Oxford University Labour Club: Neurodiversity Panel
Janine, John McDonnell MP and Emma Buck MP answers questions from Oxford University Labour Club members about neurodiversity and the labour movement.
Issues and campaigns: Disability
Disabled people campaigning for rights – for access, benefits, services and equality; against discrimination, cuts, prejudice and pity!
Autistic Pride online
Janine will be ranting, rhyming and revolting as part of this day-long jamboree of autistic voices. Log-in details to follow.
Disability Campaigners Celebrate ‘Easements’ Win
Published in Solidarity 587, 7 April 2021 Disabled people’s organisations have scored an important victory as the government has announced that local councils will no longer be excused from meeting their social care obligations. A year ago, the Coronavirus Act … Read more
Reasonable Adjustments are Plan B
This is what Janine said in the debate about Reasonable Adjustments for Disabled Workers at the TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference on 11 March 2021. I’ll start with what might be a provocative statement: Reasonable adjustments for individual workers … Read more
Disabled workers and Covid
This is the text of my contribution to the debate at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference on 10 March 2019. Hi. I’m Janine Booth, representing RMT. Our members work in the rail, road transport, shipping and offshore energy industries. I want to … Read more
How anti-union laws harm the fight for disabled people’s rights
Published by the Free Our Unions campaign Britain’s anti-trade-union legislation makes it harder for unions to fight for the rights of disabled workers and disabled people more generally. How? Limiting issues on which unions may lawfully take action Trade unions … Read more
Opinionated
You expressed your opinion. In response, I expressed my opinion, which was different from your opinion In response to me expressing an opinion different from your opinion You shouted I’M ENTITLED TO EXPRESS MY OPINION! as though by expressing an … Read more
Pantoum: Sight Lost, Depth Regained
From very slightly different points of view To lose an eye has given me perspective It isn’t quite as good as having two But one eye is surprisingly effective To lose an eye has given me perspective At first it … Read more
Video: Labour Party Autism / Neurodiversity Manifesto
Janine explains the need for, and the content of, the Labour Party Autism and Neurodiversity Manifesto.
Video: The Stealth Aspies
The all-autistic theatre company performed this show in Brighton in June 2019. Janine and fellow performers offer insights into autistic experience through poetry and personal testimonies.
1920 Blind March: a centenary to celebrate
This article was published in RMT News, September 2020. By Janine Booth, Chair of RMT National Disabled Members’ Advisory Committee One hundred years ago, two hundred and fifty blind people from across the UK marched from Newport, Manchester and Leeds … Read more
Janine’s Neurodiversity training: a student’s view
Thank you to Colette Marquess, a PCS union representative in Belfast, for writing this report after attending the Neurodiversity in the Workplace course run by Janine. To book a course with Janine, click here. I recently attended a 2-day course … Read more
Video: Speaking Up for Osime Brown
Janine addresses the protest in support of Osime Brown outside the Home Office on Friday 4 September – includes the poems Free Osime Brown and Bearing Down. Please sign Osime’s petition here.
Stop this deportation!
Published in Solidarity 562: Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Home Office on Friday 4 September to demand that Osime Brown not be deported to Jamaica. Led by Osime’s family, the protest was supported by Autistic Inclusive Meets (AIM), … Read more
Speaking about Neurodiversity at Leeds West CLP
Janine will be speaking to Labour Party members in Leeds West constituency about the fight for neurodivergent rights and the work of ND Labour.
Your Place
Last year, I wrote a poem (a pantoum) called ‘This Place’ about visiting my son in the adolescent psychiatric unit where he spent four months (read it here). He now has his own flat, living independently with support. So I … Read more
Transport and democratic ownership (and Covid-19)
Janine speaks as part of a panel on Covid-19, democratic ownership and the future of the economy in May 2020. – organised by Another Europe Is Possible. Video plus text of speech below. Thank you for inviting me and … Read more
Neurodivergent workers: What is your story?
I’m Janine Booth. I’m autistic, and I write and deliver training courses to trade unionists and others about autism and neurodiversity. As part of the courses, we look at real-life case studies of neurodivergent workers’ experiences. It is important to … Read more
Covid-19 and austerity: The threat to disabled people
Published in Solidarity 542, 7 April 2020. Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) are objecting to the lack of adequate healthcare, the loss of social care support, the erosion of rights – and the ominous attitude that disabled people are somehow … Read more
Disabled Transport Workers and the Covid-19 Crisis
Also on the RMT London Calling website here. Disabled transport workers are a significant and valuable part of the workforce that delivers transport to millions of passengers and freight consignments every day. Many of us are also particularly vulnerable during … Read more