Leonora Gunn, All the King’s Men
Leonora (Leo) Gunn is doing an MA in Philosophy at the University of Leeds, with an interest in the philosophy of disability. She is one of two Deputy Chairs of Leeds Disabled People’s Organisation, and is currently working with the Chronic Illness Inclusion Project.
Jonathan Eyre, Benefits
Jonathan Eyre – ‘an absent poet’ – has appeared at the Glastonbury Festival, published ten poems about the chronic illness M.E., and performs irregularly at open mics and poetry nights, engaging audiences with his poetry of participation, word jumbling and insight. “He speaks the truth!”
Gill Crawshaw, Changing museums – and society – through touch
Gill Crawshaw has been involved in the disabled people’s movement for many years and now brings her experience of activism to curating. Gill recently curated two exhibitions of textile-based work by disabled artists in Leeds, where she is based: The Reality of Small Differences (2014), and Shoddy (2016). You can read about Shoddy here: https://shoddyexhibition.wordpress.com/
Mark Wilson, Depression Takes Hold
Mark lives with Parkinson’s and has recently released a book of poetry called ‘Hostage To The Mind’, which is available on Amazon. You can read more of Mark’s work here: https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsat40/
Jessica Wing, gaia
Jessica received her late diagnosis of autism while studying for her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Cambridge University. There, she became her student union’s Disabled Students’ Officer and upon graduation started working in the disability sector. She is now studying for her MA in Disability Studies at Leeds University. She can be found on Twitter @andiached.
F. R. Kesby, Getting Clean
F. R. Kesby is a political and feminist poet and writer from Leeds. She writes for womensrepublic.net, fatfashionfaes.wordpress.com, her own blog fayKesby.wordpress.com and is the current chair of The Leeds Savage Club. When not writing she likes to obsess over 70s glam rock and Doctor Who plot holes.
P. B. O’Dea, Misconceptions
I moved to Leeds from the Republic of Ireland originally to study the MA in Disability Studies at the University of Leeds. Since then I have helped found Leeds Disabled People’s Organisation (LDPO), and I am currently serving as one of two Deputy Chairs of LDPO. You can see more of my work here: https://www.facebook.com/writerodeaauthorofmadness/
Mostafa Attia, My lived experience of ‘disabling barriers across borders’
Mostafa Attia is a disabled activist from Egypt, currently completing his PhD at the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. His research focuses on the Egyptian revolution, global development, and disability politics in Egypt. Mostafa has been involved in policy-making at the international level and in Egypt with the goal of promoting disabled people’s inclusive rights.
Rosamund McCullain, The Alchemist
Originally from Bradford, Rosamund has lived in Mid-Wales since 1983. Her poetry is predominantly about the inner landscape; she writes to preserve her sanity.
Emma Roberts, They call it Disability
Emma Roberts is a creative mother who likes to write and perform. Both she and her son, who she cares for full-time, are neurodiverse. She lives with PTSD, Panic Disorder and Anxiety, and is keen to reduce ableism. You can find her on Instagram @plantpoweredprincess18 and at her new blog, “The Neurodiverse Mum”: https://medium.com/@NDmum
Emma Hewitt, Waiting Room
I live in Leeds and I am a full time carer for my disabled son. I am disabled myself so my son and I spend a lot of time in what Dr Seuss calls “the worst place, the waiting place”. If we’re lucky there’s a good book or music to hide in and often writing helps.
Emma Steer, Where’s Your Carer?
Emma has her own blog, Diary of a Disabled Person, where she writes about anything and everything relating to disability, both good and bad. You can find it here: www.diaryofadisabledperson.blog. Find her on Facebook @DiaryofaDisabledPerson, Instagram @diaryofadisabledperson, and Twitter @WheelsofSteer.
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Leeds Disabled People's Organisation (LDPO) 