In British politics, there is a particular viciousness directed toward the vulnerable & a top-down penchant for equating disability with deserved poverty - Something in the English establishment psyche that needs to signal strength & sneer at and punish perceived difference, weakness or misfortune.

Me: carefully selects materials and makes clothes for whole household to avoid gimmicky consumerism. Also me: leaves the supermarket with opera themed olive oil.

Predicating welfare for #disabled or sick people upon the notion of adequate contribution is morally and functionally flawed. It assumes a kind of equality that doesn't exist, utilises ableist ideas of meritocracy and frames what should be rights and entitlements as privileges to be won.

In British politics, there is a particular viciousness directed toward the vulnerable & a top-down penchant for equating disability with deserved poverty - Something in the English establishment psyche that needs to signal strength & sneer at and punish perceived difference, weakness or misfortune.

Predicating welfare for #disabled or sick people upon the notion of adequate contribution is morally and functionally flawed. It assumes a kind of equality that doesn't exist, utilises ableist ideas of meritocracy and frames what should be rights and entitlements as privileges to be won.

We work on Jodie's drawing skill by practicing small Klimt-esque motifs like spirals and triangles. Completing a page like this increases her confidence and control over the pencil. #disability #art #spéirgorm

In our household we have multiple disabilities, sometimes the only way I can describe it is like living in a different reality to most people. Barely visible through the overton window at all. Provided it's a meaningful amount, a cost of #disability payment is long, long overdue. #spéirgorm

Ian is hosting a stand up gig on father's day for anyone whose dad is dead (or dead to you!). Everyone on the line-up has a dead dad. Father's day can feel weird when your dad's not around. This will be one room where everyone else will feel the same way. (*Caroline Gorman, not Foreman)

With Jodie already a fan, we spent the evening in chanson réaliste with Édith Piaf/Christine Bovill.

In our household we have multiple disabilities, sometimes the only way I can describe it is like living in a different reality to most people. Barely visible through the overton window at all. Provided it's a meaningful amount, a cost of #disability payment is long, long overdue. #spéirgorm

I'm Michael, a family #carer to two relatives. I post on care & #disability, esp. ID from a political, economic & cultural perspective. I left twitter in 2022 after burnout & threats, but am giving bluesky a try. It's also a little window outward from what can be an isolating role. #spéirgorm

We work on Jodie's drawing skill by practicing small Klimt-esque motifs like spirals and triangles. Completing a page like this increases her confidence and control over the pencil. #disability #art #spéirgorm

Employment doesn't 'solve' disability. At some point, government has to look beyond work and 'activation' as some kind of panacea membership card to society. #disability #spéirgorm

Note how he doesn't say giving us "housing" is the defining challenge of our time. He only wants to give us "hope". Hope that can fuel us to stoicly endure the indignities they will continue to foist upon us. He's not trying to change our lives, he's trying to change our outlook. #spéirgorm

Another challenge of our time is the absolute collective fatigue brought about by the incessant navel-gazing of this man. #Spéirgorm

Found this in a charity shop. The title slightly implies that #medieval people were some kind of prominent subculture. Expecting *very* outdated views (early 60s) but the cover is beautiful.

🚨🚨🚨 Abood is only 15 years old & suffering from intellectual disability, autism&severe recurring seizures. His condition is critical, &he urgently needs medication&treatment. Our family cannot afford the medical costs alone. Any donation or share can help save his life🤲⬇️ chuffed.org/project/1580...

So this is an example of the absolute shite that the Irish peoples party have up around galway city and county as election posters for this by election. Their candidate is AJ Cahill, who seems to be the entire party and self funded. I've reported it to both councils. 1/3

Local saint St. Brendan's feast day today, so here's an illustrated line from the Prayer Of St. Brendan The Navigator, who is said to have travelled from Kerry in Ireland to America a thousand years before Columbus made his journey. Trust in the darkness. Prints: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...

Many jobs could probably be adjusted so that those with children start comfortably after school drop-off and finish or at least, take a break around home-time. I've always thought the general lack of flexibility on this is astonishingly anti-human. #spéirgorm

Many jobs could probably be adjusted so that those with children start comfortably after school drop-off and finish or at least, take a break around home-time. I've always thought the general lack of flexibility on this is astonishingly anti-human. #spéirgorm

Personally, I think we have, and certainly have had, 'too many' people like Bertie. #Spéirgorm

For followers, I'm Michael, a family #carer to two relatives. I post on care & #disability, esp. ID from a political, economic & cultural perspective. I left twitter in 2022 after burnout & various threats, but am giving bluesky a try. It's a little window outwards from quite an isolating role.

