz2RSIBxjwJl4hMwq55KRfzv19N2NGyJrdZmmjmY9Zc0tbPBo1Uy4aKrSAWv7ILNCfx3HjhQe8ZXHt8bGXjAL87gxxA4CH_OV-CvcH-Q32UrzJPI3oEil_U/s320/Simon+Cairo+Dec+07+British+Council.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Cairo, with some trail-blazers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Then there are the trail blazers. There's a pride and kinship that swells up inside me when I connect with another disabled person in a very different country, and realise they ‘get it’. They’ve learnt to how to achieve change, often in extremely trying and isolating circumstances. Their aim to remove barriers to enable them to participate. They know how to educate people of their abilities. Medicine, religion, charity might try and help, but sometimes hinder. In the meantime, the trail blazers want to get on the bus, get to the University, the shop, the local council meeting, earn a living. They want to be included, be productive and engaged with society. They want to be able to make decisions for themselves. I’m not one who goes in for inspirational fluff, however I have met half a dozen accidental role models who in incredibly difficult circumstances are leading the social and cultural change towards disability in their country. Their brilliance, skill and resilience impresses me no end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">In the UK we can be a little complacent, or better put, our expectations are high. Nothing is perfect but access has improved, we have funding for adjustments in work, an enviable car scheme to keep us mobile, accessible buses and taxis too and for some, welfare support. We have anti-discrimination legislation, disability is recognised as something that needs legal protection. Slower but ever present, are a multitude of schemes aiming to increase employment and service provision for disabled people. We have funding for our Paralympians and disability art. These existing measures I suspect is why United Nations efforts, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities haven’t gained real traction in the UK, although that is changing. Travel abroad, particularly to the countries that don’t have anti-discrimination legislation or positive action programmes, and the UN efforts become a big deal. They are solid, internationally recognised symbols that can help focus the mind and help individuals to bring about change. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_5yuvVYWIlKAeZVCQZjJhIP3nLhA1-E3rDp_euLQp6-PjsBXTNVpJBJ-Tkhb1fi5LBsM097zoHfoToKMuPvpkxdCf0sRpUpVIYMip6zAlTCdGJA3CqW9FDQiklzGySY2DzKUAizmn1Q/s1600/China+food+Fiona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_5yuvVYWIlKAeZVCQZjJhIP3nLhA1-E3rDp_euLQp6-PjsBXTNVpJBJ-Tkhb1fi5LBsM097zoHfoToKMuPvpkxdCf0sRpUpVIYMip6zAlTCdGJA3CqW9FDQiklzGySY2DzKUAizmn1Q/s320/China+food+Fiona.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eating out in Guangzhou with Fiona</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Often, it’s down to individuals interaction with one another that gets things moving in the first place. At a dinner event in Paris one (not disabled) person said to me, ‘Ah, but we’re different here. We don’t like talking about this stuff, it’s awkward. Not like you British people.’ I smiled and said it was the same in the UK, people tend to feel awkward. As I explained to her, my worry is if we never speak of it, will anything change? I quoted a gay Italian friend who spoke about the development of gay rights and he suggested to me, ‘Simon, sometimes you have to make it an issue, and only then can it become a non-issue.’ </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">In Tirana, in Albania, I was asked to speak at a theatre with seats for 300 people in the round. Ten minutes before the start time, there were perhaps 30 people there. Of course I was disappointed with the low turn out but from experience I know that a smaller group can mean greater interaction. However, with barely a minute to go, 200 people turned up. As they filled the seats I felt some apprehension, this was a big crowd. In my speech, amongst other things, I suggested putting people in care homes wasn’t the best way. I said the right equipment and technology can improve disabled people’s lives, if they could just access it. The atmosphere turned frosty, almost hostile. Several hands shot up and people angrily disagreed, saying ‘You’re wrong, we care for people, not push them out. That is what our politics stand for!' Or 'Technology isn't the answer. You're cold, and not helping these poor people!’ I acknowledged their points but suggested there were problems with such an approach, as it continued dependency, and asked them if they’ve spoken with disabled people? The atmosphere didn’t improve and I wondered if I might need to make a hasty exit. Luckily, two women who worked with local disabled people stood up and eloquently explained that those they worked with, provided services to, wanted what I was suggesting: independence, equipment that helped. Of course, human help was part of that but the thinking needed to change. I finished my talk and was very happy that many in the audience came over to continue the discussion. I'm still friends with the two women who rescued me. Later that day, I found myself in the front row of a live broadcast of Albania’s version of BBC's ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Well, I was in the front row but a teenage Albanian pop star turned up and I was bumped to the second row. It was one of my more memorable working days and reminded me of the fun of working abroad, you never know what might happen next. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfk07hwtdiDCdgabcUoFpIpKk7mhxzAuAKZjqcwAYWkF-CCtsG13S24WevRFNA-zMVO7th4r-JJkL7gvn-N0Mg34m5QPGYxp8Wo13xVRJiptHVUmYjKpp7C2PWcrewrkNXrHUAFomLN4/s1600/Qatar+full+body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Simon on a stage, in a suit, arms raised mid speech " border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="834" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfk07hwtdiDCdgabcUoFpIpKk7mhxzAuAKZjqcwAYWkF-CCtsG13S24WevRFNA-zMVO7th4r-JJkL7gvn-N0Mg34m5QPGYxp8Wo13xVRJiptHVUmYjKpp7C2PWcrewrkNXrHUAFomLN4/s320/Qatar+full+body.jpg" title="" width="297" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Charing a conference in Qatar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">A small but important victory happened when I visited Oman. I met with a Facilities Manager for an international bank. He arrived, sat down letting out a weary sigh. He started by explaining to me I didn’t understand the country. Specifically he told me that the system worked differently there, there were bank branches in remote mountainous regions and wheelchair access wasn’t at the top of his priority list. He was resistant, reluctant and couldn’t wait for our meeting to be over so he could get back to his real work. Between you and me, these are the people I quite like. They tell me exactly what they’re thinking and what’s important to them. I can work with these people. It’s the ones that nod, weakly smile and say a few platitudes that are harder. I can’t quite remember what I said to him, I know I acknowledged his position and the local differences. However, within thirty minutes he had completely changed and became an evangelist, wanting to change things. I like to think somewhere in Oman there’s a remote, high on a hill, lonely branch of a bank that now has good wheelchair access. I might not have changed the world but such changes may mean the world to someone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*A quote from Susan Daniels, a US civil servant and disability campaigner.</span></div>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-71238594731459473152017-10-10T14:00:00.002+01:002017-10-18T11:58:43.857+01:00Disability: To some it identifies what's wrong in the world, to others it represents what's wrong with themselves.<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<i>In the summer of 2017 I hosted an event for the <a href="http://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/" target="_blank">Business Disability Forum</a> in London. Below is the significantly modified speech I made there. It's a thought piece really, me trying to work something out. It got people talking and I'd love to hear what you think. </i></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hello, my name is Simon Minty, I am your host this evening. </span>If you don’t know me, I’ve been an associate to the Business Disability Forum for twenty years. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDa2SFDYwKyBZVT8vX6FXqi176vBOjbTQyozhou2FvJ5J0_KLwqslWGCPI2r84n6WEzL774UzG26zSQF_-ajBTL1uKe8KNVk6vIPD2UhMPWKq6H_YT9F0jqJLLOszvPP_8Aw1gscw6wU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-10+at+13.56.08.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Asda supermarket sign with three symbols of a man, woman and wheelchair user with the words Not every disability is visible and Accessible Toilet" border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1160" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDa2SFDYwKyBZVT8vX6FXqi176vBOjbTQyozhou2FvJ5J0_KLwqslWGCPI2r84n6WEzL774UzG26zSQF_-ajBTL1uKe8KNVk6vIPD2UhMPWKq6H_YT9F0jqJLLOszvPP_8Aw1gscw6wU/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-10-10+at+13.56.08.png" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asda toilet sign - disability is very broad these days but<br />
