mobile navigation

Blog - Learning Disability

a cartoon about SEN provision in NI

Crippen discovers that children with special educational needs are being failed in Northern Ireland

March 4, 2021 - by

It seems that the problems with regard to so called special educational needs (SEN) are not just confined to the UK mainland. Our disabled brothers and sisters and their families over in Northern Ireland are getting the short end of the stick too. A recent report by a cross-party committee ...

cartoon about news bias

Crippen asks – Bias or what?!

February 12, 2021 - by

The Right-wing influences are at it again with two new appointments to high ranking roles within the broadcasting industry and the launch of a new TV channel that has raised more than a few eyebrows. Disability Arts Online ·

cartoon of West African disabled children

Crippen discovers that prejudices and superstition still exists

February 2, 2021 - by

I’m currently in the process of completing a project for DAO called ‘A history of disability - including the involvement of disability arts’. It has involved researching attitudes towards disabled people over the centuries including the many prejudices and superstitions that existed.

cartoon about National Disability Strategy survey

Crippen and the National Disability Strategy Survey – Part 2

January 25, 2021 - by

Following on from my last Blog about the National Disability Strategy Survey (NDS), several disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have complained directly to Justin Tomlinson, the Minister for Disabled People. Disability Arts Online ·

cartoon about disability survey

Crippen and the National Disability Strategy Survey – Part 1

January 25, 2021 - by

The launch of The UK Disability Strategy Survey has brought mixed reaction from fellow Crips and our groups and organisations (DPOs). Disability Arts Online · Disability ...

cartoon about exemption for rail companies from accessible travel

Crippen discovers that the transport industry has had yet another exemption from access laws!

January 19, 2021 - by

It’s got to the stage where when this government hacks off yet another piece of disability-related legislation, there’s not even a tokenistic acknowledgement, never mind any form of protest from opposition parties and those groups and organisations that claim to represent us.

A pile of paper on a printer with more paper coming out of the printer and even more paper in the background.

Propulsion for 2021

January 18, 2021 - by

I’m looking forward to introducing my new project – Propulsion, Learning and Sharing. Funded by Arts Council, I’ll be looking at my own disabilities and working out what my access needs are moving forward, along with interviewing other disabled artists about how they manage their own access needs. I’ve seen some ...

a cartoon about Queen's disabled cousins

Crippen researches the Queen’s ‘hidden’ cousins

December 14, 2020 - by

Whilst doing research for a project about the history of disability I came across an interesting fact about the Royal family, in particular about the Queen’s cousins. Disability Arts Online ·

cartoon about DWP excuses

Crippen – DWP again refuses to publish information from secret reviews into benefit-related deaths

December 8, 2020 - by

Back in October 2014 The Disability News Service (DNS) revealed the existence of secret Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) reviews into suicides and other deaths and serious incidents. Disability Arts Online ·

A white non-binary person with a shaved head and quiff and mixed Caribbean and white man with long dreadlocks.

Deen Hallissey interviews activist Dennis Queen

December 4, 2020 - by

DAO's Digital Influencer Deen Hallissey finds a 'soulmate' in musician and activist Dennis Queen as they talk about activism, dressing up, hairstyles and shared musical interests. https://youtu.be/5GHWUEaaUa4 (The film is captioned, which can be turned on or off on the YouTube controls by clicking the CC button) A transcript of the film is ...