Just want to dance in my wheelchair

 
As somebody who is in a wheelchair all the time and can’t walk, I still want just to dance.
 

I have always loved music and dancing from a young age.

I feel when I listen to music it lifts me up and I go in to my own wee world.

 

Just keep dancing

 

I love to dance when I am just in my bedroom listening to music or when I am at a concert.

 

I never imagine that I would be able to perform a dance routine.

 

A new opportunity for me

 

When I got the email first asking me if I wanted to take part in a inclusive dance competition at first, I thought it wasn’t me.

 

Then I thought life is too short so why not?

 

 

I  was paired with two great dancing partners Leah and Chloe who is fantastic.

 

We   had 8 weeks of training which it was so fun!

 

We came up with a great dance routine and we chose our music which it was 2 Nathan Carter songs and 1 Dolly Parton song.

 

During the 8 weeks of training, I loved it. I couldn’t wait for every Wednesday night to do my dance training.

 

I found it hard at first to learn all of the moves but as the weeks went on, I found it easier and enjoyed it more.

 

On the night

The dance competition called “Strictly All Ability” was on the 26^th of April in a fancy hotel in Glasgow.

 

 When I got to the hotel that afternoon, I got my hair and make-up done, I liked this because it was like being on Strictly Come Dancing.

 

After I got hair and make-up done myself, Leah and Chloe did a run through of our dance in the ball room.

 

Once I saw the size of the ball room, I started to get nervous but once We started to dance that went away.

 

When it came to the main perform on the night it was a great feeling to perform in front of people especially my family and friends.

 

After it I felt very proud of myself and even although we didn’t win, I am so glad that I took part and had a great experience.

 

After the night I was a bit down because I miss dancing every week but looking in to future, I really hope I can dance once again and keep dancing.

 

 Written by Jill Clark 

 

Changing places awareness day 25

 

 

Going to the toilet is a human right for everyone, that is why this changing places awareness day I want to raise my voice louder about how important changing places toilet is to me.

As someone who uses a wheelchair and requires a hoist getting to the toilet.  A standard disabled toilets is no good to myself so, I need to use a changing places toilet which has a hoist.

Sadly, there is a lack of changing places toilets, that is why I decided to start campaign for more changing places toilets 10 years ago.

Back when I started campaigning there was only 2 changing places in Glasgow where I live but fast forwards to today there are about 26.

 These include central station, Queen Street station, Science Centre, Burrell collection and Clydebank shopping centre.

 It is really important to me having these changing places toilets in places because it lets me  have a nice day out without worrying if I can get to the toilet or not.

Even although there is a lot of more changing places now than when I started campaigning, there could be more (much more)

So, this changing places awareness day I am calling coffee shops, cafés, restaurants and lots more places to install a changing places toilet.

Going to the toilet is a most necessary thing to everyone and no one should be left without getting access to a toilet.

So, please share this Blog and together we can make the world a more inclusive place.

For more information, please   visit the changing places website:  

https://www.changing-places.org/

Written by Jill Clark 

Communicating to the world in a different way

  We live in a world where communication is the key to everything but not everyone realizes that everyone communicates differently from everyone and I am just one of them.

About me

 

My name is Jill Clark and I am 33.  I have a physical Disability called Cerebral Palsy which affects my movement, muscles and my speech. So, I am in a wheelchair all the time.

 

How do I communicate to the world?

 

Even though I don’t have any speech I get my word across clearly! 

 

I use an AAC device or in other terms a communication device.

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, it is just different ways of communicating.

 

 My communication device is called an Accent 1000; it is just a computer which it speaks out.

 

 I use a tracker dot to access my programme on my device. The dot is on my head; it is like infrared.

 

 

How does it feel to communicate in a different way?

 

Like everything, communicating through an AAC device it has  its ups and downs but mostly it is great.

 

The ups are:

 

 My device gives me a voice, with which I can express myself and tell people how I feel or what I want.

 

It is great that I can have just a normal conversation with people which makes me more included in the world.

 

Even though my device is my voice, it is my hands too as I can  use a mobile phone and a computer through my device too.

 

The down sides are:

 

As my device is a computer it can break down and I hate it!

 

The best way to describe how it feels when it breaks down is imagine you have tape over your mouth and you can’t talk!

 

Another down side is how some people talk to me.  We live in a world where everyone is quick to judge by just looking at the  people.

 

That happens to me a lot.

