I first came across a webinar when my friends AJ and Melissa from Misfit Inc mentioned them. The concept is that you use the format of a seminar (speakers, presentations and audience participation) but over the internet. So I attended one of Misfit Inc’s webinars held for the Institute of Fundraising in the UK. After asking nicely, they agreed to train me up on how to use the webinar software, use social media to market them, display PowerPoint slides, record the whole session, add audience polls and a question and answer sessions.

My brain began buzzing. It was absolutely perfect for disseminating information around disability. I already knew the demand for inspiring, helpful and practical content from blogging. So I decided to run a series of 5 sessions around disability:

• The early years, aimed more for parents
• The teen years, for parents and disabled teenagers
• Independent Living Part 1 (housing, employment and equipment)
• Independent Living Part 2 (social care packages)
• Leisure and Travel

Between August and November 2011 I ran this series 3 times; once for my personal blog audience, once after being commissioned by disability charity Scope, and a third time for the London Borough of Hackney Council. I had 100 attendees overall and I received great feedback on my evaluation questionnaire from users and also from the organisations involved.

Despite the success of these, I am ever the perfectionist. So I set about how to improve the content, marketing and impact. I knew the content could be improved by moving away from my personal story, bringing in other people to share personal or professional experiences, and by making the experience more interactive. I knew I could improve the marketing by sharing the success of the first webinars, by explaining how simple the technology is and just from being more confident in this medium of support for disabled people. Finally the impact of this project is clear to see. If enough people sign up I have no expenses (no travel and free attendance) and gain new knowledge to improve issues around being disabled, I’d say that the project is therefore defined as awesome!

I have since planned out 6 months of webinars. They cover more specific topics such as volunteering, relationships, travel, social care, housing and so forth. You can see the dates and how to sign up on www.martynsibley.com/webinars.

The first session on volunteering had 3 guest speakers. We had a couple of technical glitches relating to the speakers’ internet speeds, but I have already found a solution if this happens again. In the video below you can see how much helpful information was disseminated to the 20 people who enjoyed the live session. You can also hear the momentary panic I had with the glitches, but how I overcame this as best as possible.

DWebinars – Volunteering from Martyn Sibley on Vimeo.

February’s webinar is on the topic of relationships; a topic many disabled people find difficult because of its taboo nature. I have great pleasure in chairing this session with guest speakers Kirsty Liddiard (who studied a PhD at Warwick university on this topic area and is presenting her findings), and Melanie Halacre (a relationship councillor specialising in disability). You can register and attend for free on my website.

Having shared a massive part of my recent work (I say work, but it is so enjoyable it doesn’t quite fit), I want to explain how this enables my ideal work-life balance. When I was employed, working in an office, expected to go in Monday – Friday, 9 – 5, I had some difficult times, especially in the winter. With my disability, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, I have no pain or fatigue, I just cannot move much at all. With my care, wheelchair, equipment and so forth I live an active life. However if I get a cold and it goes on my chest, it is rather concerning. I cannot cough much and so pneumonia becomes a likely outcome. With rest, antibiotics and warmth I fair better. Therefore you can see why self-employment, staying warm, managing my own workload and even working in hotter climates has an appeal.

With my business established, new webinars being rolled out (eventually with sponsorship to make them sustainable and free for attendees), my new e-course being launched soon and some partnership project work, I am getting where I want to be. Having a tool such as a webinar doesn’t just benefit disabled attendees, it benefits a disabled person organising, chairing and running them, i.e. me.

Everything seemed so sequential until 2 years ago. I kept my transitions in life as simple as possible, because when you are disabled nothing is easy and straight forward. To go to university and move to London you cannot imagine the hoops I had to jump through. Therefore my deeper desire to travel the world for longer periods was delayed whilst I arranged my foundations. Having mastered everyday life, and as you know travelled far and wide for the odd week; I’ve been yearning to travel somewhere for a longer period.  For me, to truly learn a language you need to immerse yourself with native speakers. To taste world foods (something I’m bad at in England) you need to dine in that country. Finally, to meet different people with different perspectives, you have to get under the skin of a place.

