Published in The Guardian (October 16th, 2010) The details are sickening. For three days a gang of 18-year-olds tortured a younger autistic boy. They kicked him, stamped on his […]
Disability
Caring for our disabled daughter can be terrifying but she’s enriched our lives beyond measure
Published in the Daily Mail (October 5th, 2010) My daughter swam by herself the other day. Well, when I say swam, she floated. But by herself, her long […]
Crime / Disability / Policy
The epidemic of hate crimes against the very vulnerable reveals a callousness at the heart of society
Published in the Daily Mail (September 22nd, 2010) David Askew was a kind and trusting man who just wanted to enjoy his life. He smiled a lot, put […]
Disability
Mind your language: words can cause terrible damage
Published in The Independent (November 6th, 2009) Racism was rife in the playgrounds of my youth. It seems incredible looking back, but if someone would not share their […]
Disability / Health / Policy
Why I don’t believe that the NHS is sacrosanct
Published in The Independent (August 21st, 2009) It was a simple thing. Another blood test, some more investigations into whatever flawed gene or missing protein might be the […]
Disability / Politics
Iona and Ivan – a tale of two children and two families
Published in The Independent (February 26th, 2009) I awoke to the sound of my daughter, Iona, screaming yesterday morning, shortly after six. First the agonised screams, then coughing […]
Disability / Health / Politics
The hell I share with David Cameron
Published in The Spectator (October 22nd, 2005) My daughter suffered two seizures the other night. One was shortly after midnight, the other a couple of hours later. Having […]