LIFE PLANS AND MONTHLY REMINDERS

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Norwich Radical in Perspectives and tagged baby, children, chronic illness, disabilities, disability, eds, ehlers danlos syndrome, featured, genetics, health, invisible disabilities, invisible illness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, medical negligence, medicine, Migraines, parenthood, period, personal, Perspectives, relantionship, studies, treatment, university.

by Alice Thomson

Ten years ago, I was in my first year of University at Aberdeen, studying to be a Primary school teacher. It was a daunting, but exciting time. I had plans for my future and much to look forward to. I decided I wanted to be a teacher to help learners, like myself, that struggle in the education system. After achieving my degree, I planned to establish myself as a teacher before going back to University to gain the qualifications I needed to become a Special Educational Needs teacher.

I had always wanted a family and so my plan was to enjoy my early 20s, find someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, get married and have two children. A teaching career seemed like a good match with the challenges of having a family. In my mind I had it all worked out. I’d decided that by around my 30th birthday I would probably have given birth to my last child. I’m going to have my 30th birthday this year, and my life didn’t go to plan.Continue Reading

THE LARGE MINORITY

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Perspectives and tagged access to work, austerity, chronic illness, disability, disabled, eds, ehlers danlos syndrome, invisible disability, invisible illness, minority groups, Perspectives, representation.

by Alice Thomson

The term “minority group” invokes the image of a very small percentage of people. When I was a teacher, I had a minority group in my classroom consisting of a small number of children who needed different support and teaching methods to the rest of the class. In an ideal world, every child’s individual needs would have been met, but this was not the case. Time, resources, space – these resources affect the treatment of minority groups on a much larger national scale as well. The ‘majority’ have their needs met, while smaller groups who don’t fit into the majority box are often left behind, mistreated, or ignored.

UNDATEABLE?

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Perspectives and tagged abusive relationships, chronic illness, dating, disability, disabled, ehlers danlos syndrome, invisible illness, Perspectives, relationships.

by Alice Thomson

Dating has changed a lot over the last few decades. In the time before dating apps, people would meet at work, in cafés, or via friends or family. It may seem like a simpler time, but it did mean that the variety of people for you to meet was limited to your direct community. I think you would be lucky to find ‘the one’ when there is a world full of possible ‘ones’. As Tim Minchin so eloquently said, “If I didn’t have you, I’d probably have somebody else”.

BODIES

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Perspectives and tagged ableism, body image, body shaming, chronic illness, disability, dyslexia, eds, ehlers danlos syndrome, invisible disability, invisible illness, march for europe, Perspectives.

by Alice Thomson

I’ve been thinking a lot about my body recently. In the last month I’ve been pushing it pretty hard, so I have a lot to reflect on. I talked about going to the March for Europe in my last article, and the preparation I put in beforehand to make sure my body would survive. Since the march, I have been doing a lot of walking and swimming. This brings feelings of terror and excitement. I fear I will dislocate and put myself back in my wheelchair. But I’m excited to feel the freedom my body hasn’t experienced in over five years. My current mission is to make myself stronger, stable, and resilient.

THE GIRL WHO CRIED ZEBRA

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Norwich Radical in Perspectives and tagged chronic illness, disabilities, disability, eczema, eds, ehlers danlos syndrome, hypermobility, invisible disabilities, invisible illness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, medical negligence, medicine, Migraines, Perspectives, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Rodney Grahame, treatment.

by Alice Thomson

It’s a beautiful sunny day in August. A young woman named Jennifer and her mum go to the beach to soak up the rays. On her way into the water, Jennifer’s right wrist starts to hurt, and then her left wrist does the same. The pain is excruciating. She doesn’t know it, but they have dislocated. She and her mum can’t understand what has happened. It makes no sense. Distressed and confused the two women go home. Jennifer’s mum drives the car, and while sitting in the passenger’s seat, Jennifer dislocates her ankle. She doesn’t know that is the reason for the agonising pain. The two try to make sense of the situation.

invisible illness

LIFE PLANS AND MONTHLY REMINDERS

THE LARGE MINORITY

UNDATEABLE?

BODIES

THE GIRL WHO CRIED ZEBRA

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