 

Some people see me and my wheelchair and just think “she is in a wheelchair she mustn’t understand so I need to talk to her as a baby, this is my pet hate!

 

 Over time I have learnt how to explain myself to people and show them that even though I communicate in a different way I can still talk to the world!

 

  Written by Jill 

My dance at Strictly All Ability 2025

 

New funding for Changing Places toilets in Scotland

 It has been a while since I wrote about changing places toilets, but as the Scottish Government has announced the £10m funding for changing places toilets across Scotland, I thought I would write something about it.

For the people who don’t know me well, my name is Jill and I have Cerebral Palsy, therefore I use a wheelchair all the time and I require a hoist to get in and out of my wheelchair.   I have another name; this is The Toilet Woman as I campaign for Changing Places toilets. Standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability. Over ¼ million people in the UK with a disability need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. So, a Changing Places toilet has the all right equipment in it such as a hoist, a changing bed and it is very big to move around for a wheelchair user and 2 carers.

 

On Thursday the 20th of March I was at Glasgow Science Centre getting interviewed by BBC, STV and Scottish Government’s media, as a £10m funding was announced by Scottish Government for a lot more changing places toilets in Scotland. Just now, there are about 270 CP toilets in Scotland and this should increase by 50% thanks to this funding.  Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport was there too on the day.  I spent time talking to Maree about Changing Places toilets and my campaign work, it was nice and she is lovely.

 

What are my thoughts of the funding?  As a changing places user and a campaigner who experiences a lot of barriers due to lack of CPT, I think this is fantastic news.  Even although there are a lot of more changing places toilets from when I started my campaign, many areas don’t have a CPT, like small towns. Even though I live in a big city, I would love to see Glasgow getting more of these toilets in coffee shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and parks.

 

In 2025, I still worry if I can get to the toilet when I am out and about, but with this funding, I hope I don’t have to worry any more.

Written by Jill 

Clarky dancing diaries 13/03/2025

 

Welcome to another Clarky dancing diaries, I know it has been a while but life has been busy!

For my other Clarky dancing diaries check them out on my Website Clarky Blogs

Well, training is going really well.

Our first training was the last Wednesday in February.  We never danced at first training, we just talked through things and decided on our music.  I am not saying what it is but it is mix of 3 songs.  The people who know me can guess 2 of songs but I am not saying any more just wait and see 😊

The 2 last Wednesdays we have been starting to put  our dance together and it feels good to dance!  I am really loving dancing, even although I listen to music every day, I don’t dance about but on a Wednesday night I do.

 

Leah and Chloe have been great to work with.  They have come up a great routine and I have come up with some ideas too.  Even although I am loving it, I am finding it a bit hard remembering all of the moves but I will get there. Everything takes time!

I am really looking forwards to the event. Only 44days to go until Strictly All Ability!

Thanks for reading and keep dancing

Here is a link about Strictly All Ability, if you have any questions just ask.  Buy tickets – Strictly All Ability - 2025! – DoubleTree by Hilton, Cambridge St Glasgow

Clarky dancing diaries 08/02/2025

 

 

 Happy Sunday everyone, I hope you had good a weekend 😊

 

 Welcome to another Clarky dancing diaries.  If you missed my other Clarky dancing diaries go to the Website Clarky Blogs

 

Well, the launch happened yesterday and what a great day.  Yesterday morning I was a bit nervous to meet my partners but it turned out to be nothing to be nervous about. While we were waiting for the launch to get started, we were sitting about. I noticed two girls across the room and I said to my carer I think these girls are my partners.

 

The launch got started and there was a buzz in the room with the Strictly Come Dancing music playing in the background. It was great to see all of the dancers meeting their partners.  When it was my turn to meet my partners  I was Right my partners are  the two girls that I noticed.  I was delighted to meet them.  They are called Leah and Chloe and they are lovely girls. 

 

Once everyone got to meet their partners, we had time to talk to them.  This was nice to have a chat to them to get to know each other and about our dance then we got interviewed (watch out on The Advisory Group social media for the interviews)

 

 Our training starts on the 26^th of February for 8 weeks.  Can’t wait to start and see what we come up with 😊

 

I am really excited to get my dancing journey started

Have a nice week everyone and keep dancing!

Here is a link about Strictly All Ability, if you have any questions just ask.

Buy tickets – Strictly All Ability - 2025! – DoubleTree by Hilton, Cambridge St Glasgow