have those identifying as so, kept pace?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s great that you are here and great that you do the job you do. I suspect some of you came to this disability or diversity role by accident, or maybe it was on purpose as it looked interesting? Maybe some of you are directly affected so have a personal interest. Dare I suggest, maybe one or two of you are after an award from the Queen! </span>I know most of us do this work because we want to see change. Working with the Forum, such change is about improving how organisations operate in the workplace and how they interact with their disabled customers. </div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After several years in banking, I became professionally involved in disability equality. Luckily for me, the changes needed were pretty clear plus there was new equality legislation to help. Skilled, knowledgable and confident people, (many of whom</span> had visible impairments and identified as disabled) advised on how things could improve. If you were around in the early noughties, you had legally enforceable rights and were part of the conversation and informed the plan. <br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It wasn't all rosey. Then as now, a lot of disabled people (legally at least) prefer to keep quiet, they're embarrassed and don't want to be treated differently. The law didn't even come in to it. More significantly, they didn't see themselves the same as those who used a wheelchair or a guide dog. They were something separate and different. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6MX-8bUytOUKqqCFtj_MA1kKywtb7D4DD5Q8VCc88nSyrL8mlVcqYVg3bfQFGuYYxGHY9EHDOWtXSR4_ruWoeZCCHduMDVwvNGQLUH0YI1arKcdPQji6A_PXYB5h32sSxjMMBBXPJ_A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+11.53.09.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A round street sign with a red edge, inside it has multiple stick people all the same. Underneath the sign is a notice saying May contain hidden disabilities" border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6MX-8bUytOUKqqCFtj_MA1kKywtb7D4DD5Q8VCc88nSyrL8mlVcqYVg3bfQFGuYYxGHY9EHDOWtXSR4_ruWoeZCCHduMDVwvNGQLUH0YI1arKcdPQji6A_PXYB5h32sSxjMMBBXPJ_A/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+11.53.09.png" title="" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many people have conditions that are a disability<br />
under the law but the condition is not visible.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the last few years, there has been an increased openness about non-visible conditions, be it mental health, neurological or long term health conditions. That's great! But </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">many affected people don’t speak so they don't get the assistance that could make their life easier or them more effective. They remain fearful of the word 'disability' and use </span>a lot of mental energy trying to avoid it. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">So it makes me wonder, does anything unite the visibly disabled and those with something invisibleit? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It's hard to give a straight answer. I think there is but it's complex and nuanced. It might be a perception of the self, a feeling, noticing you might be treated differently. Or, you behave differently to fit in. It's knowing you think about something that no one else does (except for those with exactly the same thing who get it instinctively). I think the fear of a loss of independence is part of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Why am I asking what do we have in common? Does it matter?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-VZuAHY8xtzba0Orf_bUjYGYYlpML3BzPP78CnZ6A08GnCY4Hb2aIAGfKlBrJFl68-_QLV4Q2xR_Nn61_HiV9EI6wvUJcbjVnX-YsRRtoPvJ4RH5P3d4lYnp4tKOMrtDyRV2oM07dqY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+12.34.37.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A man sits underneath a white horse shaped animal. He is half way through painting black stripes on it. " border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1380" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-VZuAHY8xtzba0Orf_bUjYGYYlpML3BzPP78CnZ6A08GnCY4Hb2aIAGfKlBrJFl68-_QLV4Q2xR_Nn61_HiV9EI6wvUJcbjVnX-YsRRtoPvJ4RH5P3d4lYnp4tKOMrtDyRV2oM07dqY/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+12.34.37.png" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it a horse or a zebra?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">As we focus more on non-visible disabilities, we don’t have an agreed unifying model across all disabilities. Plus ca change! That's not unique and other strands of equality don't all agree on everything. The </span>differences might be greater than the commonality but there is commonality. If the plan for those who can, is to hide it, will that just re-enforce the stigma? How do we reduce the shame for those who actually need a little help? They don't have wear a t-shirt but surely in 2017 they should be able to speak for themselves.<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the past twenty years, for some the word 'disability' helped identify barriers. Now some reject it, it's not about them. In the 90s, the word 'handicapped' was replaced by 'disability'. We may move on to a new word but is the word is the main issue? To some it identifies what's wrong in the world, to others it represents what's wrong with themselves. Can Harry Potter save us here? In the books, </span>characters say 'He Who Must Not Be Named' as they were scared. (Spoiler alert) Harry Potter was one of the few who did say the name 'Voldermort' and Harry was the one who defeated him. I think it's a state of mind more than a word. I worry we may be setting ourselves adrift in to individual units. We must allow for our individuality, but I think finding, celebrating a commonality is desirable too. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8khyphenhyphenbgzmWfbAm2L9ZTPbi_WdRkSIf_2Hh9KUVKsRf036ZwZ6cYvTcwhaoVCRjs6Y7hPRIETp_09g08hsFdF2vugXCBPCgtjFq_XaFoTbog6ypOnFrfYVhhffDx3okZsncCPKAGN4E2o/s1600/Simon+smile+EFD+Nov+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A photo of Simon, who is short statured, talking to someone. Simon is in a brown suit and shirt and smiling. " border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8khyphenhyphenbgzmWfbAm2L9ZTPbi_WdRkSIf_2Hh9KUVKsRf036ZwZ6cYvTcwhaoVCRjs6Y7hPRIETp_09g08hsFdF2vugXCBPCgtjFq_XaFoTbog6ypOnFrfYVhhffDx3okZsncCPKAGN4E2o/s200/Simon+smile+EFD+Nov+2011.JPG" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Minty, a disabled person<br />
and many other things.</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I hope amongst the many challenges facing us in this field of work, we continue with one of the aims of the Business Disability Forum, to allow people to be themselves at work or out living their lives, to reduce the stigma of disability, but not to run away from it.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Business Disability Forum is unique, we’re unique, let’s not be nervous, let’s be proud. </span></div>
Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-48847388213232637642017-06-22T20:14:00.001+01:002017-06-22T20:31:32.017+01:00Complacency or the long game?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My local dentist is a five minute walk from my home. I use my mobility scooter when I visit as it's too far to walk and this way, I don't have to worry about parking. This week, I went for a check up and for the first time, there were three ramps in place on arrival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The back story: in 2010 I sent my dentist a strongly worded letter explaining their three steps meant access for people using wheels, i.e. me, wasn't good and I made some suggestions. They invested in a portable ramp so I could get in. I would call the dentist when I was approaching and they would come out and put the ramp down. I'd go up to the first platform and wait whilst they put the same ramp on the next step and so on. It was a bit of a palaver but just about worked. It took time but I'm rarely in a rush to climb in to the dentist's chair. This week, to have enough ramps for me to go straight in was the warmest welcome I've had there. My smile was bright before seeing the hygienist. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I posted a photo of the new ramps in situ on Facebook, <a href="https://twitter.com/simonminty" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/simon_minty/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and received numerous likes. There were a number of comments too, ranging from the pun filled 'glad they ramped up their service' to the somewhat missing the point 'nice tiles'. There was one from a colleague who asked 'is it 20 years since it became the law?'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Indeed it is, and it has been seven years since my strongly worded letter. This made me ponder, had I become complacent? I'm a disability consultant for goodness sake. Why didn't I push them further, or consider a case under the access to goods and services provisions of the Equality Act? Alternatively, why hadn't I taken my custom elsewhere and shown them the power of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-39040760/the-power-of-the-purple-pound-explained" target="_blank">disabled / purple pound</a>? Should I have contacted some of my activist friends to ask them to hold a demo and embarrass the dentist in to action?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The reality is a combination of make do and mend but also playing the long game. The first ramp in 2010 was the minimum: adequate but legally arguable as less favourable treatment or a lower standard of service. If I'd gone to court I might have won and things changed but it would have been tough and maybe costly. If I'd taken my custom elsewhere, I suspect their single ramp would have gone in a cupboard and nothing would have changed. Instead, I just kept going back, calling them each time I was approaching, reminding them every time they needed another ramp. My continued presence was pressure. The problem was I only went once or twice a year, so they had long stretches of not being reminded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today though, it's in place and it's great! It's not just me either, it will help plenty of other people including the gazillions of parents with buggies where I live. It shouldn't have taken so long. Some people won't wait that long, some can't wait that long. The long game came good this time but it won't always. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Scroll down below the pic for more)</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpExGz9S3iiPGgHrKnhaXfhkXM9l2mWMJKDATycgZXQ2TP8XGW03QmlProMTuN0Q90ktksMX9niWmwhrWJqxwYaFujruF9CXweWE8RsL2ChFVCSBtIA7dpdUDiVAUfWGkKtD-oLVOMoA/s1600/IMG_4350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="It's a long narrow entrance with graduated steps with level platforms in-between. There are three ramps over the black and white tiles. At the bottom of the steps, so on the pavement, the receptionist doing a happy dance. " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpExGz9S3iiPGgHrKnhaXfhkXM9l2mWMJKDATycgZXQ2TP8XGW03QmlProMTuN0Q90ktksMX9niWmwhrWJqxwYaFujruF9CXweWE8RsL2ChFVCSBtIA7dpdUDiVAUfWGkKtD-oLVOMoA/s400/IMG_4350.JPG" title="It's a long narrow entrance with graduated steps with level platforms in-between. There are three ramps over the black and white tiles. At the bottom of the steps, so on the pavement, the receptionist doing a happy dance. " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Above is a photo of the three ramps in place and the receptionist doing a happy dance. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, below two links to the recent BBC Ouch podcast which I co-host. <span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;">There's the show I'm calling 'Life' in which we interview the chap who had booked a date with death in Switzerland but because of the kindest of a stranger, he postponed it. Yep, sometimes help is incredibly urgent. Or if you prefer, a quirky, and utterly enjoyable to make, interview with a comedian who is losing his sight so has made a show about it.</span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BBC Ouch talk show - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p054rhcv" target="_blank">Life</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BBC Ouch talk show - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p055f1c0" target="_blank">Comedy</a></span></div>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-48179424826708895872017-04-09T13:50:00.001+01:002017-04-09T20:13:53.390+01:00Embolden travel and conversations<br />
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Thailand </h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICuMiMnQ8odtDB85FR4m3ca9fuzDHsLqMZ-80r6bmUgK9dBJmSONbAx67RhdttOD9e-NNNDgM0JKaCSYOLlRjM-kl64zAtcxhGM4_wy3_sYKJIipCO519xSWjsB6jYDwOhG7A0QZOP5U/s1600/fullsizeoutput_97eb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simon in front of the Golden Buddha at the temple of Wat Traimit, Bangkok" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICuMiMnQ8odtDB85FR4m3ca9fuzDHsLqMZ-80r6bmUgK9dBJmSONbAx67RhdttOD9e-NNNDgM0JKaCSYOLlRjM-kl64zAtcxhGM4_wy3_sYKJIipCO519xSWjsB6jYDwOhG7A0QZOP5U/s320/fullsizeoutput_97eb.jpeg" title="Simon in front of the Golden Buddha at the temple of Wat Traimit, Bangkok" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Simon in front of the Golden Buddha<br /> at the temple of Wat Traimit, Bangkok</span></h4>
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I visited Thailand in March after years of hesitation assuming it would be too hard to get around with a mobility scooter, not to mention emotionality tiring if people overreacted to a short man wandering around. Although not easy, access was ok for me and people weren't especially interested. We spent a few days in Bangkok visiting Royal Palaces, street markets and a terrifying rooftop bar! Then we went to Khau Lak for sunshine and beach time. The world is smaller, difference is everywhere and thankfully most people were polite and helpful. A few couldn't resist taking out their phones to take a photo of me and for once, I decided not to try to control this and gradually I started to not even care. The photo to the right was taken with permission, and I don't think I could look more like a tourist if I'd tried.<br />
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Disability and comedy</h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A new book about disability and comedy has been published, featuring contributions from the <a href="http://abnormallyfunnypeople.com/" target="_blank">Abnormally Funny People</a> team. It's titled '<a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Seriously_Funny.html?id=ERxojgEACAAJ&redir_esc=y" target="_blank">Seriously Funny</a>: <span class="subtitle"><span dir="ltr">Disability and the Paradoxical Power of Humor'. The publishers notes say the book is</span></span><span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: none;"> '</span><span style="background-color: white;">Exploring a paradox, Shawn Bingham and Sara Green show how humor has been used both to challenge traditional views of disability and to reinforce negative stereotypes and social inequalities. Seriously Funny ranges from ancient Greek dramas to medieval courts jesters to contemporary comedy, from stage performances to the experiences of daily life. Rich with insights into issues of identity and social stratification, it offers an eye-opening perspective on attitudes toward disability across the ages.'</span></span><br />
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For your listening pleasure</h2>
Soon after coming back from Thailand, I was in the studio recording two podcasts. Maybe it was the holiday, maybe it was the guests or maybe the topics, but both shows are rather special in their own different ways. If you fancy a change from your current reading or want something to listen to in the car, whilst keeping fit or on the commute, why not give them a try? <br />
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BBC Ouch show discusses T4 in disability history, when the Nazi's killed disabled people. There's fantastic music from Holy Moly & The Crackers.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04z7z7p" target="_blank">BBC Ouch talkshow </a> 'Behind the Scenes'<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCI787qv5D2hae4Z0CzGQDv2BX6rHnJMxT_CszOeAr1SYnZKWm9N-wME0lLrdgT9opT1fmR7l2pkby7rYUrR6P3EenS_dKeCk_ycsfE41EsiuDs13liaypz0p4Mvz-QSTC54vTeIP7A8/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="L-R Nicola Werenowska, Stephen Unwin, Kate Monaghan, Simon Minty in the BBC Radio studio. " border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCI787qv5D2hae4Z0CzGQDv2BX6rHnJMxT_CszOeAr1SYnZKWm9N-wME0lLrdgT9opT1fmR7l2pkby7rYUrR6P3EenS_dKeCk_ycsfE41EsiuDs13liaypz0p4Mvz-QSTC54vTeIP7A8/s400/IMG_3960.JPG" title="L-R Nicola Werenowska, Stephen Unwin, Kate Monaghan, Simon Minty in the BBC Radio studio. " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">BBC Radio Studio <span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">L-R Nicola Werenowska, Stephen Unwin, Kate Monaghan, Simon </span></span></h4>
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The Phil & Simon Show talks identity politics, is there creep of the 'non-disableds' talking on behalf of disabled people? When should someone share? And if that's not enough, it ventures in to the minimum wage and learning disabled people debate. Inevitably, voices are raised and tables are thumped.<br />
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<a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/5794911-the-phil-simon-show-no-11-where-angels-fear-to-tread" target="_blank">The Phil & Simon Show </a> 'Where Angels Fear to Tread'<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRigROPNsx9LQ3E53sSUfhW5WRUkTr3iyqmR12r2-F3rqNonwAuoc6xc0H4E2L6jzfl2JvlK8z667EIVQAOnYFf8qEwVpM35GzU-jZr0SQF2mY-SpMd4I_9tM8xIApgm5R5invb6dIPEU/s1600/fullsizeoutput_97e5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="L - R Phil Friend and Simon Minty taken with a selfie stick with a bookshelf in the background." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRigROPNsx9LQ3E53sSUfhW5WRUkTr3iyqmR12r2-F3rqNonwAuoc6xc0H4E2L6jzfl2JvlK8z667EIVQAOnYFf8qEwVpM35GzU-jZr0SQF2mY-SpMd4I_9tM8xIApgm5R5invb6dIPEU/s400/fullsizeoutput_97e5.jpeg" title="L - R Phil Friend and Simon Minty taken with a selfie stick with a bookshelf in the background." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">L - R Phil Friend and Simon </span></h4>
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<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-15859065724585568362017-03-04T15:18:00.003+00:002017-03-04T15:18:52.210+00:00Happy TalkA brief update, promoting the two podcasts I co-host.<br />
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First up, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04vpvzz" target="_blank">BBC Ouch </a>with my co-host Kate Monaghan. This month was a lot of fun to record, we were in a mischievous mood and our guests joined in. We talk serious stuff though, diets to 'cure' your impairment, ADHD, ADD, chimps with Down Syndrome. OK, that last one wasn't as serious.<br />
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Secondly, <a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/5647049-the-phil-simon-show-no-10-disability-in-documentaries?t=0" target="_blank">The Phil & Simon Show</a> with my co-host and former business partner, now great friend, Phil Friend. We grapple with the latest disability and wider world issues with varying success. My favourite bit is Phil's reaction when I tell him I'm reading Andrew Neil's book, which finishes around 1997 when Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister. My mum's impartial and piercingly accurate review of this show was 'I see why you call it the PHIL & Simon Show as Phil talks a lot and you try and get a word in.'<br />
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You can subscribe to both via iTunes or Audioboom. And do leave a comment or get in contact as it's great to hear from listeners.<br />
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Next blog will report back on my trip to Thailand. Excited, what an amazing thing to do, apprehensive, will I be able to get around?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja89dRM7mRlHvArQW7XYJt38suuX9PffwUNRRmAsB1KZ228zFL3e3PRu4pmyzigIYKEgdOM2fmN9vY9Smz_GMjjkAuwh0n6bSnp0FvfilxKg9HZpnqVbTPcSeysdUYXLiWBb2QREfCRbg/s1600/fullsizeoutput_961a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pic of Natasha Lipman, Simon Minty and Kate Monaghan in BBC Studio" border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja89dRM7mRlHvArQW7XYJt38suuX9PffwUNRRmAsB1KZ228zFL3e3PRu4pmyzigIYKEgdOM2fmN9vY9Smz_GMjjkAuwh0n6bSnp0FvfilxKg9HZpnqVbTPcSeysdUYXLiWBb2QREfCRbg/s400/fullsizeoutput_961a.jpeg" title="Pic of Natasha Lipman, Simon Minty and Kate Monaghan in BBC Studio" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R Natasha Lipman, Simon Minty, Kate Monaghan</td></tr>
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<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-67218814772808016272016-12-09T18:32:00.001+00:002016-12-11T18:55:59.273+00:00Walking on SunshineThe hip is working well. I did trip over the other day... As I was walking, I felt my trousers slipping down a little. I reached behind to pull them up forgetting that my walking stick was in the same hand. The stick got caught between my shins and down I tumbled. There was a weird sensation in my new hip, just for a moment. Almost like a twang but much softer. As someone who has poor balance tripping is perfectly normal to me and my well honed skills of arms out, fall in to a press up position prevented any physical harm. I got up and thirty seconds later all was fine. This new walking lark is amazing and complicated.<br />
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Work is busy. I've run a lot of training events with media organisations such as <a href="http://www.all3media.com/" target="_blank">All3Media</a>, <a href="http://www.endemolshineuk.com/" target="_blank">Endemol Shine </a>and <a href="https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/" target="_blank">Warner Bros</a>, some via <a href="http://www.indietrainingfund.com/" target="_blank">Indie Training Fund.</a> Really enjoyable courses, either discussing employment and adjustments or getting deep in to portrayal of disability on TV with people who make the shows. Those I met know how to do it, sometimes they just need more confidence or clarity. Had an enjoyable international afternoon with Facilities Managers from the British Council Estates team discussing how they can make their premises more accessible in very different countries.<br />
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In November, there was a big <a href="http://thinkdesignable/" target="_blank">conference</a> on branding, advertising, design and media at Kings Place and I was chuffed to be asked to speak at it. Soon after, I spent the day with Channel 4 execs as part of a talent day (thank you <a href="http://www.104films.com/" target="_blank">104 Films </a>and <a href="http://www.laurenceclark.co.uk/" target="_blank">Laurence Clark</a>). Great to hear about the different strands, marketing methods and eye opening too as to how it works and what they want - disability wise? Drama and comedy. We go back in January aiming to present some ideas.<br />
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Come December and I hosted an event for <a href="https://www.purplespace.org/about" target="_blank">Purple Space</a> for the launch of their Purple Stories guide, on how to tell your story. The event was packed which is a testament to <a href="https://twitter.com/KateNashOBE" target="_blank">Kate Nash</a> and her success in bringing people to together and ongoing development of staff networks.<br />
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The podcasts come thick and fast. BBC Ouch every month of course and I'm now on their <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/profiles" target="_blank">team page</a> which is kinda cool. It was also a technological nightmare to do (thanks for perservering <a href="https://twitter.com/ThatBethRose" target="_blank">Beth</a>). Plus there's the shooting from the hip, post expert, post truth, unscripted mutterings of me and good friend<a href="https://twitter.com/1bullstag" target="_blank"> Phil Friend</a>. One listener said the show should be re-titled Grumpy Old Men do Disability, fair point. <br />