Do not get me wrong, I love a good holiday and always will, but I’ve been longing for more. With my recent changes in work structure and some graft, I think I have cracked this wish at last.

When I was in California I expressed this sentiment during the high of our 12 day road trip. My ex girlfriend and carer for the trip, Tina, suggested I look into the European Voluntary Service (EVS). If selected for a project with a ‘host organisation’ anywhere across the European Union (EU) you then work with a ‘sending organisation’ to apply for the funding. If successful you have your flights, accommodation, food and a small living budget to volunteer on a variety of cool social projects.

At this stage I was in full-time employment and didn’t know whether I could request unpaid leave. However, I figured to look into the scheme, look for potential ‘host projects’ and apply for some would not hurt. With my winters in the UK being so hard, the idea of somewhere hot appealed. The South of France, Portugal, Greece and Italy all could have been on my hit list. The trouble is I am a guy who knows what I want and in this case it was Spain or bust. I love the language (of which I know 10 words from one year at school and ‘la cuenta por favor’ from the Canary Islands).

I set off to the EVS projects database and began searching. Whilst the project is important, and there were many cool ones, the important aspect was access. I sent a few enquiries and either didn’t hear back or heard they could not cater for me. This was going to be a slog! I then had a breakthrough when I was put in touch with the great Chris Fisher from Leonard Cheshire’s ‘can-do’ volunteering project. He came to visit me where we discussed Spain, my needs and an action plan. A couple of weeks later he had contacted all of the Spanish agencies on my behalf. Very helpful.

So some weeks passed, some responses came in negatively and life rolled on. I don’t remember consciously giving up, but it all seemed impossible. None of the agencies grasped my needs or had the facilities to host me. It was then September when I was in New York (now self employed and concentrating on a million and one other things) that I received an email. It was from a lovely lady named Vane who remembered my query. She project manages http://europaaqui.wordpress.com/. They had recently moved to accessible premises and felt they could take me on. She recommended instead of doing 12 months, we apply for 2 months as a trial, then if all is ok I can always use my other 10 months another time.

Chris and Leonard Cheshire brought expertise on disability and were keen for the first disabled person like myself to undertake EVS. However they were not an official ‘sending organisation’. We found one in Leeds called ‘everything is possible’ – nicely named! I visited them last year to discuss everything. Next this crack team of European wide agencies and little old me embarked on a rollercoaster of a mission.

Between us we had to seek funding for my base needs as a volunteer, plus any other expenses for my disability. As I would only be away for 2 months my social care package was fine therefore my care was ok. My PA’s would need to fly to work, so they put this in the funding budget. Vane secured a free hoist, shower chair and electric bed from the Spanish Red Cross. Also her brother is disabled and has participated in EVS in Germany, so she knows it is possible and the broad requirements too. This was nice to know.

With all angles covered (care, equipment and money) we sent the application off. I heard in the first week of January this year that it was approved – over one year after I began the process. I was elated! Since, I have been constantly communicating, planning and edging closer to this becoming a reality.

Whilst I will not have any costs, I will not be earning, so I am looking to sublet my flat for the 2 months of March and April. Please share this link if you know someone who needs a nice, affordable, accessible London flat http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/323316.

I will be volunteering on a project located in Aviles, Asturias on the north coast of Spain. My main tasks will be to teach basic English classes, promote EVS to Spanish people, promote my experiences of living abroad (no probs there then) and carry out some disability awareness training to local organisations. I will also live with 4 other volunteers, learn more Spanish and grow as a person. It will not always be easy, like with anybody away from home, but that is the adventure.

My 2 PAs do longer shifts now, so they’ll fly in and out to share my rota. I’ll take my wheelchair, the equipment is ordered and the rest I’ll figure out. I am heading there on the 16^th to 19^th February for a ‘planning visit’ to check it will be ok. Then I have a training day in Leeds, before heading for 2 months on 5^th March. Exciting times.

I will have launched my employment e-course by then and obviously will not take on any consultancy projects. I will continue to run my blog, Disability Horizons and my monthly webinars – do not despair. I plan to post regular updates on my progress in Spain, sharing the ups and downs with you in true blogger fashion.

