Emma Purcell

Disability Horizons • 19th February 2021

Filter vs Medical vs Fabric Face Masks | Best Face Mask UK

With new variants of Covid-19 spreading across dozens of countries, people are seeking face masks with extra protection. Here at Disability Horizons, we’ve rounded up the different levels of protection between filter, medical and fabric face masks so that you can choose the best for your situation.

Disability Horizons • 6th February 2021

Disabled People And Carers Access Covid Vaccine

The coronavirus vaccine programme has been in action across the UK since December 2020 and more than 10 million people have received their first dose so far. With the first four priority groups being given the vaccine, we ask disabled people, those with health conditions and carer’s thoughts and experiences of accessing the Covid-19 vaccine.

AccessAble • 8th January 2021

AccessAble's Guide to Blind Friendly Video Calls

Everyone's meeting online - via Zoom, Teams, Skype and FaceTime - the world has never been more connected. But how can you ensure that virtual meetings and video calls are accessible to blind and visually impaired people? AccessAble Champion Emma Purcell gives us her top tips in this video...

Disability Horizons • 30th December 2020

Essential disability living aids that will make a big difference to your life

Having opened at the beginning of 2020, our Disability Horizons Shop sells a range of mobility aids, accessible gadgets and luxurious gifts. But as we head into 2021, we’ve seen how practical, life-changing products are essential too. Now, alongside our stylish and fun products, we have a range of essential disability living aids. They may not be as glossy or Instagramable, but we know that they will make a big difference to your life.

Disability Horizons • 14th December 2020

Covid-19 Vaccine: How It Works And Who Is Eligible

The first Covid-19 vaccine has been approved in the UK with thousands of people already having received the jab this week. It is believed hat 800,000 doses will be given by the end of December and 20 million people will be vaccinated by Easter. Here at Disability Horizons, we take you through everything you need to know about the Covid-19 vaccine:

Disability Horizons • 3rd December 2020

10 Accessible Gifts For Christmas

Looking for that perfect and stylish gift for your disabled friend or loved one this festive season? Check out these nine new and original accessible gifts for Christmas available on the Disability Horizons Shop…

Disability Horizons Shop • 30th November 2020

Ramble Tag Guidance Aid Co-Creator Speaks To Disaability Horizons

Emma Purcell is News Editor and Feature Writer at Disability Horizons and runs the blog Rock For Disability. Today she speaks to Tom Forsyth, co-creator of the Ramble Tag guidance aid, which you can purchase on the Disability Horizons Shop.

Disability Horizons • 14th November 2020

10 Accessible Christmas Gifts For Disabled People

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you scroll, which is a sign that it’s time to find some accessible Christmas gifts for your friend or loved one with a disability. Well, look no further! The Disability Horizons Shop is packed with gorgeous yet practical Christmas gifts for disabled people of all ages and abilities. Below we share our top 10 accessible Christmas gifts for disabled people this Christmas…

Disability Horizons • 28th October 2020

Disability Hate Crime Risen In Public Than Online

A survey conducted by Disability Horizons and disability charity Leonard Cheshire has found disabled people have experienced more disability hate crime in public than online in the past three years. More than half (53%) of the 196 people* who responded to our survey said they have experienced hate crime in a public place in the past three years...

Wheelescapades • 16th October 2020

Twenty Questions with – Emma Purcell

I can’t believe we are halfway through October already. It’s cold, it’s dark, and it seems to have happened in a blink. It is time for the latest Twenty Questions interview, though. The series in which I ask bloggers to answer a series of questions honestly and openly. This month we have Emma, a journalist and blogger at Rock For Disability... I’ve always had a passion for writing and pursued a career in journalism. Many people kept persuading me to sta

Disability Horizons • 27th July 2020

Actually I Can: Independence stories

Independence is incredibly valuable to everyone, but that is particularly the case if you’re disabled. It can give you confidence, self-belief and a sense of achievement. It can make you feel more included and part of a community. But many disabled people fear this isn’t possible for them. Disability charity Leonard Cheshire wants to show that it is by celebrating the accomplishments of disabled people in securing independence with its new campaign Actually I Can.