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Links below and a pic of me getting ready for 'purple talk'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Joqnl9Q_Zdx-CyGmdl_C6OlzcNt-0LNPobjiynPyjjpVtMVe69AWt4rm9hUmyBrvNheeXWLM9SdrTaFvwgtta2LWfShGnXozbdlH-wrRrc49LGuN346W5wUaAszXMW5LlAp8ZlMB7M/s1600/fullsizeoutput_8f9f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simon, sitting down, is wearing a back suit and purple shirt. His left hand is cupped as to mime talking. " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Joqnl9Q_Zdx-CyGmdl_C6OlzcNt-0LNPobjiynPyjjpVtMVe69AWt4rm9hUmyBrvNheeXWLM9SdrTaFvwgtta2LWfShGnXozbdlH-wrRrc49LGuN346W5wUaAszXMW5LlAp8ZlMB7M/s400/fullsizeoutput_8f9f.jpeg" title="Simon Minty at Purple Space event " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Minty at Purple Space event 8th Dec 2016</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04f51ht" target="_blank">BBC Ouch </a> Sisters Together for Ever<br />
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This disability talk show was all about siblings of someone with a disability. What's is it like for the one without?<br />
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<a href="https://audioboom.com/users/4693820/posts.rss" target="_blank">Phil & Simon Show</a> Everybody Knows<br />
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Phil and Simon, good friends, differing politics, a shared commitment to disability equality discuss Trump, Brexit, British judiciary, genetic screening and using a disability to cover up a character trait you don't want. There's a discussion of the already missed Leonard Cohen's lyrics.<br />
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<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-41249451976803250412016-09-22T18:08:00.001+01:002016-09-23T16:20:04.847+01:00Hip Hip Away.... On 18th July 2016, I had a total hip replacement operation. I had been avoiding surgery for ten years mostly as I knew anaesthetic for people with my form of dwarfism (SEDc) can have complications. I was lucky to find a fantastic surgeon, a top notch anaesthetist and awesome orthopaedic surgical care practitioner. That was nine weeks ago... I now have better mobility and the original pain has gone. It gets better each day.<br />
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During my rehabilitation I stopped working, however, I did record a couple of podcasts. Forgive my crowing but both shows are a treat! Maybe that's because I was the nice side of the operation and therefore euphoric....or maybe it's the medication. What happens is all sorts of half formed thoughts fly from my mouth and the lovely people I do the shows with work their magic. I hope you enjoy them.<br />
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<b>BBC Ouch (59 mins) </b><br />
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Highlights...<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- losing it with 'I live in a bucket' news story </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- when the little voice in your head is Louis Walsh</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- that some wear a badge to say they need help whilst others (like </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">me) are offered help all the time</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p047blj4" target="_blank">BBC Ouch show link</a> (opens in a new window) </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QcRhATstyDbWzhqZm3PCoBowt9hWmpvNv7FlVFsuKaV2lmsJZPjkgSSuPwePDj7Egs4zaSMUTiNdjwLyFIHSwHj8Qrc-lyBTb3xjj69HpqYk3VJQ_aHNvZQqsxgcM_M5SMHEb7UDG5w/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-22+at+17.33.14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="BBC Ouch Disability Talk logo" border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QcRhATstyDbWzhqZm3PCoBowt9hWmpvNv7FlVFsuKaV2lmsJZPjkgSSuPwePDj7Egs4zaSMUTiNdjwLyFIHSwHj8Qrc-lyBTb3xjj69HpqYk3VJQ_aHNvZQqsxgcM_M5SMHEb7UDG5w/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-09-22+at+17.33.14.png" title="BBC Ouch Disability Talk logo" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBC Ouch Disability Talk logo</td></tr>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Phil & Simon Show no. 5 (41 mins) </b></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Highlights...</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- Olympics and the Daily Mail</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- my surgery and recovery </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- Asda (supermarket) new toilet signage</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- a dodgy joke at the end...it's not the BBC you see </span><br />
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/phil-simon-show/id1116192842?mt=2" target="_blank">Phil and Simon Show link</a> (opens in a new window)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8KoCk75cvdNlXcfcANwCw8-ubDOWoPwRChMw9kJ24i-_JT3SW0o9tdIROo_9ZZkfVyZoiC_lfwjIOyLxxBfnnS1K8gixapP4E1JZcq4NbKfzRPo4OzPiH8v4KkZjyCH_MLmRYe-Lyto/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-22+at+17.32.26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white x-ray of Simon's hips, showing thin thigh bones" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8KoCk75cvdNlXcfcANwCw8-ubDOWoPwRChMw9kJ24i-_JT3SW0o9tdIROo_9ZZkfVyZoiC_lfwjIOyLxxBfnnS1K8gixapP4E1JZcq4NbKfzRPo4OzPiH8v4KkZjyCH_MLmRYe-Lyto/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-09-22+at+17.32.26.png" title="X-ray of Simon's hips. Sorry, you can't un-see this!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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X-ray of Simon's hips. Sorry, you can't un-see this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6iKWD1YuL3XBpPc-6lfAjH9FnTsbsGZHMi3l3tDlh-UBt4NAHyngEa5iDsPUtbFArteuTUlRPuovmYbvVQjMRhdkEZMz7IzJ_w44GZQ9AXwxR9YqH3SF6NJvKU_BSp41M0lKDdMbj_g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-22+at+17.30.27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simon is on the left, Phil on the right and a microphone is on the table in between them" border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6iKWD1YuL3XBpPc-6lfAjH9FnTsbsGZHMi3l3tDlh-UBt4NAHyngEa5iDsPUtbFArteuTUlRPuovmYbvVQjMRhdkEZMz7IzJ_w44GZQ9AXwxR9YqH3SF6NJvKU_BSp41M0lKDdMbj_g/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-09-22+at+17.30.27.png" title="Phil and Simon" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil and Simon</td></tr>
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If you've read this far, thank you. As well as the euphoria of being alive post op, I've also been a bit melancholy which I guess is natural. One way I 'enjoy' the downside is to listen to sappy music. I'm old enough to remember this when it came out and I still think it is a belter of a song. Surely we all can relate to the lyrics, about someone you once loved. So here it is, <b>Air Supply's All Out of Love</b>. Turn it up loud!<br />
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-82027970796411186942016-07-14T18:20:00.001+01:002016-07-14T18:26:56.392+01:00The Winner Takes It All... Phil & Simon Show no. 4The latest Phil and Simon Show is out.<br />
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We chat about post-Brexit UK, music to listen to when you're having an MRI scan, Chilcot and the Iraq Inquiry, accessible motor homes, Aspergers, the disabled employment gap, our next Prime Minister and hip surgery. In about 35 mins. We have no boundaries. </div>
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Hope you like it and thank you for listening.<br />
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<a href="https://audioboom.com/boos/4814492-the-phil-and-simon-show-no-4?t=0" target="_blank">Audioboom link</a></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-phil-and-simon-show-no-4/id1116192842?i=1000372435263&mt=2" target="_blank">iTunes link</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwprR4BfrIHjd78jDHRCtfMi26lA4Bwti1dklfz1pipjovicAFJTtj9QrHR8nF7seNA0rave5ApOZOxUk_bUa79bZzywSiHM29yNCTn6JlZiGLbgcHWc8GvkQfVM_zwjUNRS0LySX-RtY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-14+at+18.14.37.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pic of the four band members from ABBA in seventies glitter clothing" border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwprR4BfrIHjd78jDHRCtfMi26lA4Bwti1dklfz1pipjovicAFJTtj9QrHR8nF7seNA0rave5ApOZOxUk_bUa79bZzywSiHM29yNCTn6JlZiGLbgcHWc8GvkQfVM_zwjUNRS0LySX-RtY/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-07-14+at+18.14.37.png" title="Swedish sensations, ABBA " width="400" /></a></div>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-79032529843296445422016-07-08T12:01:00.002+01:002016-07-08T12:01:20.084+01:00BBC Ouch talkshow July 16<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