I’ll finish by saying: Do not ever let your disability, or indeed any other reason in life, stop you living the dream! I have not, am not and will not… It takes vision, research, graft and resilience, but trust me it is all worth it.

Despite these glitches, I still managed to visit my girlfriend, Claire, in beautiful Scotland.

In the video, I mentioned my new P.A. and here is Filipe and I on our adventurous Scottish walk.

In my last post I talked you through how important rest and reflection had been for me during the festive season. I definitely feel stronger for having switched off for a couple of weeks. Despite the broken wheelchair, the faulty car, the defective laptop, the change in Personal Assistants, and a lingering cold; my work thoughts have been invigorated. This post will talk you through exactly what my vision is and the plans I have to deliver it. You cool peeps had better pay attention too as you all need to play your own part in changing the world for disabled people (whether you are disabled or not).

Webinars

You may remember my tweeting about webinars last year? Since leaving my day job at Scope I ran 15 webinars for 3 separate audiences:

• My blog/social media followers (sponsored by the great creative agency Flourish and fundraising agency Future Fundraising)
• Scope’s Information, Advice and Support networks
• The London Borough of Hackney Council’s Adult Social Care Team.

They were very successful! Over 100 people attended altogether, their feedback was positive and therefore I am planning to continue running these sessions. Some of the difficulties I had included reaching enough people, explaining how simple the technology is (the word ‘webinar’ seemed to turn some people off) and knowing exactly what information was needed.

Thanks to you guys, my understanding of using webinars to disseminate information and create discussions has been improved. Therefore, in 2012 I am going to run 1 FREE session per month. Each session (covering topics such as volunteering, relationships, travel, social care, housing, employment, etc) will give you:

• useful information;
• the chance to challenge your own perceptions;
• and a platform to share your experiences.

You will hear from experts and disabled people. They know about the barriers in the way and have worked hard to overcome them. Now they are able to honestly say “disability does not mean no ability”.

To read more about the monthly webinars, click here, and to register for the next webinar on volunteering, click here.

Spaces are limited so get involved now

Disability Horizons

I am sure you have already seen www.disabilityhorizons.com, but if you haven’t then where have you been? My good friend Srin Madipalli and I felt so compelled to show the world what can be done with the right mindset and information, we started an online magazine!

Inspired by our world travel and love of adventure, we set-off to find other like-minded people who were keen to write about their amazing adventures too. Since April 2011, with minimal budget, we have:

• had a website redesign from the awesome guys at Misfit-Inc
• worked with over 50 writers and organisations
• been read in over 60 countries
• grown our readership by 40% each month
• ran meetups in New York and London
• shown the world that disabled people can, and do, kick-ass!

Please continue to support the magazine by either reading our articles, writing for us if you feel inspired and sharing the articles with your networks. Also make sure you push your limits in 2012!

Working with external organisations

Beyond working with Scope and Hackney council, I have enjoyed partnering up with many charities, councils, Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO’s), social organisations, media outlets and companies.

My priority is delivering great webinars, magazine and social media content to you. However, I am also looking forward to delivering new:

• Interesting talks at key events
• Training workshops
• Material for TV, radio, newspaper and other publications
• Projects on using social media, new media, marketing and disability awareness

If this is something that may help you and your organisation, please contact me here

The big one

I am about to launch the largest project of my life. It will give the most inspirational, comprehensive and fundamental information to you. Be sure to read my blog for the launch of this over the next couple of weeks.

Following on from my last post about the drastic changes I made in 2011 and my general hopes for 2012; it is fair to say I hit a brick wall. Many people say that when you have been pushing yourself for a long time that it can be a bad idea to stop. My body certainly has told me off and I have been suffering as a result, but this was a good thing nonetheless.

I decided from Friday 23^rd December to take a couple of weeks out. I realised every thought process I had was on evaluating my projects, trying to plan new ones and grafting through all of the tasks still to be completed. It was time to shut down and switch off. Of course being Christmas I was not able to just rest and sleep. As mum and dad are divorced we spent Christmas day with dad, step family and also saw my grandparents for grandpa’s 80^th birthday! Boxing day me and my sister were at mums and hung out with the step family on this side of the big tree. With my 2 nieces (5 years and the other 6 months old) Christmas was extra special.

