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Emma | Disabled Travel Blogger | Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@simplyemmablog

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Accessible Travel, Lifestyle & Disability
🏡 Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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🍈 🍈 Mammograms!

They're uncomfortable, undignified and nobody enjoys them, but they could save your life!

I lost my beautiful cousin to breast cancer in '17, and then her mum in' 22, neither of whom were in the 50-70 age range for routine UK screening.

Losing those two wonderful women to the same disease scared the sh*t out of me, and I became hyper vigilant about checking myself, but my lump was too small to feel when it was picked on a routine mammogram in '24.

I'm incredibly lucky my 15mm tumour was spotted early, because it turned out to be triple negative breast cancer, which comes with its own challenges around recurrence, and was quite a scary diagnosis.

Even though it's been a difficult journey, I know it could have been a lot harder, with very diff outcomes if my tumour hadn't been picked up until it was large enough to feel, which shows just how important routine mammograms are (same goes for smear tests and home bowel cancer kits).

@breastcancernow reports that around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK and, of those, around 11,500 women and 85 men die; that’s nearly 1,000 deaths each month, 31 each day, or one every 45 mins.

Breast cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer death in the UK and one of the leading causes of death in women under 50.

But... it's not all doom and gloom, because almost 86% of women survive breast cancer for 5 yrs or more. Breast cancer survival is improving, having doubled in the past 50 yrs, with earlier detection through screening helping boost those numbers.

However, you also need to make sure you check yourself regularly, esp if you aren't in the 50-70 screening age bracket. There's plenty of resources out there to help you with, inc @coppafeel who have handy guides and a monthly reminder option to help keep you on track.

Ignorance kills, so have the difficult conversations now, before it's too late and, if you don't understand, ask someone who knows.

Finally, please teach your young adults how to check themselves for both breast and testicular cancer.

#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth
#wheelchairlife #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #sp

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In the world of accessible travel you find many many websites, blogs, and Instagram Influencers. Famous and not so famous people sharing their travel experiences and their life stories.

Check out their Instagram timelines, you will not regret it!

Some Instagrammers post daily, some every now and then.
Country sizes differ enormously, so does the following.

What makes it count, is their beautiful timelines.

You will find the Instagram travelers tagged in this post.

#accessibletravel #travelgram #top25

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One broken lift turned a routine public-office visit into almost two weeks of waiting.

It was supposed to be simple. I went to a public office to handle one matter.

There was a ramp at the entrance. At first, the building looked accessible.

Then I reached the lift.

The office I needed was on the first floor. For me, the lift was the only way up.

It wasn't working.

That was the end of the visit. I could not reach the office or complete the task. I went home with nothing resolved.

Over the following days, I kept calling: “Is the lift working again?”

Almost two weeks later, I finally received confirmation that it had been repaired. Only then could I plan the same journey again.

The building had a ramp. It had a lift. Technically, accessibility had been provided.

But when one component failed, access to the whole service disappeared.

The breakdown belonged to the building. The waiting, phone calls, uncertainty and repeat trip belonged to me.

Accessibility is not equipment you can list. It is the reliable ability to complete the whole service.

If a public service depends on one lift, its current status and a real alternative should not become the user's homework.

Would you call this office accessible?

#WheelchairAccessibility #PublicServices #AccessibleDesign #DisabilityAccess #SystemDesign

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Did you know that September is also Muscular Dystrophy awareness month.
Muscular Dystrophy is a rare genetic group of conditions which cause muscles to waste over time with over 110,000 affected with MD.
The three most common forms of Muscular Dystrophy are Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and Myotonic Dystrophy.

#musculardystrophyawareness
#musculardystrophy

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For most people, one step is a detail.
For me, sometimes it means the end of the route.

Not a huge staircase.
Not a broken lift.
Not a locked door.

Sometimes a few inches of concrete are enough.

And then comes the part most people never see: checking another entrance, finding a detour, asking for help, changing the plan — or deciding that this time, I’m just not going in.

That’s why accessibility shouldn’t end with:

“Is there a ramp?”

A better question is:

“Can I complete the entire journey independently — from start to finish?”

Because the barrier can be small.
The consequence isn’t.

What’s one “small” barrier that creates a much bigger problem in everyday life? Tell me in the comments. Dark editorial graphic showing a man in a black active wheelchair facing a single step at the entrance to a building. The text reads: “You see one step. I see the end of the route.” The carousel is about wheelchair accessibility, architectural barriers and everyday accessibility challenges.

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Accessibility Isn’t an Afterthought: Cardiff Castle

Hi Dahlings.
First, this is NOT an attack on Hollywood Vampires. I mean no disrespect to the band — they have no control over the venue’s accessibility. But if disabled people don’t speak honestly about these issues, who will?