The latest <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=310719525611571" href="https://www.facebook.com/Ouch.BBC/" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">BBC Ouch</a> show is out. It's about comedy, mental health, pony tales, doing activities that your impairment suggests you shouldn't and me and <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=502838297" href="https://www.facebook.com/kate.monaghan" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Kate Monaghan-Cocker</a> making quips. </div>
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Mighty fine guest include <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=592572672" href="https://www.facebook.com/LaurenceClarkComic" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Laurence Clark</a> <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=937695452940719" href="https://www.facebook.com/harrietdyercomedy/" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Harriet Dyer</a> and <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100005676193852" href="https://www.facebook.com/jack.binstead.33" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Jack Binstead</a> who are fun and funny . Hope you like it.</div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p040388d">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p040388d</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-e5L8t-gWGQsD_BqEE30VBc5Zt79x-8C7ZDmn1B0YNnAG78hbMIBYo8vnmwaisf2Yx3Y1UlnYsPFC-DR6MzmNVDLGLELdYKhIG4hBIAKs6Z4RSRWUII5otm_pr6nuFHhrFNZwXxDcGQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-08+at+11.57.47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="BBC Ouch show in the studio L-R Laurence Clark, Kate Monaghan-Cocker, Jack Binstead, Harriet Dyer" border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-e5L8t-gWGQsD_BqEE30VBc5Zt79x-8C7ZDmn1B0YNnAG78hbMIBYo8vnmwaisf2Yx3Y1UlnYsPFC-DR6MzmNVDLGLELdYKhIG4hBIAKs6Z4RSRWUII5otm_pr6nuFHhrFNZwXxDcGQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-07-08+at+11.57.47.png" title="BBC Ouch show L-R Laurence Clark, Kate Monaghan-Cocker, Jack Binstead, Harriet Dyer" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the studio BBC Ouch show L-R Laurence Clark, Kate Monaghan-Cocker, Jack Binstead, Harriet Dyer</td></tr>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-79740162034998855032016-07-01T15:45:00.001+01:002016-07-01T15:46:48.463+01:00Disability and the World!Recently had a good conversation with <a href="http://www.businessdisabilityinternational.org/" target="_blank">Business Disability International</a> about disability and business around the world. Enjoyed remembering some amazing and some tough trips. Hope you enjoy it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.businessdisabilityinternational.org/in-conversation-with-simon-mintyconsultant-commentator-and-comedian-on-all-things-disability/">http://www.businessdisabilityinternational.org/in-conversation-with-simon-mintyconsultant-commentator-and-comedian-on-all-things-disability/</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVZjEVieKtfs2varkay3lBY6C-TTlH7UG0L_l-WB67Xy8fsbXb9KsDSwtswSLO5VScik0UrINPyym-EI7AK3Gp2XCXQyiNAG_8J-c8Dho6QufAxj8Ob-FbtkbyxDzKN7bLIhdwAyBe4A/s1600/DSC00696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simon sits opposite an Egyptian man in a coffee shop with the pyramids in the background." border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVZjEVieKtfs2varkay3lBY6C-TTlH7UG0L_l-WB67Xy8fsbXb9KsDSwtswSLO5VScik0UrINPyym-EI7AK3Gp2XCXQyiNAG_8J-c8Dho6QufAxj8Ob-FbtkbyxDzKN7bLIhdwAyBe4A/s400/DSC00696.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another day at the office...</td></tr>
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<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-91492188824722278542016-06-25T16:02:00.002+01:002016-06-25T16:02:39.827+01:00The new Phil and Simon Show The third Phil and Simon Show is out now - and it's a corker. We chat about going to the Epsom Derby on an open top bus, the EU referendum, people with dementia and mythical creatures. It's fun, it's fast coming in at 32 mins.<br />
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Click on a link below to listen and I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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<a href="https://audioboom.com/boos/4720239-phil-simon-podcast-no-3-june-2016?t=0" target="_blank">Audioboom</a><br />
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/phil-simon-podcast-no-3-june/id1116192842?i=1000370998161&mt=2" target="_blank">iTunes - show date 19th June 2016</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_mhufkZ0V30mfym6mqlkBCfu471PyY76esQyMI4AF6_NRCiCpr5z9xcdUJi36prL_NHiB0LBC-MNliMMSXq0AYsshpzAhpbCpTfNCQYW5_0Z4C16u72m8pLcpGsiJahU2oTaWheacyY/s1600/DSC00066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A cream and red, double decker bus parked near the race course in Epsom" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_mhufkZ0V30mfym6mqlkBCfu471PyY76esQyMI4AF6_NRCiCpr5z9xcdUJi36prL_NHiB0LBC-MNliMMSXq0AYsshpzAhpbCpTfNCQYW5_0Z4C16u72m8pLcpGsiJahU2oTaWheacyY/s400/DSC00066.jpg" title="Open top bus at the Epsom Derby" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open top bus at the 2016 Epsom Derby</td></tr>
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<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-16956159445909982282016-06-06T17:04:00.003+01:002016-06-06T17:04:18.824+01:00I love a bit of shock-value... <br />
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The latest BBC Ouch show is out!</div>
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It sees the return of the brilliant and un-PC game, Vegetable, Vegetable, Vegetable where co-host Kate Monaghan-Coker, <a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="13184202" href="https://twitter.com/katiekatetweets" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px; unicode-bidi: embed;">@katiekatetweets</span> </a>our guests and I try and guess the callers 'disability' against the clock. </div>
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We interview BAFTA nominated actor Ruth Madeley <a href="https://twitter.com/ruth_madeley">@ruth_madeley</a> from the brilliant BBC television drama <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063f57q">Don’t Take My Baby</a> and classical pianist Nicolas McCarthy <a href="https://twitter.com/NMcCarthyPiano"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">@</span><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none !important;">NMcCarthyPiano</span></a> who has one hand and plays us a tune or two on the grand piano (again, brilliantly) in the studio. Ruth and Nicholas tell us of their made up responses whe<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">n someone asks 'how did you become disabled?' The team from Stay Up Late <a href="https://twitter.com/StayUpLateUK">@stayuplateuk</a> call in and tell us about their gig buddy project. </span></div>
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You can download, stream or subscribe via iTunes. </div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03x65nb">BBC Ouch site</a></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/i-love-a-bit-of-shock-value/id137157388?i=1000369978802&mt=2">BBC Ouch iTunes</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh347KZOCjVvLaohGDvQXcCayzRxqrFcNUcvXBMCMXPjYnmcM10sOhbPz7TOpB5sya0WTeBo_hcTfU4S1m19vJwUPzleliHmP7AtRoZlLs5XkhnHVDnIf-QtDYZKYMJhz8ZNtYASUNxBak/s1600/IMG_3048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Host Kate watches on as Nichols plays piano in the studio" border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh347KZOCjVvLaohGDvQXcCayzRxqrFcNUcvXBMCMXPjYnmcM10sOhbPz7TOpB5sya0WTeBo_hcTfU4S1m19vJwUPzleliHmP7AtRoZlLs5XkhnHVDnIf-QtDYZKYMJhz8ZNtYASUNxBak/s640/IMG_3048.jpg" title="Kate watches Nicholas play piano" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Host Kate watches on as Nichols plays piano in the studio</td></tr>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-83715907163689327702016-05-26T17:01:00.003+01:002016-05-27T12:47:21.325+01:00Phil & Simon Show - a new podcastIt seemed inevitable that one day there would be a podcast of Phil Friend and me chatting about all things disability. Phil and I have been having such conversations for nearly twenty years, until now, unrecorded, whilst working, travelling or just hanging out together.<br />