On the 27^th I went with my sisters boyfriend, Justin, to watch Spurs. This was great as getting a home ticket at White Hart Lane is almost impossible. So, with Norwich nearby mums house (ish) I drove us up. Plus my step dad and brothers were in the box there too. A good lads day out. You can see some of the pitch side footage of the great view we had below. By all means get in touch if you want to know how disability tickets work at football matches.

After the football and before New Years, the exhaustion really hit me. I felt tired as soon as I was hoisted in my chair in the morning and just sat there whilst various friends popped in for tea. I hate this lack of energy but it does seem typical for me in the colder/darker winter months. By New years eve I felt a bit stronger and mum, step dad, sister, Justin and a friend called Gio came back to London with me. We headed to my favourite local part of London called Stoke Newington. We had Mexican food, cocktails and saw the New year in with random people, music and good times.

As my girlfriend Claire was coming down on the Monday and she was happy to help with my care too; the gang stayed until Claire arrived. New years day mum treated us all to theatre tickets for Shrek which was surprisingly cool. Overall it was just so nice to not think of work, to see everyone, have quality time with family and rest a bit too.

Claire arrived after her 6 hour journey and we had plans for museums, theatres, bar, restaurants, parks – the whole lot. Soon after she arrived I got a touch of flu with temperatures and all of that jazz. I think as I had my flu jab in November that kicked in and lessened the effect soon after, but man I felt rough. This again was a sign I had been overdoing it. So Claire and I stayed in, ate great food, talked loads and still managed to make the best of an unfortunate situation. She really is an amazing girl and I’m hopeful to go and see her next week in Scotland. As you read on you will see why it is in doubt.

On Friday 6^th January Claire was due to go home. She hoisted me into my wheelchair with plenty of time for me to drive her in the car to Kings Cross. Here I was to also collect my PA who was starting their shift at the same time. I turned my wheelchair on and of all unfortunate incidents it would not work. Claire did her best to ‘fix’ it but it was an electronics problem beyond us. So, I said if she could push me to the car, she could make the train and my PA and I would sort the chair later. After some struggling (my chairs bloody heavy) we made it to the car. We enlisted the help of a neighbour to secure the chair into the lockdown system. As I hit the relevant buttons the car would not start either! Time was getting tight. I double checked my PA was on route and then took the decision to send Claire for a taxi. After no cabs would stop I said she should walk to the tube and do her best for the train, otherwise she wouldn’t get back home for her work. Of all crazy situations, she had to lug big bags across London whilst I sat in my car like a lemon for an hour (still bunged up) and waited for my PA to arrive.

All is well that ends well, but talk about drama and trauma. I have had to stall getting back on with work because of all the arrangements required to fix everything. My car had its battery replaced by the RAC on the day. My wheelchair is still broken now. In the end I drove to Mill Hills Independent Living company (before going to Amnesty International to chair this event) and they have sent my control box away whilst I am still being pushed in this lump of metal. It is so frustrating, especially when I cannot turn my head, to not be able to get from A to B and position myself. Charing the event was very hard as a result of this.

Nonetheless I know if I hadn’t of rested I worry how ill I might of been. Also I had the inner strength after a rest to deal with these dramas. I would say that I have learnt to be very resilient, find an inner strength when I want to give up, I worry about the things I can change and ignore the things I can’t.

Having seen the most important people in my life, got my health back up nearer 100% (for January) and slowly getting my foundations solidified; I am turning my attentions back to work. The clarity I now hold is huge. In taking a step back I can see what last year meant, can see what I want and need to do this year, and feel energised to deliver. My next post will share these plans: both the projects I will run about disability issues and the personal activities I hope to do.

In the meantime I urge you to always rest when your body is struggling, allow your brain time away from problems to find the solutions easier, and never ever ever let the bastards get you down.

You can and will get where you want to go to, just believe!

This time last year I had overcome the routine winter chest function, returned from an amazing road trip in California I and was in reflective mode. When I travel the sense of adventure, meeting new people and broadening my horizons makes me question my life and the world. I think it’s fair to say that this particular trip surfaced my real dreams, but more so the fact I could achieve them and in a sense I realised it was now or never!

