If you live in the UK you’ve probably noticed that it’s been a bit chilly recently. Today was no exception – fortunately the office at work is pretty toasty.

For years I’ve had loads of regular Alan tics. I work with a man called Alan who’s generally very good at ignoring these and distinguishing between a ticced Alan and a when I’m actually trying to get his attention.…

At the end of last week I wrote Access to Tears, a post describing how, after a long and upsetting process, Access to Work (AtW – the scheme that provides support for working disabled people) had decided not to fund the cost of my support worker’s flights and accommodation for a work trip to Canada, and that this meant I wouldn’t be able to take up this paid work.…

It was a relief to close my eyes and go to sleep last night – they were sore and tired from the tears I’d been shedding hours earlier.

This morning I’m in a reflective mood, determined to write about the circumstances that once again left me sitting at work with tears flooding down my cheeks while my non-disabled colleagues got on with what they were doing.…

Our office was buzzing with chatter today about two new arrivals, not staff, or children, but go-karts for our youth-led track. They arrived in the early afternoon and looked amazing.

These aren’t just any old go-karts. They’re specially built with dual-controls so that two drivers can sit side-by-side.…

Today was our last day at work before Christmas so we had a party for the children. There was ‘Crimbo-limbo’, an amazing festive feast, music and lots of games. There was even an incredible Grotto. But there was one thing missing – Father Christmas.…

Leftwing Idiot and I were supposed to give a talk about the importance of inclusion and accessibility this morning but something got in the way – six steps up to the conference room!

I’ve had problems in this building before – it’s fairly old, and stair-heavy as a result.…

Happy Halloween! It’s late but we’ve still a few hours left before the plastic bats and fake cobwebs get put away for another year. As I write, at home in my warm bed, I’m getting occasional glimpses of the big trees outside my bedroom window.…

As well as being a part-time superhero and working one day a week for Touretteshero, for four days a week I work as a project coordinator for a children’s organisation in London. My role covers three main areas:

1) Fundraising
2) Supporting volunteers
3) Developing new projects and services

I’ve worked there for four years and in that time I’ve:

1) Secured over half a million pounds in funding for the organisation
2) Supported over three hundred regular volunteers
3) Helped triple the services the organisation provides

I’m telling you this now not because I want to brag but to give you a sense of the work I do and because yet another Conservative minister has suggested that some disabled people are “not worth” the minimum wage.…

On Friday afternoon I sat in our sunny playground and cried. My colleagues were all busy doing their work in the office, but I couldn’t do mine – I was stuck on the phone to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), pleading with them to pay money owed to my employer for the cost of my support at work.…

Leftwing Idiot, Will, Fran and I all travelled home from work yesterday in a cab. Leftwing Idiot was sitting in the front and half way through the journey, completely out of the blue, he said ‘Alan ate my falafel.’

We all laughed and Will asked him ‘Have you written that down?’…