Personally, I think we have, and certainly have had, 'too many' people like Bertie. #Spéirgorm

I would always encourage anyone caring for or working with someone with an Intellectual/learning #disability to keep trying and be patient when trying to teach or improve a skill or competency. It often takes 1 to 1 practice hours to make improvements, but it can absolutely be done. #ID

A variant of pot-au-feu, which Jodie helped to make, doing what she could, from scratch. In particular, she enjoyed reading about and choosing wine.

If we cannot build *a hospital* without contracting a company like BAM, resulting in it running billions overbudget, having over 100,000 defects & being perpetually non-functional ...then we absolutely should not be building a nuclear plant. Can't believe half of respondents want this to happen.

I wish their metric of understanding success in our economy was more elaborate than 'line goes up'. I don't think I know anyone, even relatively well-off people, who thinks or feels that everything is going well outside of whatever spreadsheet they're using. #spéirghorm

No appointments today, so a long day outside for Jodie. La vie est belle parfois 💚

A monument to a total lack of character, which those who design Dublin seem to relentlessly pursue. In Paris, you find Joan of Arc, in Dublin, you'll find 'whatever you want or whoever the flavour of the month is' for €25. It suits the gimmicky vibe of Vegas, I dont think it suits Dublin.

The U.S is simply terrifying.

Everything is too predicatable in Ireland these days. They should surprise us now and then. Imagine the shock, waking up to read that someone more qualified won out, or something wild like a new train line was successfully opened. ##spéirgorm

In so many other countries, crises force structural change. It feels like in Ireland, all we ever do is adjust the lighting. #spéirgorm

We always hear about how much this guy is/was paid, but never what actual improvements he's responsible for. It does seem like once you've achieved a publicly funded high salary, you can jump from one to another, and another, with little regard for job specifics or track record. #spéirgorm

I think an important consideration is to learn how to use technology, but not to let it be the medium, so that it always remains a tool & not a lifestyle. I have sets of relatives who were raised & schooled with and (largely) without screens respectively. The difference is substantial. #speirgorm

Ireland has Europe's highest electricity prices, yet targeted disability supports are missing. Govt says a €400 payment isn't "sustainable." We say ignoring the year-round cost of disability isn't an option. Find out more: rebrand.ly/2whhvit

Haven't seen this type of butterfly (?) before but there are a couple of them dancing around the cherry tree.

I think an important consideration is to learn how to use technology, but not to let it be the medium, so that it always remains a tool & not a lifestyle. I have sets of relatives who were raised & schooled with and (largely) without screens respectively. The difference is substantial. #speirgorm

I wouldn't say it's underlying. Government set #disability welfare below the poverty line, continually underfunds disability services, including in health & education, & does little to make spaces, transport, workplaces or a good quality of life truly accessible. That's overt #ableism. #Spéirgorm

I wouldn't say it's underlying. Government set #disability welfare below the poverty line, continually underfunds disability services, including in health & education, & does little to make spaces, transport, workplaces or a good quality of life truly accessible. That's overt #ableism. #Spéirgorm

This government, that he was happily a part of up until now, have been letting people down in terrible ways for a long time. They refused a one-off €400 payment for struggling #disabled people... which would have cost less than a quarter of the half billion they suddenly produced. #spéirgorm

The world watched as Israel razed Gaza to the ground. Now, the world is watching as Israel razes Lebanon to the ground. War crimes beget war crimes — and the failure to bring Israel to justice for genocide has emboldened it to destroy human life with total impunity.

Deliberately underfunding services for disabled people while also keeping disability welfare below the poverty threshold is a kind of pernicious, soft eugenics. People's whole lives are seriously harmed by these choices. And when half a billion euro can be conjured up, it is definitely a choice.

Ah yes, what a surprise... a special deal can be conjured up for these *particular business interests*. Meanwhile, government refused to address spikes in living costs and consistent structural poverty of #disabled people, by as little as €400. Totally normal, good governance. #spéirgorm

It's now been 3 hours since our supposed "ally" Donald Trump threatened genocide on a country of 93 million people. We've had absolutely nothing from the UK government. This doesn't come in a vacuum either - every day the US & Israel have been murdering innocent people.

France condemns efforts by countries including Saudi Arabia to delay major IPCC climate science report #climatecrisis HT @carbonbrief.org www.lemonde.fr/en/climate/a...

Erm.... Are these people ok? I don't think they're ok. Join.greenparty.org.uk

At almost every interaction with carers or people with disabilities, the state creates uncertainty, friction and unnecessary misery. I'm still waiting for news of the 'core basket of services' for carers promised in 2020.

Amnesty International say what is happening in Palestine is a genocide. The UN Special Rapporteur say it's a genocide. Countless genocide scholars say it's a genocide. How are we still doing this? And why is the BBC doing this? youtu.be/Es_wxH04bgs?...