Alice Moira, 25, and Lochlann O’Higgins, 81, represent two generations of wheelchair users. Both have mightily and courageously stood up to face their own distinct struggles in their quest for rights and freedom. Their stories intertwine as they discuss the impact of welfare cuts, housing difficulties, and the joy they find in swimming. Both individuals have navigated a world that often overlooks the needs of those with disabilities. Their resilience shines through as they share their experiences.
For Alice, she began using a wheelchair from the early age of seven. It was a wooden model that she couldn’t actually drive herself. This early introduction to mobility aids greatly impacted her understanding of independence and accessibility as she grew up. At four and a half, she began her experience at St Margaret’s of Croydon. This boarding school is uniquely adapted to children with cerebral palsy. Her journey was fraught with challenges. At the age of just ten, she had been shoved out of school because it was clear she was unable to read.
Lochlann began using a wheelchair at the age of two. Because his early life had been in China where his Irish parents had been working. More than just a geographical shift, his cross-cultural experience enriched his relationship to disability. Having come back to the UK, the attitudes towards accessibility and level of support completely changed.
It was Alice’s father who played perhaps the most critical role in advocating for children with disabilities. Along with other parents, he set up the Spastic Society, now known as Scope. Their mission was to improve the care, treatment and quality of life for people with cerebral palsy. This groundwork became the foundation for Alice’s path to independence. She then continued her education at the university in Twickenham—who had wheelchair-friendly rooms.
Despite these advancements, Alice faced significant obstacles. She learned about PIPs — personal independence payments — when she was 17 or 18, that it was a thing. Sadly, this discovery occurred long after she could take advantage of the extra support during her most formative, early years. The application process took another two years, added years of bureaucratic red tape to her blossoming transition into adulthood.
Lochlann shares similar concerns regarding financial assistance. He is possibly even more alarmed by the proposed cuts to PIP. These cuts would affect literally millions of people, many who rely on food assistance just to make ends meet. He takes the initiative to leverage technology to better navigate his surroundings, like using Google Maps to find wheelchair accessible routes and lifts. This forward-looking, proactive approach is indicative of a clear desire to preserve independence and access new opportunities.
An issue on both their minds are high costs that make participating in sports prohibitive. Lochlann lives an active life and plays a variety of sports using a loaned sports chair from his hometown wheelchair rugby club. Purchasing a suitable sports chair can set families back £6,000-£7,000, making them inaccessible for the majority of families. This makes apparent the continued need for affordable alternatives in space adaptive sports equipment.
Housing has been another big issue for Lochlann and Alice. After his first year at university, Lochlann faced the challenge of finding accommodations that would suit his needs and those of his friends. Alice is a tenant of the Habinteg housing association. This organization, inspired by her father along with other influential leaders at Scope, was created to develop affordable and accessible housing.
Alice remembers expressing fear about one day being confined to a wheelchair and the stigma society attaches to this and other disabilities. After years of advocacy and community support, she’s found her groove as a proud wheelchair user. There’s no question that Alice and Lochlann are happier when they can get some swimming in each day. This fun, free activity enhances their physical health while simultaneously helping to build community ties.