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We have different backgrounds, we are different generations, have divergent politics and different comfort zones. We both share a commitment and passion for equality, fairness and inclusion of disabled people and have spent many years working to achieve it or at least some progress. <br />
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The great thing about our discussions are that we know one another so well and respect each other so don't have to pull any punches now. Sometimes we're considered, sometimes we shoot from the hip. We can make each other laugh and still, after all this time, make the others jaw drop with a single comment.<br />
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There's two shows out already. We'll continue to make a show each month until we run out of things to say. Which means they're going to keep coming for quite a while...or we will invite some guests on the show.<br />
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You can subscribe, follow, get in touch etc with via the various links below.<br />
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/phil-simon-show/id1116192842?mt=2" target="_blank">iTunes Phil & Simon Show</a><br />
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<a href="https://audioboom.com/PhilandSimonShow">audioBoom Phil & Simon Show</a><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/PhilSimonShow">Twitter Phil & Simon Show</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/philandsimonshow/">Facebook Phil & Simon Show</a><br />
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Email: <a href="mailto:philandsimonshow@gmail.com">philandsimonshow@gmail.com</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC76fj7vznn4OyaLlG9DA2ZSqU8vVvXc3Ef5BuSYW1QBe9EL6HmAokEU7xY-gEs2dmW9jwbcyiBRzQx1xY5QD-qL4l7G43nmIHP7oEQM6haeuLFQwIS8TMnxac8FFNW780DflYcIlxuI8/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simon Minty sitting behind a microphone" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC76fj7vznn4OyaLlG9DA2ZSqU8vVvXc3Ef5BuSYW1QBe9EL6HmAokEU7xY-gEs2dmW9jwbcyiBRzQx1xY5QD-qL4l7G43nmIHP7oEQM6haeuLFQwIS8TMnxac8FFNW780DflYcIlxuI8/s400/IMG_2888.JPG" title="Simon" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGSd3Cn5M4LhyphenhyphengRsQL27Yl0AfCutnKU1z8BXRvC8Q5E5JYNbXosy-vCmuWl8ayMXzximoE1UGLoxJD_BO5JJx2GqDhMz-N-S1XoJLfg0dPJuizq-nXLXjtLAHcyfGCrTLoqq3n87tClE/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simon and Phil sitting either side of a microphone " border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGSd3Cn5M4LhyphenhyphengRsQL27Yl0AfCutnKU1z8BXRvC8Q5E5JYNbXosy-vCmuWl8ayMXzximoE1UGLoxJD_BO5JJx2GqDhMz-N-S1XoJLfg0dPJuizq-nXLXjtLAHcyfGCrTLoqq3n87tClE/s400/IMG_2926.JPG" title="Simon and Phil at the microphone " width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhJviT6YzkwNprCP4U_5oW6w-qlohAlGA0KoK8-xtQ3wX5k59oGZ3VKNe3m1ZsAXDNJiTd-0pRf_WHH9oyEbqqRtM4K8sMXWM5AF_QcfXTY_-Ef9lEWZ5G_NfZjBi2Kw7-YF0b-y6Ou0/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Phil sitting behind a microphone" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhJviT6YzkwNprCP4U_5oW6w-qlohAlGA0KoK8-xtQ3wX5k59oGZ3VKNe3m1ZsAXDNJiTd-0pRf_WHH9oyEbqqRtM4K8sMXWM5AF_QcfXTY_-Ef9lEWZ5G_NfZjBi2Kw7-YF0b-y6Ou0/s400/IMG_2881.JPG" title="Phil" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-53412521825369680382016-05-08T13:31:00.002+01:002016-05-08T13:31:52.744+01:00Masterchef is over, here comes Ouch Talkshow<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Masterchef might be over but <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=310719525611571" href="https://www.facebook.com/Ouch.BBC/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">BBC Ouch</a> keeps things simmering nicely. It's a noisy, fun show packed with chef tips, buying the best ingredients and smart work arounds if you want to cook but have a disability. Guests are amateur chefs Flash Bristol (holding the eggs), Ian Macrae (intimidatingly with a knife) and professional chef Ronnie Murray (less alarmingly with a pepper mill). Bon appetite!</div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03t9t57" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03t9t57</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5gTyIDo8YpKJbTZ93rkX7KLVv-mV_HSTPOHby5UEGN_f4mYkNv0AkQ0qNMbKjK7o05VtYjFcVUZl-DJUoarcYfD_x5A7D1uiXu_eWKkoNyL-nPbqw8q9d7ZaKG60xbkRZC52BF-W5sQ/s1600/IMG_2934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Ouch talkshow guests are grouped together In the studio, back row, L-R Kate Monaghan, Ronnie Murray, Ian Macrae, front row Simon Minty, Flash Bristow." border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5gTyIDo8YpKJbTZ93rkX7KLVv-mV_HSTPOHby5UEGN_f4mYkNv0AkQ0qNMbKjK7o05VtYjFcVUZl-DJUoarcYfD_x5A7D1uiXu_eWKkoNyL-nPbqw8q9d7ZaKG60xbkRZC52BF-W5sQ/s400/IMG_2934.jpg" title="Ouch Talkshow guests and hosts" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the studio, back wrow, L-R Kate Monaghan, Ronnie Murray, Ian Macrae,<br />front row Simon Minty, Flash Bristow.</td></tr>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-14267906409158125352016-04-09T12:11:00.001+01:002016-04-09T12:36:10.721+01:00You're so special we made this podcast for you.... BBC Ouch's talkshow 10th birthday<span style="font-family: inherit;">We recently celebrated the tenth birthday of BBC Ouch's podcast! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The original King and Queen of the show, <a href="http://www.lizcarr.co.uk/Liz_Carr/front_page.html" target="_blank">Liz Carr </a>and <a href="http://matfraser.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mat Fraser</a>, were reunited to reminisce about the early days and then update us on what they've been up to since leaving - BBC1 Silent Witness and US American Horror Story anyone? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We pose the question, 'Who is the best disabled character on TV?' to former BBC Exec <a href="https://twitter.com/tanyamotie?lang=en-gb" target="_blank">Tanya Motie</a> media professional <a href="http://davidhevey.com/" target="_blank">David Hevey</a> and US commentator <a href="https://twitter.com/LCarterLong?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Lawrence Carter-Long </a> There's an inappropriate guessing game and we discuss why podcasts are often <i>the</i> authentic voice with podmesiter <span style="color: #1f497d;">Helen Zalzman </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two pics below, one of us in the studio and one of me in #doubledenim which my co-host Kate Monaghan-Cocker took just because I was in denim. I hope to follow Liz's career path and bag myself a detective role on Death in Paradise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stream or download</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03pqcjf" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03pqcjf </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Subscribe via iTunes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/10th-anniversary-show/id137157388?i=366010014&mt=2" target="_blank">https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/10th-anniversary-show/id137157388?i=366010014&mt=2</a></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYLfcZhLKTe9Wz55LRPesdfFCtEPDR25XmajC75BnVYbfDZy6lIPOoCTA5B4YIEy-9kWn_PLydtj6jravPIxKq2E4eLCNuLqBAiHxQaYBMEkh7ieybxB4BggkULvcOeSiuATCLmmnvLM/s1600/IMG_2846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="L-R Kate Monaghan-Cocker, Simon Minty, Tanya Motie and David Hevey" border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYLfcZhLKTe9Wz55LRPesdfFCtEPDR25XmajC75BnVYbfDZy6lIPOoCTA5B4YIEy-9kWn_PLydtj6jravPIxKq2E4eLCNuLqBAiHxQaYBMEkh7ieybxB4BggkULvcOeSiuATCLmmnvLM/s400/IMG_2846.jpg" title="Photo of hosts and guests in the studio with hats on blowing party streamers and with a cake." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R Kate Monaghan-Cocker, Simon Minty, Tanya Motie and David Hevey</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG_xUWrWNOghl4UDYo0oWMVq89qcyidkVHiyV-1sVAStJtDTb5DOR4aXsEGM3Qrs3PYI6qW071w2SsTjF9WBfmaUIBeLqbfTYluBtSaIaUvhNUlqxW8Gx8q36AjTYA6gAOcfFAlBYy40/s1600/Simon+double+denim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simon Minty in a dark blue demin shirt and lighter blue denim jeans, smiling and looking a bit sheepish." border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG_xUWrWNOghl4UDYo0oWMVq89qcyidkVHiyV-1sVAStJtDTb5DOR4aXsEGM3Qrs3PYI6qW071w2SsTjF9WBfmaUIBeLqbfTYluBtSaIaUvhNUlqxW8Gx8q36AjTYA6gAOcfFAlBYy40/s400/Simon+double+denim.jpg" title="Simon Minty in a dark blue demin shirt and lighter blue denim jeans, smiling and looking a bit sheepish." width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Minty in double denim</td></tr>