The concert itself was fantastic (separate review coming), but the accessibility experience was extremely disappointing.

We were told to queue at 5pm at the accessible Southgate entrance. Problems with ticket machines and a delayed soundcheck meant standing for 45 minutes–1 hour in 30°C heat with no shade, water or useful information.

The accessible platform was incredibly far from the stage. I watched much of the concert through my friend’s phone because she had a super-zoom lens.

Platform staff seemed unsure how to accommodate wheelchair and scooter users, placing us in the middle of seated aisles. Whenever we needed to leave, everyone had to move. We eventually rearranged ourselves so I could sit at the end.

When we raised concerns about the view, we suggested tiered accessible seating. A security guard dismissed this, saying it “doesn’t work for accessibility.”

The accessible toilets were another major issue. They were barely bigger than a standard portable toilet. I struggled to fit my wheelchair inside, couldn’t close the door and couldn’t properly manage my catheter bag. A kind gentleman had to stand outside and hold the door so nobody walked in.

Security insisted they were adequate, while other disabled people disagreed.

The platform was also so far from catering that my friend had to repeatedly leave me for drinks. Once positioned, I felt stuck because I didn’t want to make everyone move again.

Leaving meant another 40-minute wait at the bottom of the ramp while the castle emptied, again with no water or assistance.

Disabled fans deserve more than a platform and a portable toilet. We deserve to see the show, use facilities safely, access refreshments and leave with dignity.

The band were fantastic. This is about the venue and event organisation, and I genuinely hope they listen.

#AccessibilityMatters #DisabledFans #AccessibleEvents #Disabili

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Accessible Room Tour: Holiday Inn Cardiff

Hi Dahlings!

Come with me to check out Accessible Room 217 at the Holiday Inn Cardiff, because accessible travel is so much easier when you know exactly what you’re getting.

For me, accessibility isn’t just about having an “accessible room” — it’s about whether it actually works in real life.

Room access & layout
The wide, slow-closing entrance door gives plenty of time to get through, while generous floor space makes manoeuvring around the room easy. There’s one double bed and one single bed.

Ceiling hoist
The bedroom has a Prism CP200 ceiling track hoist over the double bed, with a dedicated charging point. The track doesn’t continue into the bathroom, so you’ll need to transfer to another chair or mobile device to access the wet room.

Accessible wet room
The wet room has a wide entrance, non-slip flooring, a fold-down shower seat with armrests, adjustable shower head and grab rails. The low-level toilet and sink also have surrounding grab rails.

There’s a second section of ceiling track over the shower, which is a particularly useful feature.

Extra accessibility wins
There’s a mini-fridge for temperature-sensitive medication, plus low-level shelving, accessible drawers and open wardrobe space.

And finally, the view! The window looks directly onto the iconic Principality Stadium, putting you right in the heart of Cardiff.

Overall, this room combines space, equipment and practical accessibility really well. Hopefully this gives other disabled travellers a clearer idea of what to expect before booking.

Because accessible travel shouldn’t involve playing “Guess What’s Behind Door Number Three”.

📸: @goldilocks_gail

#AccessibleTravel #HolidayInnCardiff #DisabledTravel #CardiffHotel #AccessibilityMatters

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Hi Dahlings,

It ain’t LA, the place a yearned for as a teen.

It’s South Wales. A place that I once resented and now have come to love.

Sometimes we get so caught up chasing the places we’re told are beautiful that we forget to appreciate the magic right in front of us.

South Wales might not have Hollywood hills or famous movie sets, but it has dramatic coastlines, golden beaches, wild landscapes and views that stop you in your tracks.

From the valleys to the sea, there’s a quiet kind of beauty here — the kind you find when you slow down and really look.

These moments are reminders that adventure doesn’t have to be somewhere far away.

Sometimes it’s exploring your own corner of the world and discovering just how much it has to offer.

Because beauty isn’t only found in the places everyone talks about.

Sometimes it’s right at home.

Love,
Disabled Dahling xoxo

[VIDEO MONTAGE: RAIMIE DANCING IN HER WHEELCHAIR ALONG BARRY BEACH, EXPLORING A NATURE WALK, FILMING THE VIEW FROM MUMBLES BAY PIER IN SWANSEA, VISITING PORTHCAWL BAY, ENJOYING CONEY BEACH, AND DRIVING ACROSS THE SAND AT REST BAY. AUDIO: AINT LA BY @adelajergova ]

#Travelblogger #SouthWales #WalesCoast #DisabilityVisibility #AintInLA

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