Disability Horizons • 19th July 2020

Majority Of Disabled People Unhappy About Travelling During Covid-19

A survey conducted by Disability Horizons in partnership with Strive Mobility, a mobility aid hire company, has found that nearly 60% of disabled and chronically ill people won’t travel abroad until we know more about Covid-19, and 39% until there is a vaccine. 49% also feel unhappy about the reopening of holiday accommodation in the UK.

Disability Horizons • 12th July 2020

58% Of Disabled People Feel Anxious About The Easing Of Lockdown

A survey conducted by Disability Horizons has found that nearly 60% of people feel really anxious about the easing of lockdown restrictions, and 49% feel the same about the changes to the shielding guidelines. Read on to find out what the new shielding guidelines are, discover more about what disabled people really think and read first-hand experiences from people who have been shielding. After the relaxation of some lockdown rules in June, the start of July saw parts of the UK being able to do

Disability Horizons • 3rd July 2020

8 Useful Or Unique PPE On The Shop

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK, personal protective equipment (PPE) has been much talked about and often in short supply. If you’re disabled or have a health condition and use carers or personal assistance, PPE is likely to be even more important. On the Disability Horizons Shop, we’ve been able to get a range of PPE – including aprons, masks and face shields – to help with the demand. Here, we round up 8 items that are particularly useful or unique. If you’re not sure what type of P

Disability Horizons • 18th June 2020

PPE Equipment: All You Need To Know And How To Buy It

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) – and often the lack of it – has been a hot topic. PPE, such as gloves, aprons and masks, help to protect you and people around you from being infected with Covid-19.

Access Rating - Disabled Access Reviews • 3rd June 2020

What access means to me – Access Rating

Social enterprise Access Rating has launched a new campaign called “What access means to me”, where people of the disability community share their thoughts on what access is to them. This could be having adequate wheelchair access in buildings, include Changing Places toilets in all venues, having information available in alternative formats, such as audio, braille and BSL, and reasonable adjustments for those with neurodiverse conditions....

My Mobility Guide • 6th May 2020

6 Mobility Aids and Equipment for Physiotherapy

Due to my physical disability, I use a powered wheelchair full-time and require mobility aids to carry out personal care. Plus, I have weekly physiotherapy to maintain my muscles and posture. I attend sessions at my former college, Treloar’s, where they have a dedicated physio department with specially trained therapists and high-quality equipment....

Disability Horizons • 30th April 2020

How To Shield And Isolate: A Partical Guide If You're Disabled

As the UK lockdown rules have been relaxed, many disabled people are still shielding for 12 weeks or more. There has been a lot of confusion surrounding some lockdown measures – ‘shielding’ vs ‘self-isolation’ and what the difference between the ‘clinically vulnerable’ and ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ groups is.

Disability Horizons • 10th April 2020

Coronavirus shopping safely: how to get your food if you’re disabled

Throughout the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, supermarkets have continued to trade, both in-store and online, in order to feed the nation during the lockdown. Special measures have been put in place to keep both customers and staff safe during this unprecedented time. For disabled people and those in one of the ‘vulnerable’ groups, the challenges can be even tougher. To help make it easier, we have collated all the information on how you can access supermarkets safely and get priority access to online deliveries.

Wayfinding & Navigation Expert • 8th March 2020

5 Inaccessible Dilemmas for Wheelchair Users on Train Journeys

I love travelling around the UK to attend gigs, festivals, theatre shows and visiting friends. Plus I have to attend many appointments at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. For some of these journeys, I travel by train to get to my destination. However, being a wheelchair user does come with many barriers in order to access a train, platform, carriage or staff assistants when using the rail network. In this guest blog post, I share five inaccessible dilemmas I’ve experienced on train journeys: