Weds Wrap – Preparing For Digital Shoreditch & Visit To Hix Soho, Accessible & Artistic

Well I didn’t do much last week as my mind was wondering what I should say about ‘Why Modern London & Shoreditch Should Be Accessible’. It sounds like a ‘no brainer’, like why should Gay people be treated as equals. This was the subject of my presentation at Digital Shoreditch, ‘a celebration of creativity’. I came up with two reasons

1. The ‘less able’ are a market for goods and services worth £80bn per year, including technological and digital innovation. We are early adopters of any such advancements as we rely on technology to make our lives easier and more ‘inclusive’. The Economist have labelled the disability market “The New Green”.
2. We are a source of entrepreneurial talent as 45% of people with disabilities who work, are self employed or set up their own companies. I did, because I was fed up with telling prospective employers that ‘it’s only my legs that don’t work’!!

Anyway, I presented on Monday and I think it went down well. I also met some interesting people including the Stroke Association and I hope we’ll be in contact soon as I’m sure they’ll have some use for the articles we publish.

Whilst pondering on my presentation I did watch the Test Match against New Zealand and very good it was too. I’ve been to Lords and if you talk nicely to the stewards they let you sit on the ‘hallowed turf’ in your wheelchair instead of in the stands, which can be chilly as they’re shaded from the sun (which will make an appearance soon, I hope). Lords do have concessions if you’re disabled and good access and facilities. However, I was more concerned with the Champagne bars when I went last year.

The other event last week was my nephew’s 18th and we went to Hix Soho which I previoulsly gave 2.5 provisional BBS Ticks. I can now confirm that these are official, as the access and facilities were great and it was also friendly, busy and most definitely stylish with the original, artistic, mobiles overhead. Marks Bar I didn’t get to, as it’s down some steep stairs but they did offer to carry me and my wheelchair down to see it. I was reliably informed by my nephew it was cool and most definitely chilled. The steaks are to be recommended along with the shrimp cocktail.

Thats all for this week let’s hope it’s at least warm for the Bank Holiday!?! Off to a ‘Pop Up Garden’ at The Chelsea Flower Show – I’ll report back next week.