Tag: Disability

ArticlesLeave a comment

What’s It Like Being Dis-Abled?

Steve Rowe

What is dis-abled? Our language, writing and speech is carefully crafted to reflect ‘positivity’ about disability and we usually see the disabled Olympics and sports people who are wonderful examples of what young, fit amputees are able to do, but where is the voice of the others? Those that are sick, diseased, fatigued, unable to move without extreme pain, the elderly, arthritic and cancer ridden people trying to survive? What’s it like for them? I see the government and community gradually turning against them, seeing them as an expensive inconvenience, taking away their paltry independence payments and labelling them as … Continue reading What’s It Like Being Dis-Abled?

ArticlesLeave a comment

Everyone Has A Story

Steve Rowe

As the government turns on people with disabilities, removing independence payments and most importantly social help of all kinds, no one can understand the full import of what becoming disabled means. We all have a different story and I’m lucky that I’m still able to work and support myself, with a lot of family, friends and students around me to help. Others are not so lucky. Having been an independent, fit, strong career martial artist for most of my life, becoming disabled and losing my leg meant that I lost 95% of my life. If asked if I would rather … Continue reading Everyone Has A Story

ArticlesLeave a comment

The Missing Leg

Steve Rowe

Sat in the consultants office.The leg is infected, hot, red and swollen. The metal prosthetic rod that ran through the entire leg had now broken through the shin bone. It was a mess. “Go home, dial 999, it has to be amputated within 24 hours or you will die. It was 2021 in the middle of Covid, I was blue lighted into a hospital in chaos. By that point I’d had over 20 surgeries on my legs, 3 sepsis infections, 3 knee replacements in that leg including an antibiotic spacer, lost all my quadricep muscles on both legs, eventually having … Continue reading The Missing Leg

PoemsLeave a comment

Screaming Into The Void

Steve Rowe

Screaming into the voidNo one’s listeningThey’ll ask you how you areAnd turn offThey don’t really want to knowThey’ll tell you their opinionBut they won’t listen to youThey think they careBut they don’tAs long as they get what they wantAs long as you don’t get in the wayAs long as you’re no botherAs long as you fit into their ideasOf who and what you areThey’ll tolerate youOtherwise you’re a pain in the assIf you can walk away you’re luckyIf you can’t you’re fuckedThe void is realYou’re scream is silentIt comes from the soulIt involves every cell of the bodyBut the void … Continue reading Screaming Into The Void

Articles2 Comments

Where’s My Leg?

Steve Rowe

After 25 surgeries, 3 life threatening sepsis attacks, a leg amputation and prostate cancer nothing really bothered me as much as the amputation. Subconsciously I always recoiled when I saw someone with an amputated limb and I honestly don’t know why, I hid it as I knew it was wrong, but it still happened deep down in my psyche. After the surgery when I came to and looked down, I recoiled in shock, even though I knew what was going to happen. Every night since for 3 years I still dream I have 2 legs, even though sometimes I kind … Continue reading Where’s My Leg?

PoemsLeave a comment

Language Of The Depressed

Steve Rowe

The language of the depressed. You have to listen carefullyDon’t give an opinion unless askedSometimes they just want to be heardJust want their problems recognisedEmpathy is often interpreted as pitySupport is to be there and pay attentionTo help if asked forOr to ask if there’s anything you can do to helpUnrequested advice or help is seen as bullyingThe language is often codedThe problem is depersonalisedSpoke about in the the 3rd personOr approached obliquelyBecause they are embarrassedBy listening and paying attentionWatching the body languageFeeling the energyAllowing them to talkUntil they feel comfortableYou can be the greatest helpBe a good friendAnd help … Continue reading Language Of The Depressed

ArticlesLeave a comment

We’re Not All The Same

Steve Rowe

Some people fit easily into a life of servitude, are good children and grow up into jobs providing a regulated environment. That was never me. I hated school, didn’t study and failed any exams. Never got on with my parents and was always the naughty child and odd one out. I left home as soon as possible and didn’t like jobs with a regulated environment and went self employed as soon as possible. I’ve always worked and studied hard in my adult life, have been very successful when I didn’t need to rebel and have always trod my own path, … Continue reading We’re Not All The Same

ArticlesLeave a comment

Dealing With Disability & Illness

Steve Rowe

Dealing With Life Changing Illness & Disability This is directly from my personal experience of 3 bouts of life changing sepsis, 25 surgeries, amputation and cancer coupled with 50 years of training in mindfulness, meditation and martial arts, I am 72 years of age. First you have to accept yourself.Accepting who and what you now are. This will take time and you have to allow it to happen in its own time.This will give you the freedom to work with what you have rather than mourning what you’ve lost. Then you have to accept others.When you have accepted yourself you … Continue reading Dealing With Disability & Illness

Articles7 Comments

In Memory Of Alan Emery

Steve Rowe

In Memory Of Alan Emery “Why do you let that man train?” “What man” I asked politely. “Alan.”  Alan was one of our ‘special needs’ students.  “Whenever we’re doing our form he never moves in time with us, he’s always bumping into us, when we’re doing our exercises he’s always making strange noises and passing wind – it’s disgusting!” “I don’t just let him train; I actually sponsor him to train here.” “Why on earth do you do that?” “To help people like you become more tolerant.”  There was no answer to that.  The student coloured up and left quite … Continue reading In Memory Of Alan Emery