Disability Horizons

Home Care or a Nursing Facility After Locked-In Syndrome: How US Families Can Decide

Duncan Edwards — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:26 +0000

Choosing between home care and a nursing or rehabilitation facility after locked-in syndrome depends on the person’s wishes, clinical needs, accessible housing, available care hours and funding. This guide compares US care settings, home care costs, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, communication support, home adaptations and practical questions families can ask during discharge planning.

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Consequences of an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury – Legal and Personal

Duncan Edwards — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:58:39 +0000

An incomplete spinal cord injury means some movement, sensation or both remain below the level of injury, but the term can cover a wide range of experiences. This guide explains ASIA B, C and D classifications, neuropathic pain, bladder and bowel changes, mobility, fatigue, rehabilitation and recovery. It also looks at long-term costs and why an ASIA grade alone may not show a person's everyday support needs or the full impact considered in a spinal cord injury legal claim.

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The Privilege of Caring: Why Good Support for People With Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities Needs Supported Staff

Duncan Edwards — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:00:10 +0000

What helps support workers provide attentive, respectful care for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities? Joanna Grace reflects on autonomy, communication and the working conditions behind good support, asking how training, time, staffing and workplace culture can help people receive the care and respect they have a right to expect.

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10 myths about recovering from surgery at home

Duncan Edwards — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:46:07 +0000

Recovering from surgery at home can involve more than rest and wound care, particularly for disabled people and those managing long-term conditions. We examine 10 common myths about home recovery, including pain, movement, blood clots, personal assistance, temporary disability equipment, existing home adaptations and mental wellbeing after surgery.

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Comping for Disabled People: Can Entering Competitions Be a Flexible Hobby?

Duncan Edwards — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:19:19 +0000

Comping means regularly entering competitions, giveaways and prize draws in the hope of winning anything from shopping vouchers to technology and holidays. For some disabled people, it can be a flexible hobby that fits around changing energy levels and access needs. However, inaccessible websites, CAPTCHAs, complicated social media entry rules and scams can create barriers. We look at how comping works, what experienced compers do, accessibility issues to consider and how to get started without treating prize wins as a dependable income.

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JOHKES: Making Music as a Disabled Rapper After ICU

Duncan Edwards — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:34:14 +0000

UK rapper and wheelchair user JOHKES discusses his new album, Peace I Can't Wake To, and returning to songwriting after his 2023 road traffic accident and coma. He talks about writing music from a hospital bed, changing ideas about independence, inaccessible recording studios and music venues, the extra costs disabled artists can face, and writing about family, guilt, forgiveness and humour. JOHKES also explains why accessible studios, stages, toilets, parking and outdoor surfaces can determine whether disabled musicians can work and perform independently.

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Accessible by Design: How to Make Sure the Website You Build Actually Works for Disabled Visitors

Duncan Edwards — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:06:36 +0000

Website accessibility can affect whether disabled visitors are able to find information, complete forms, book services and make purchases. This guide explains common accessibility barriers involving keyboards, screen readers, alt text, colour contrast, captions and forms, as well as what WCAG 2.2 AA means in practice. It also covers how to test website builder templates, why automated accessibility checkers are not enough on their own, and why accessibility testing needs to continue after a website launches.

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Adaptive Nursing Bras for Disabled Women: 9 Features to Look For

Duncan Edwards — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:13:18 +0000

Adaptive nursing bras can reduce dressing and feeding barriers for disabled women who have reduced dexterity, limited reach, fatigue, pain or sensory needs. This guide looks at one-handed fastenings, front-opening bras, nursing clips, seated dressing, fit and sensory comfort. It also explains why mainstream nursing bras and separate bra fastening aids can sometimes be as useful as specialist adaptive products.

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7 Flexible Childcare Options for Disabled Parents in the US

Duncan Edwards — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:03:06 +0000

Disabled parents can face childcare barriers that standard comparisons rarely consider, including inaccessible journeys, fixed collection times, communication preferences, fluctuating energy and the extra coordination involved when care arrangements change. This guide compares seven childcare options for US families in 2026, covering au pairs, nannies and backup childcare services. Drawing on Clare and Duncan Edwards’ experience employing and living with nannies while organising care for their disabled son, Joe, it looks at costs, scheduling, accessibility, household privacy, recruitment, handovers and what happens when regular childcare falls through.

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Workplace Disability Discrimination: UK vs USA Rights, Barriers, Mental Health and Compensation Compared

Duncan Edwards — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:16:45 +0000

Workplace disability discrimination laws protect disabled employees in both the UK and USA, but the rights, terminology, claims processes and compensation rules differ. This guide compares the Equality Act 2010 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable adjustments and accommodations, mental health disclosure, workplace barriers, injury to feelings, emotional harm, California FEHA protections and the evidence that can support a discrimination claim.

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How Do You Manage Chronic Pain Without Surgery?

Duncan Edwards — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:50:42 +0000

Chronic pain does not automatically mean surgery. UK guidance supports several non-surgical approaches, although the right treatment depends on whether someone has chronic primary pain or pain linked to an identifiable condition. This guide covers exercise, pacing, CBT and ACT, pain management programmes, acupuncture, specialist procedures and practical daily strategies. It also explains the NHS pain pathway, when to seek further medical advice and where disabled people can find free UK pain support.

