Disability in Pop Culture

Here you can find all my opinion pieces and features on how disability appears in TV, film, social media and books. There’s also a couple of interviews.

2023

Why Ghosts means so much to LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent fans for Digital Spy, October 23

Current narrative around ADHD has dangerous consequences for The Mirror, October 23

The coverage of the womb transplant shows we still value motherhood above all else for Glamour, August 23

Rosie Jones Channel 4 documentary review: Doesn’t justify its sickening title for the iPaper, July 23

Rosie Jones and the R-word panelist on BBC Access All, July 23

The R-word- reclaimed or still an insult? Guest on D&I Spy, July 23

‘Rosie Jones’ documentary should be renamed – it risks doing more harm than good’ for The Daily Mirror, July 23

Rosie Jones faces backlash after using ableist slur in new documentary for The Daily Mirror, July 23

When is reality TV going to catch up with reality? for Cosmopolitan, June 23

Dangerous coverage of ADHD means women like me don’t feel like we can ask for help for Glamour, May 23

A Kind of Spark shows importance of authentic neurodivergent stories for Radio Times, April 23

A Kind of Spark’s reception shows how important authentic disabled representation is for The Daily Mirror, April 23

BBC’s A Kind Of Spark is groundbreaking in its portrayal of autistic women for Digital Spy, March 23

Disabled people deserve to be able to find books about us easily in bookshops for The Daily Mirror, February 23

January cover interview with Caprice-Kwai Ambersley: ‘I want to be the representation I didn’t have when I was younger’ for Glamour Magazine (digital), January 23

2022

Way disabled people are treated in The Traitors shows ableist attitudes are still alive for The Daily Mirror, December 22

The Destruction of Twitter Is Disastrous for Disabled People for Verywell Health, November 22

Matt Hancock doesn’t get to use his dyslexia to redeem himself in the jungle for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Matt Hancock Going on I’m a Celeb is a Kick in the Teeth for Disabled People for The Daily Mirror, November 22

The Treatment of Fetterman Shows Why There Are So Few Disabled Officials for Verywell Health, October 22

Meet the Disabled Influencers Challenging Ableism and Stereotypes for The Daily Mirror, July 22

Twitter Means Too Much to Disabled People to Abandon for The Spill, May 22

Cerrie Burnell on Why Everyone Deserves to See Themselves in Fairytales for The Unwritten, May 22

2021

How To Watch The Tokyo Paralympics – And How Not To, Please for Huffpost UK, August 21

Why the Channel 4 Paralympics Advertising is Angering Disabled People for The Unwritten, August 21

Britney’s account of forced contraception is all too real for disabled people for The Flock, June 21

Line of Duty’s treatment of Terry shows how common ableism is for Metro UK, April 21

Actor James Moore on Why Adults with Cerebral Palsy are “Second Class Citizens” for The Unwritten, March 21

‘I’m Not Here For The Warm and Fuzzies’: The UK Stars Of Disability TikTok for Huffpost January 21

Ruth Madeley’s appearance on Celebrity Best Home Cook fills a major gap in disabled visibility for Digital Spy, January 21

BBC documentary Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain uncovers how disabled people were shut out of society for decades for Stylist, January 21

2020 & 2019

Until TV starts showing chronic pain accurately, I fear people will think I’m faking it for Metro UK, October 20

What Queer Eye Got Wrong About Disability for Folks at Pillpack August 19

Even In Game Of Thrones’ Fantasy World Disabled People Aren’t Good Enough for Metro UK,  May 19

British Soaps Are Paving The Way For Disability Representation for Metro UK, January 19

Why Cast Bryan Cranston As A Quadriplegic Man When Disabled Actors Are Queuing Up For Roles? for Metro UK, January ’19

2018 & Earlier

Doctor Who’s dyspraxic character Ryan marks the first time I’ve seen my disability represented properly on TV for iNews, October 18

Why Remus Lupin Is My Chronic Illness Hero for Hello Giggles, March 16

What Selena Gomez Taught Me About My Chronic Illness for Hello Giggles, November ’15