Simon B

More about me...
Meeting other people with spinal injury was encouraging for Simon B. They gave a personal insight...
Meeting other people with spinal injury was encouraging for Simon B. They gave a personal insight...
Since his injury 17 years ago, Simon has had five wheelchairs. He explains how they are funded...
Since his injury 17 years ago, Simon has had five wheelchairs. He explains how they are funded...
It’s been in the sea and snow and sand. And it’s done it’s bit. It’s done it’s time, so…
The Disabled Facilities Grant finances modifications to people’s homes. It can be a long process...
The Disabled Facilities Grant finances modifications to people’s homes. It can be a long process...
Simon rents a flat that isn’t what he regards as an accessible property, but prefers to make his...
Simon rents a flat that isn’t what he regards as an accessible property, but prefers to make his...
Rather than getting them just to do things for him, Simon used his carers as a ‘resource’ to help...
Rather than getting them just to do things for him, Simon used his carers as a ‘resource’ to help...
Simon B thinks emotionally adjusting to injury takes a long time, so a prolonged period of...
Simon B thinks emotionally adjusting to injury takes a long time, so a prolonged period of...
Simon B has been offered help with his shopping, which he found a little patronising.
Simon B has been offered help with his shopping, which he found a little patronising.
He lost a lot of confidence after his injury and part of his rehabilitation was to get it back...
He lost a lot of confidence after his injury and part of his rehabilitation was to get it back...
Yeah, that’s, as I might have mentioned earlier, I come from [home town name] which is a big kind of going out club nightlife, which I got back into reasonably quickly. I think I suffered massively from body image and confidence when I was probably in that year, two years post injury bit. But after that bit, no I was going out just as much as I ever was, probably partying far too hard than I should have done. But I’d kind of come through that lack of confidence and body image and all that and suffered so much with it that I kind of felt that I owed it to myself to get out and go out. And after that I had a massive group of friends locally. I went out a lot and didn’t really care, and that was almost part of my rehab, was rebuilding my confidence and getting out.
Losing friends is a painful process, but Simon B says it’s “a process that needs to happen”.
Losing friends is a painful process, but Simon B says it’s “a process that needs to happen”.
So, my social life was pretty good after it taking a massive hit, both in losing some friends, because you do, but they’re friends you need to lose really because the good ones stick around and the bad ones leave. So that’s, that’s a process that needs to happen as far as I can work out. And just finding out whether you want to do the things you did before your injury, whether they mean the same things to you. You know, I spent, you know, the first ten years after my injury going out a hell of a lot. I was 25 when I had my accident and I think I partied quite hard until I was about 32, 33. And then I moved on to a different stage in my life and that was nothing to do with my disability; that was to do with just wanting different things. I think sport and culture crept into my life when I got a bit older. So you got the confidence to leave the front door, that’s where you need to be, getting the confidence back is the hard bit. So, but to have the confidence you need to do it, and to do it, you need confidence. So it’s a vicious circle.
Simon B said it is important to be organised. He keeps a couple of rucksacks packed with the...
Simon B said it is important to be organised. He keeps a couple of rucksacks packed with the...
Simon B thinks it’s important to find a way back into the world of work, but it’s important to...
Simon B thinks it’s important to find a way back into the world of work, but it’s important to...
Simon B joked that disabled toilets are “miracle factories” because people go in disabled and...
Simon B joked that disabled toilets are “miracle factories” because people go in disabled and...
Simon B hates using the trains because he feels like a “piece of luggage” being loaded on.
Simon B hates using the trains because he feels like a “piece of luggage” being loaded on.
You know, on trains, why are trains three foot above the platform, therefore, you need a ramp? Why aren’t they lower to the platform and you don’t need a ramp? You know, I hate trains. I’m like a piece of luggage when I’m loaded onto a train. You know, why aren’t they just low? Or why aren’t the platforms higher? Or why is there not a button on the side of a train that the ramp comes out on its own? Why do you have to wait for some bloke to turn up with a ramp, who often doesn’t turn up? As I’ve found to my costs. I know other people swear by trains and say they’re fantastic and use them every day to go to work. I have had the worst experiences. You know, so that inconsistency doesn’t exactly instil confidence. You know, if one person finds them fine, they probably use them all the time and have no problem, but for me, you know, I’ve had, you know, stuck on trains going down the line, where I’m not meant to be and then trying to get back down the line. It’s just horror stories.
Because he has a comfortable, expensive, custom-built wheelchair, Simon B doesn’t like using...
Because he has a comfortable, expensive, custom-built wheelchair, Simon B doesn’t like using...
The ground crew, the moving and handling crew, yes. Often they’ll send two small women, which is not a good idea for a six foot five bloke of fifteen stone. And that’s not sexism, that’s just pure practicalities. And often the crew on the flight will be just, if not more helpful at doing some of that then the people that are turning up to do it, and I’m sorry to say, it’s better overseas often, then it is here.
Simon B says there are groups trying to make London more accessible, but they are financially...
Simon B says there are groups trying to make London more accessible, but they are financially...
Simon B’s relationship broke up a year after his injury. He said his girlfriend probably thought...
Simon B’s relationship broke up a year after his injury. He said his girlfriend probably thought...
As many people split up as stay together in my circumstance. I was 25 years old and we split up about a year or so after my accident. Very young. Very screwed up at the time because of it. Kind of glad now that we did. But probably not at the time. Obviously at the time it was like oh my God. What the hell am I going to do? Never going to have a girlfriend. So yeah. Good relationships get stronger and better out of it, and relationships that clearly have fault lines before it will probably split up. And I don’t think there’s any one rule that says oh yes, you’ll stay together, and no you won’t. I think it’s very much based on your own individual relationship. And, at the age of 25, I suppose she probably didn’t see herself sticking by me, because she probably also thought that I was going to be as I was then always. And I clearly am not that person I was one, two years post injury. So, on reflection she probably made a good call because I was probably a bit of a mess one or two years post injury.
Simon B said having confidence and communication make relationships great, and wheelchairs...
Simon B said having confidence and communication make relationships great, and wheelchairs...
Simon thinks that volunteering or going back to work is important because it gives you a reason...
Simon thinks that volunteering or going back to work is important because it gives you a reason...
Stage return. I would certain encourage people not to return full-time straight away, maybe part-time, or if they lose their job, start volunteering. Or start finding a way back into the working world. Because it brings, it brings a whole new life to you. If you’re not stuck, if you’re stuck indoors seven days a week because of disability and not leaving the house, you’re probably depressed because you’re stuck indoors as much as you’re depressed because you’re disabled. So to have something to get your teeth back into is, is important, I think. So I found that although work can be quite demanding and quite hard, I think it’s, in many ways, something that I’m really glad I’m engaged in. Because everyone needs something to get out of bed for. And for me, I like my job, so I don’t mind getting out of bed for it.
There are organisations in London working to make transport more accessible for disabled people....
There are organisations in London working to make transport more accessible for disabled people....