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<br />Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050322599688627954.post-77822660181245218792016-04-03T14:27:00.001+01:002016-04-03T14:45:22.184+01:00Job vacancies at the BBC and Channel 4 request for talentNot entirely sure how this is happening but I find myself acting as a conduit a lot these days. It might be arranging the line up for comedians with Abnormally Funny People, or getting actors who have disabilities to help make a training video and now, it seems I'm becoming a recruitment agency.<br />
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Below are some cracking jobs with the BBC, all in the comedy department. At the time of writing the deadlines for two are tight, today and tomorrow. Or you could apply for the bigger role of commissioning editor of comedy and have a little more time and hopefully become a big cheese in the funny world. Good luck if you go for any of them.<br />
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P.S. I've also added a request from Channel 4, via Disability Rights UK who are looking for people to help promote their Paralympics coverage. Info at the bottom of this and deadline is midnight on 7th April.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeBlfm1vDzBVnCYFBYhVxKEwc7CnELJ7kabTMbZNswh0e2n2RNQQg09irEuI84BREU9amo_AqQY0WpnbAh9Z2PBhiJRBEJgR7_wJKmbGgClg710vxYBlNZUWY9mQOEsssdjeaxgooy2w/s1600/DSCF5989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rehearsals for Abnormally Funny People Edinburgh show with Laurence Clark, Gareth Berliner and Don Biswas all corpsing" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeBlfm1vDzBVnCYFBYhVxKEwc7CnELJ7kabTMbZNswh0e2n2RNQQg09irEuI84BREU9amo_AqQY0WpnbAh9Z2PBhiJRBEJgR7_wJKmbGgClg710vxYBlNZUWY9mQOEsssdjeaxgooy2w/s400/DSCF5989.jpg" title="Rehearsals for Abnormally Funny People Edinburgh show with Laurence Clark, Gareth Berliner and Don Biswas" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsals for Abnormally Funny People Edinburgh show with Laurence Clark, Gareth Berliner and Don Biswas</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Commissioning Editor, Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Base: London<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grade: 11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Contract: Continuing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">More information and applications:
<a href="https://careershub.bbc.co.uk/members/modules/job/detail.php?record=15894">https://careershub.bbc.co.uk/members/modules/job/detail.php?record=15894</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Closing date for applications:
<span style="color: red;">15<sup>th</sup> April 2016<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Open to both internal and external applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Assistant Producer, Scripted Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Base: BBC Grafton House, London<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grade: 7
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Contract: 9 month FTC / Attachment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Job description and applications:
</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/Assistant-Producer-Scripted-Comedy/15475">http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/Assistant-Producer-Scripted-Comedy/15475</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Closing date for applications:
<span style="color: red;">4<sup>th</sup> April 2016</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Open to both internal and external applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Social Media Executive, BBC Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Base: BBC Grafton House, London<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grade: 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Contract: 9 month FTC / Attachment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Job description and applications:
<a href="http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/Social-Media-Executive/15837">http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/Social-Media-Executive/15837</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Closing date for applications:
<span style="color: red;">3<sup>rd</sup> April 2016</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Open to both internal and external applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG23Q6SXw82tBt7S9Iw0LtrpZ-B8WnorEo88eJDrh25cwwnXB83QSeobDpAA431AKgG-H2ZLY19U0p5xe0GXKWyOS_DpMI5ofw6nXSvRK04N_kS4Vf0enPlEFbSIo_1_6FAGFxB0vd_5Y/s1600/DSC01368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Close up pic of paralympian Dave Weir with his right arm raised in victory at London 2012" border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG23Q6SXw82tBt7S9Iw0LtrpZ-B8WnorEo88eJDrh25cwwnXB83QSeobDpAA431AKgG-H2ZLY19U0p5xe0GXKWyOS_DpMI5ofw6nXSvRK04N_kS4Vf0enPlEFbSIo_1_6FAGFxB0vd_5Y/s320/DSC01368.jpg" title="Dave Weir wins a race at London 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave Weir wins a race at London 2012</td></tr>
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<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">Disability Rights UK are working with Channel 4 to find participants for their Paralympics marketing campaign.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">Channel
4 are looking for a number of people with a variety of skills and a
range of impairments to be the face of the Paralympics marketing
campaign. This is a great opportunity to showcase your talents and to
demonstrate that disabled people are a diverse and interesting bunch!</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">Please apply and spread the word. We want these adverts to be representative but we can't do it without your help! </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;"><strong style="line-height: 25.56px;">Who they want: a full swing band; dancers; skateboarders; martial arts fighters; models; business people; children and families</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">Send
them a short film clip of no longer than 5 minutes, stating your name,
where you are from, and your impairment and show off your talent.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">Please send to the Producer at Blink Productions who will be doing the casting for the campaign at <a href="mailto:casting@blinkprods.com" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; line-height: 25.56px;">casting@blinkprods.com</a>along with your contact email address and phone number. Please only use the file sharing website <a href="https://crm.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=21660&qid=2027413" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; line-height: 25.56px;" target="_blank">www.wetransfer.com</a> to
share your clip and no attachments.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">Please
note your application will be received by a member of the Blink
production team and they may contact you directly. Blink Productions
will process your personal data in accordance with their privacy
policyand terms and conditions <a href="https://crm.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=21661&qid=2027413" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; line-height: 25.56px;" target="_blank">please click here to view</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">The closing date for applications is midnight on the 7<sup style="line-height: 21.3px;">th</sup> <span __postbox-detected-content="__postbox-detected-date" class="__postbox-detected-content __postbox-detected-date" style="display: inline; font-size: inherit; padding: 0pt;">April</span> and if your application is progressed to the next stage you will be contacted by 15<sup style="line-height: 21.3px;">th</sup> <span __postbox-detected-content="__postbox-detected-date" class="__postbox-detected-content __postbox-detected-date" style="display: inline; font-size: inherit; padding: 0pt;"><span __postbox-detected-content="__postbox-detected-date" class="__postbox-detected-content __postbox-detected-date" style="display: inline; font-size: inherit; padding: 0pt;">April</span> 2016.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.56px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.56px;">If you are under 18 and would like to apply then your parent or guardian will need to do this on your behalf.</span></span></div>
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Smintyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230952591764201974noreply@blogger.com