The first few months of 2011 were centred around surviving winter, managing the 9-5 office hours, grabbing some sun (quick trip to Tenerife in February and the annual family holiday in April) and lots of thinking. The crux of these dreams and plans were around running my own business. As you’ll know I worked at Scope straight out of university, learnt a great deal and was well respected. However, it was time for a change and rather than go into a similar role elsewhere I decided my ideas of running my own business were now possible. Without a wife, children and major commitments the risk was only on me, something that might not be the case later on.

In May, without any real discussion with my close ones (something I usually would do) I waltzed into work and quite spontaneously handed my notice in. I knew that with time I could harness my work on my blog to launch my own projects for disabled people. I could see there being webinars, online learning courses, e-conferences and the brand new Disability Horizons magazine; all innovative, useful, engaging, helpful and fun resources. They just needed time. I didn’t know how on earth I could monetise these projects, but in hindsight an amazing sense of self belief and trusting in fate enabled me to take such a risky decision.

Since leaving Scope at the end of June I have run 3 webinar series. The first through my blog where I received kind sponsorship from Future Fundraising and the creative agency Flourish. I was also commissioned by Scope’s information service and Hackney Borough Council. I learnt so much from this in terms of the information disabled people (plus their friends and family) require, how it should be provided and about my own strengths and weaknesses. I am now planning in 2012 to run a webinar per month on specific topics, with guest speakers, interactive polls and Q&A sessions.

Beyond planning, executing and evaluating the webinars; I had my debut on BBC breakfast in January, my tv presenting debut on BBC1’s Inside Out, I appeared on radio 4 with Julie Fernandez, Richard Herring and ‘you and yours’. I have enjoyed the media work as a novelty factor, but also to be a spokesperson for disabled people on key issues. I am not the old school campaigning type, but I thoroughly believe the government should invest in disabled people – essential benefits, social care packages, access to infrastructure, educating people’s attitudes and legal protection from discrimination. I think the guys at the Broken of Britain are doing an amazing job fighting the government cuts on disabled people, and it was great to be involved in the Hardest Hit march!

As you’d imagine money has been tight since leaving the salaried job. My savings and webinar contracts have kept me afloat, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to join Srin and Toby in New York in September. Sometimes crazy is the only way to live! Also, my quick trip to Edinburgh resulted in my finding romance with the lovely Claire. Apart from these 2 amazing trips, life has been less frantic socially. I know once my business picks up I can get back to seeing friends more in restaurants and bars. Its all ‘needs must’ at present.

Whilst the next months are crucial in getting new work and making Sunnier Days safe and sustainable, my definition of success has altered slightly. Whilst I want enough money to be comfortable, I have been far happier and healthier due to other reasons. I am making my own work decisions, working the hours my body prefers, staying in from the cold winter and managing my life to my own needs. As long as I am not financially broke, I place such a high value on my health, happiness and relationships.

So to round this up! I am recovering from another chest infection and scrambling to tie some loose ends up workwise. Then I plan to really relax over Christmas with the family. It will be great seeing mum, dad, sister Claire, the step family and my mates back in Cambridge. I’ve got tickets to Tottenham at Norwich on 27^th December. Then the family are coming to mine for New Years, before Claire comes from Edinburgh on 2^nd January for a few days.

I am then planning to grow my blogs readership, make Disability Horizons ‘the’ disability publication to read, make the monthly webinars ‘the’ event to attend and finally launch my employment ecourse by February. In the past 6 months I have misfit-inc to thank for technical support, I really know what content is required to make a difference to disabled people, I have great networks to communicate my services through and I am confident the sponsorship offers will come in time. Now I am officially part of the Nexters project I have a great outlet of support and the potential to meet companies interested in my plans to change the world with disabled people.

My personal vision is to be running a business that changes the world using new media, whilst I am travelling the world, being in warmer climates throughout UK winters, maintaining my close relationships and just staying happy. The past 6 months have been a slog, at times stressful and scary, but going into 2012 I am confident it has been worthwhile. The hard work has given me a platform to really achieve my dreams, whilst empowering the next generation of disabled people to achieve theirs too.

Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Thank you for all of your support