Plan to scrap many jury trials in England and Wales despite criticism www.channel4.com/news/plan-to...

Technology is not unbiased, and it is willfully obtuse to pretend that tools to "help" disabled and neurodivergent people will in fact be weaponized against us. Already has been. It's irresponsible to pretend it is neutral and objective.

When talking about AI for accessibility surely we should also be considering the environmental impact on disabled people globally, many of whom don't have digital access? We know climate change disproportionately affects disabled people, who can't easily get evacuated and is also disabling #AxeCon

"Many of our designs are built around the idea of a normal or average user, but an average user is a fiction. No human body or mind is an average. " 1/2 @annaecook.com #axecon

Not every product needs AI, but every product needd accessibility. And important message after the previous two #AxeCon talks!

Lovely talk from @annaecook.com at #AxeCon. I wanna broadcast it across our internal design channels, or really everywhere. Repeatedly. I wish for all those great messages to percolate gently into everyone's psyche. *sigh* 👏 💙

Also so much on AI training people with autism to mask. Which I think is just horrible. Masking is draining, sure glasses that "teach" you to look at faces looks great, but it is still MASKING.

Dreaming of connecting and sharing ideas across borders? 🌍 It's your last chance to apply for up to £3,000 to support small-scale, international online partnerships led by disabled artists. Supported by @britisharts.bsky.social. ⏰ Deadline: Mon 23 Feb, midday Full details: bit.ly/45jB2Dm

Incredibly practical and useful talk from David Sabaté from TOTHOM about digital accessibility when booking tickets for the theatre, football or a gig. We journeyed with three disabled people trying access the poster on social media, to choose a seat and use the calendar - so many barriers #AxeCon

@annaecook.com your mention of affordances in your talk made me think of fantastic disability studies ethnography book called Activism Affordances by Arseli Dokumacı about how disabled people improvise more habitable worlds and it explores affordances of disability bodies. It's fascinating. #AxeCon

Technology decisions are not neutral says @annaecook.com #AxeCon. Is AI actively solving a problem or are we designing a problem that needs a soltuon? AI without consent is not personalisation, it's coercion. AI didn't end determinism, it exposed it.

When talking about AI for accessibility surely we should also be considering the environmental impact on disabled people globally, many of whom don't have digital access? We know climate change disproportionately affects disabled people, who can't easily get evacuated and is also disabling #AxeCon

Saying 'we should design AI with emotional intelligence' is like saying 'let's make the slavery kinder & gentler.' #axecon

Today in St. Paul: A house is raided by ICE agents and other law enforcement officers in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S., days after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Leah Millis

A recent quiz told me that if I were an Anglican, I would be a Matthew Fox kind of Anglican, so I am now finally reading some Fox. Have I picked the best starting point for gaining a general understanding of Fox’s theology?

Imagine losing most of your belongings in a house fire and just managing to keep a few valuables and having those confiscated to pay for fire service and rebuild. Your last few possessions. No choice. There is no insurance for having to flee your home and your country for your life.

“Yeah but I saw on the internet that if you fill out a form you get a free BMW!” I’m sure you did, babe. I also saw on the internet that I can make tens of millions from a timeshare pyramid scheme.

This thread explains why my brother @hennell.bsky.social sent a video of an orange monkey on a swing yesterday 🤣 #orangetober

Monkey found a play in the book shop that seemed appropriate!

I've been terrible at spotting orange things for @jennyrowbory.bsky.social 's #orangetober so figured I'd bring a friend out with me today!

If stuff I am in the middle of using would stop disappearing that would be greatly appreciated 😭

Friend drove me to a retail park this afternoon as heat plus ankle being so bad I am limping was not conducive to getting anywhere. Got ibuprofen gel and an ankle support, pain patches, food and toilet roll and a loose dress with pockets. Ankle support really helped, although still really sore!

Just pretend you aren't ill until you die?

How is it still 30°C at 8:30pm? And two more days of this 😬 I think I would like to not be in Bristol please! #HeatwaveUK

It's a huge indictment of our terrible UK journalists that the fact everyone's age will need verified everywhere online is coming as a surprise to people. Coverage of online "safety" legislation should always have made that clear, instead of just repeating "it's to protect kids!!"

I'm having a lot of numbness in one of my feet and not able to move my toes properly and the therapist recommended I massage my feet. It's actually very calming on, highly recommend it to anyone feeling stressed, especially if you have hot or sore feet, try putting lotion in fridge first!

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 The Government's Universal Credit Bill has passed, rushing it through in one day, without a committee stage where Disabled people's voices could have been heard. It's clear: the government views Disabled lives as nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise

This PIP and UC bill really getting to me. I showed up for my appointment in tears. Therapist was really kind, she knows how hard I am trying & she helped me calm down. Then we made some good progress around pain, mobility and balance issues. Got a bit of a limp & numbness, but feeling more positive

So this tendency to fantasize—when times change and things arent what they were—that the poorest and most vulnerable are actually some sort of malicious freeloading class is a very old one. The “able-bodied poor” is an easy way to reassert hierarchies and blame those who can’t fight back.

I've had pretty bad anxiety and teafulness since the debate about the UC and PIP bill last Tuesday until yesterday. I don't know if I can watch any of the debate today, I also have an appointment this afternoon and it's important I am as relaxed as possible for it to actually help #TakingThePIP

We're still asking MPs to vote against the disability cuts bill tomorrow. New blog explaining why is out now: wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/3-reasons-wh...

National Insurance State Pension Top Ups - did you apply for a call-back before the 6 April deadline. If so please answer this survey survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90865421/... We're hearing some issues from people and we want to test how widespread it is before going back to Govt.

People living under fascism didn’t survive by giving up joy—they protected it. They held onto the things fascism tried to erase: art, friendship, jokes, rituals, language, memory. Not as escapism but as resistance. As proof they were still human. Joy isn’t frivolous under fascism. It’s strategic.

The housing association where I live is refusing to make the front door of the building wheelchair accessible.

the fact that Rachel Reeves’ tears get more sympathy from the political class than the tears and the deaths of the disabled people she’s targeting is exactly what’s wrong with this country actually

What is happening with LCWRA? In my understanding the only change is that for existing claimants, it will be linked to inflation not frozen. Otherwise STILL 50% cut and to be linked to PIP for new claimants. The 750,000 folk affected = yet another reason to VOTE NO. #TakingThePIP

Reform would mean knowing that PIP is not an out of work benefit, which a large proportion of you clearly don’t seem to understand. Reform would mean recognising you can’t create a glove to fit all disabled people. Disability is diverse. Complex. You can’t legislate it into uniformity. 3 of 8

Could people point me in the direction of other disabled people micro-blogging the debate yesterday on BlueSky or elsewhere? #TakingThePIP

Yesterday I got a new wireless fan delivered, it worked well for a few hours and then stopped and won't charge or run since. I don't think I have ever had something stop working so quickly, really irritated.

PIP isn’t about being in or out of work — it’s about being able to live. Many disabled people rely on it to stay in work, often part-time, because of the extra hidden disability living costs, the barriers we face, and the impact of our conditions - flare-ups, burnout etc. 1/ #TakingThePIP

Take PIP away, and you push many disabled people actually OUT of work entirely. Then what? More unemployment, more poverty, less tax revenue. Ironic, eh? Disabled people are not disposable. PIP needs reform, yes — but one rooted in dignity, not cuts. #TakingThePIP 2/

Emma Lewell Labour MP in BBC News interview 'it's messing with disabled people's lives... They'll not know what the hell is going on, because quite frankly neither do MP's know what's going on' #TakingThePIP

Clip of Ian Lavery Labour MP for Blithe and Ashington on BBC news making me laugh 'This is crazy man this is outrageous man, this bill isn't fit for purpose' Hope someone samples it and turns it into a protest song. #TakingThePIP

Wisdom from my friend and her Dad "Dad just said we haven't won the war, but we have won the first battle and I think that's a good way of viewing it" #TakingThePIP This has all been a lot today, please chat to people or do whatever helps ground you and feel less abandoned. DM me if you like.

Seems they've got it through via some last minute shenanigans. Not sure if any MP now knows exactly what they've voted for, and have quite possibly been conned. What a farcical way of making law. #WelfareReformBill #TakingThePIP

Catching up on #TakingThePIP (took a break which I think was for the best, I hope everyone is ok) Have I understood correctly the bill passed, but stuff about PIP and 4 points removed / to be left up to disabled people's co-design process, but there is still a cut for new UC claimant's with LCWRA?

I am so worried ,for myself and others ,I don't know if it's me reading too much into everything ,but whilst the MP's were debating on whether we live or die,I received a text from DWP saying my PIP review has started (waiting on form) I wonder how many others have received notification oddly early

There are positives from today. The devil's in the detail, but it LOOKS like most of the teeth were pulled out of the government's bill for it to get through. And Keir Starmer's now looking like a wounded animal. A total shambles for the government #WelfareReformBill #TakingThePIP

Had to stop watching the #TakingThePIP debate about an hour ago. Wondering if any of the MPs have brought up the importance of PIP in abusive relationships? It can often be the only independent income someone gets.

I was welling up 😢 as soon as she mentioned the pandemic & what that did to us. Well done her she gave her heart body & soul into her words & spoke for all of us now & will be in future sick/disabled.