Issues and campaigns: Disability
Disabled people campaigning for rights – for access, benefits, services and equality; against discrimination, cuts, prejudice and pity!
Debating neurodiversity
Janine Booth replies to John Cromby and Lucy Johnstone’s post, Neurodiversity – what exactly does it mean?, on Mad in the UK’s website. Throwing the neurodivergent baby out with the bathwater John Cromby and Lucy Johnstone have contributed an interesting … Read more
Disabled people: Labour manifesto offers little
Neurodiversity in Rail conference 2024
Janine will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Neurodiversity in Rail conference. Here is some information from the organisers of the Neurodiversity in Rail conference, the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Excellence … About the Neurodiversity in Rail … Read more
Video: GMB Midlands Neurodiversity training
Video: Neurodiversity – a left-wing perspective
Neurodiversity – a left-wing perspective On Monday 25 March, Janine spoke at an online open meeting hosted by Lewes Labour party members, setting out a left-wing perspective on neurodiversity. You can watch a video of the talk, and the ensuing … Read more
Guest poem: This is Me
Pride Is
Speaking about Neurodiversity at Lewes Labour online open meeting
Janine will be speaking about neurodiversity at March’s ‘open meeting’ organised by Lewes Labour activists. ‘Different people have different brain wiring. Those with a minority brain wiring – such as dyslexic, autistic and dyspraxic people – face discrimination at work … Read more
Guest poem: FFS
Neurodivergent poetry in Plymouth
Marxism and Neurodiversity
Socialist Health Association, Manchester
Tourette’s, neurodiversity and class: the case of Madame Dampierre
In 1825, Paris physician Jean Marc Gaspard Itard assessed a French noblewoman in her twenties who, from the age of seven, had ‘ticked and blasphemed‘. She was one of ten people with similar symptoms described in an article by Itard. … Read more
Is a neurodivergent worker considered disabled under UK law?
The law judges this on a case-by-case basis. The 2010 Equality Act states that an individual is disabled under the law if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, long-term, adverse effect on their ability to … Read more
Virtual discussion: Achieving neurodivergent liberation through socialism
Neurodiversity: a core bargaining issue
There is an excellent article in November 2022’s Labour Research – ‘Neurodiversity: a core bargaining issue’. I’m pleased to say that I am extensively quoted! If you would like to read the full text, ask your trade union if it … Read more
Poetry in Asylum magazine
Janine has recently taken over as Poetry Editor of Asylum magazine. Asylum wants your poetry for our radical mental health magazine. Asylum has been running for nearly forty years, providing a platform for all perspectives on mental health. Asylum is influenced and … Read more
Disabled People for Free Trade Unions: TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference Fringe Meeting 2022
These are the opening speeches from this event, held on Zoom on Tuesday 22 March 2022. Sarah Woolley (General Secretary, Bakers’, Food and Allied Workers’ Union): Welcome to the joint RMT and Free Our Unions TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference fringe meeting. … Read more
Autistic Pride
Woolwich Common Youth Club, 144 Nightingale Place, Woolwich SE18 4HE Autistic speakers, poets and singers. Come and buy from the stalls with art, clothing, books and jewellery, all autistic made. 1.15pm Welcome opening by Emma Dalmayne 1.15 – 1.35pm – … Read more