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“Anybody there?” – Teaching online as a blind academic
Draining, challenging and inaccessible. That is my honest summary even after a year of practice and experience when it comes to online teaching. I am aware that there is much debate within the academy about the pedagogic benefits or downsides of teaching online. I don’t want to get into this debate; rather I want to point out what it was and is like for me: a blind academic.
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There is more to me than my guide dog
This post is about being overlooked at conference as everyone only focusses on my guide dog.
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When the world is tilting, put on sunglasses
A glims into an often hidden part of sight loss: eye pain and eye headaches; and what it is like working with them.
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South Africa – an unexpected hiking adventure
During an unexpected hiking adventure during a research trip, my sighted guide and I were put to the test. It raises the question of independence versus interdependence and trust and teamwork.
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A think tank on chronic pain
From the 19th to 21st February, researchers from South Africa, Zambia and the UK met in a lovely little conference centre outside of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Why? To discuss chronic pain. Researchers came from across the medical field including physiotherapists, psychologists, GPs and neurologists. They were joined by some social science researchers. As most of […]
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Call for Audience Testers
Project Synopsis In Accessible Lives, you’ll enter a virtual gallery showcasing 100 years of assistive technology and the real stories of people who use it. You’ll meet interactive avatars, examine 3D models of cutting-edge devices, and explore archive footage of assistive innovations through the decades. There are three pathways through Accessible Lives: “Sight”, “Movement”, and […]
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Ableism – it’s not a myth part 1 – even my kids are ableist
Ableism is something many people outside of the disability community or those not close to it have never even heard of. Yet, it’s something we live with every day. It is everywhere and even my own children come home with it.
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Do you see the irony? Inclusion and Inclusion Sessions at Conferences
Inclusion sessions at management conferences are often anything but inclusive, ironic isn’t it? This post talks about some of the experiences I had as well as how to do a better job.
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Becoming visible
Today is the International Day for the Rights of People with Disabilities (IDPWD). This year’s theme is “Not all disabilities are visible”. What does this mean? Well, in a narrower sense, it means that I will join the international disability pride and awareness movement by wearing purple #purpleLightUp. Even my guide dog has a little […]
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Livestreaming the China Dream: Grassroots Micro-influencers in China
This post was written by Dr. Yingqin Zheng, you can find her profile here On 20 April 2020, President Xi JinPing stood in front of a livestreaming set in the Jinmi village in Shaanxi province where villagers promote online their local speciality, cloud ear fungus. He said new industrial development in e-commerce has great potential […]
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Images & Words workshop in Havana, Cuba
This post was written by Dr. James Kent and Professor Hannah Thompson In December 2019, Prof Hannah Thompson and Dr James Kent led a GCRF-funded photography and creative audio-description workshop at the Espacio Altamira in Havana, Cuba. The workshop was the latest in a series of events that forms part an ongoing project which has […]
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“The dog cannot go on board” – challenges when flying with a guide dog
I travel a lot for work and often take my guide dog. While everything goes smoothly most of the times, I wanted to highlight some of those times where it didn’t
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India #2: The power of changemakers for disability
This is my second blog post on my 8-day research journey to New Delhi, India. The first one was more on the experience of travelling in India with a visual disability, this one is more about the research I did there and the people I met. This trip was quite different form my journey to […]
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India #1: a sensory travel experience
In this post, I talk about my experience of travelling to and around Delhi (India). It also features a mini-travelog of my accessible half-day tour of Delhi with Planet Abled
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An exploratory trip to Uganda – bananas and incredible insights from incredible people
My first research trip to Uganda.
Disability Research Diary 