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Growing into adulthood after becoming disabled as a teenager

Duncan Edwards — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:52:05 +0000

In 2016, 13-year-old Liam Virgo suddenly lost his ability to walk and talk. He was later diagnosed with severe Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and became bedridden, unable even to tolerate sitting in a wheelchair. Ten years on, at 23, he's travelling, advocating for the FND community, and still working out what "adulthood" means when so much of his teenage years were spent in a hospital bed rather than at school with friends.

In this deeply personal piece for Disability Horizons, Liam reflects on the rocky transition from children's to adult care services, the six wheelchairs and multiple posture chairs that have marked his rehabilitation, and why he no longer believes independence means "doing everything yourself." He explains how mobility aids and a supportive community gave him back freedom and choice rather than taking them away, and how connecting with the wider disabled community helped him build a new sense of identity after feeling isolated for years.

His message to other young disabled people finding their own path into adulthood: you're allowed to take your own route, at your own pace — and needing support doesn't take away your independence.

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Best Cars for People With Mobility Issues in the UK: A 2026 Buyer’s Guide for Disabled Drivers and Passengers

Duncan Edwards — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:11:22 +0000

The best car for a disabled driver or passenger depends on the access barriers it needs to remove. This 2026 UK guide compares cars including the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Caddy Maxi and Skoda Enyaq, with practical advice on seat height, wide-opening doors, wheelchair and mobility scooter storage, driving adaptations and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. It also explains what to check on a test drive, how Motability works, and why real-world measurements matter more than boot capacity or vehicle type alone.

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London as a Wheelchair User: Accessible Travel, West End Tips + a Wicked Review

Duncan Edwards — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:47:52 +0000

What is London like as a wheelchair user? Liesl Hammer shares her first-hand experience of travelling by train and Tube, staying in an accessible West End hotel, using London taxis and seeing Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. She also looks at hotel accessibility, Access Cards, theatre access and why accepting assistance does not make travel less independent.

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Managing Several Long-Term Medications: A Practical Guide to Repeat Prescriptions, Timings and Reviews

Duncan Edwards — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:48:06 +0000

Managing several long-term medications can mean keeping track of different repeat prescription dates, dose timings, interactions, pharmacy collections and regular reviews. This practical guide explains how to synchronise repeat prescriptions, ask for reasonable adjustments, check new medicines and supplements for interactions, prepare for a Structured Medication Review and reduce prescription costs in England. It also draws on lived experience of managing medication personally and with family members, including what happens when prescriptions change, medicines run out or carers are involved.

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Can Disabled Students Pursue a Nursing Career: Everything You Need to Know

Duncan Edwards — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:07:25 +0000

Many disabled people build successful nursing careers with the right support, reasonable accommodations, and accessible learning environments. This guide explains legal rights, common challenges, nursing school adjustments, assistive technology, and practical advice for disabled students considering a career in nursing.

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How Therapeutic Playground Equipment Supports Sensory Integration

Duncan Edwards — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:38:45 +0000

Inclusive playgrounds do far more than provide opportunities for fun. They can help disabled children explore movement, touch, sound and body awareness in ways that support sensory regulation, confidence and physical development. This guide explains how different types of playground equipment relate to vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, visual and auditory sensory systems, why occupational therapists recommend particular activities, and how families can create positive playground experiences that reflect each child's unique sensory profile. It also looks at accessibility features that make playgrounds welcoming for children with different disabilities.

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Has social media turned the SEND crisis into a culture war?

Duncan Edwards — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:14:41 +0000

Social media platforms are designed to reward engagement, but that often means rewarding conflict, certainty and outrage above careful discussion. Joanna Grace explores how algorithms shape public conversations about SEND, why nuance is increasingly difficult to sustain online, and what that could mean for education policy, disabled people and the future of meaningful debate.

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Accessible Weekend Break in Newcastle upon Tyne: Travel Tips for Disabled People

Duncan Edwards — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:11:08 +0000

Planning an accessible weekend in Newcastle? This guide covers wheelchair-friendly attractions, step-free transport, accessible accommodation, restaurants, Blue Badge parking, Changing Places toilets and practical tips to help you enjoy the city with confidence.

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Travelling as a Wheelchair User: Wheeling Around the World

Duncan Edwards — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:47:26 +0000

Many people assume travelling as a wheelchair user is simply too difficult. Liesl Hammer has spent a lifetime proving otherwise. After visiting countries across Europe, Africa and Asia, flying independently and finding accessible adventures in unexpected places, she shares the experiences that shaped her love of travel, the barriers she's encountered and the practical tips that can help other wheelchair users plan their own journeys with confidence.

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Why persistent snoring should not be ignored: sleep apnoea, disability and delayed diagnosis

Duncan Edwards — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:32:38 +0000

Persistent snoring is often dismissed, but it can be an early sign of obstructive sleep apnoea. This guide explains the symptoms, why disabled people may face additional barriers to diagnosis, and how treatment can improve quality of life.

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