Rich Downes
I once wrote for life now I write in life. I'm looking forward to developing a blog presence with personality for DAO whilst delivering comment, reviews, photos and views on disability and how it's represented.
10 May 2012
Self Service Psychiatry
I attended a CPA yesterday. Care Programme Approach Meeting. It was the first one that my partner had been granted since 2008. She is supposed to have two a year. This was glossed over quickly by...Comments: 4
5 May 2012
Long Die The Tragedy Model
Good Grief! How did we miss this classic? Was it through our own grief at the passing of Jack Ashley? Anyway, how this came about. I was playing around with the Gustave Flaubert image that appears...Comments: 1
5 May 2012
What Is Writing Really?
The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe. Gustave Flaubert I'm not sure if I believe that Gustave. Lately it feels that the art of writing is the art of exploring...Comments: 6
3 May 2012
Sad Americana
A couple of years ago just around christmas time I lost in quick succession and no longer in any order Vic Chesnutt, Mark Linkous and Jack Rose - 3 musicians that constantly delighted...Comments: 0
23 April 2012
Introducing Jamie Green
Did you see my review of Laurence Clark's gig at the Dugdale Centre, Enfield. I left a lot of stuff out. Something i've really liked about working with disabled comedians of late...Comments: 5
20 April 2012
Struggling to Record the Action of the Hardest Hit
I have a photo journal on flickr which i would like to contribute to DAO for safe keeping, debate and discussion. If anyone can advise me how to do this it would be much appreciated. I have tried...Comments: 0
29 March 2012
Rock N Rollers don’t wash their hair.
This is a fundamental tenet of my beliefs. And I’ve had it dashed. Repeat exposure to old copies of Top Of The Pops, ancient photos revealed in the holy book of Mojo show the fathers of rock...Comments: 1
26 March 2012
Another Playground Label Ahoy
Travelling to the Shape Offices for the last day of the New Voices course I found myself shocked and alarmed by a poster on the tube. It wasn't the picture. It was the title. I suddenly realised...Comments: 8
1 March 2012
Keys To The Karamel’s Sweet Konnektions
Up early, yesterday, sitting at the PC, marvelling at an early youtube clip sent by Chris Sheehan of Robert Plant getting up to sing a rollicking rock blues with Charlie Wood .. Late last...Comments: 1
21 February 2012
Chatting to A Chugger 3 - An Occasional Series
For me the biggest word that comes out of the social model is responsibility. We all need to be responsible for change. In what ways can we be responsible? This is for you to answer for yourself but...Comments: 7
10 February 2012
About Our Special Powers
Richard Downes has a grouse at Tempo House and wonders what your powers are. "Winston Churchill had a speech imp-p-p-pediment And look what he did He razed half of London" Currently...Comments: 6
1 February 2012
A Cracking Carol
Richard Downes takes a family day out to share a favourite club with others and to make lasting relationships in the arts Scene 1: The Past. A room in Tottenham. Summer. A long, long time ago. Franz...Comments: 1
31 January 2012
Write A Poem for Me
Richard Downes gives you the opportunity to represent yourselves at a festival, talk about yourself, talk about our people, make a poem by simply adding lines. Are you up for it? Can you do it? Will...Comments: 10
24 January 2012
The Queen Is Dead The Song Lives On
The last great Blues Shouter from that holy relic, Chess Records, has up and died. She could rock, she could roll she knew the meaning of soul. Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the page, The Queen of...Comments: 1
23 January 2012
Shaping Up Another Entry
About an enjoyable day, the thoughts it caused, about past, current and future work that may or may not happen. A tale about a work completed with this blog entry - which may go further....Comments: 0
17 January 2012
A Day For The Lords
I'm unqualified to talk Welfare Reform. I know the government takes steps to hurt us because we are in this crying game together. I'm unqualified to comment on the Lords. I believe they place...Comments: 12
Comments
Rich Downes
Kev self organising, self advocating, putting ourselves forward to be counted should always be important whether we are within or without a movement. your point certainly picks up on Deborah's point that to be heard we need to speak and be received appropriately.
Imelda i love your QUIM and will remember it. Its very funny. I only asked one question whilst outside the Lords but carried it and the criticism that was made with me all day. The reply led to the other questions. I did resolve for 2012 to return to questions. I gave them up as irrelevant in 1983 but recognise that if i am to understand i have to ask.
Thanks for the support Bib.
John i didn't see the Francesca Martin interview but others have commented on it and claim to be alarmed and concerned because of how she was treated (is it on you tube?. Was this just another part of what i call the current media conspiracy to attack disabled people. Can we prove there is one?
I like Bob's idea of an organic movement. It chimes with what Kev was saying. I also like common aims, shared agendas, different styles of getting a message over, and think that's why we achieved what we did over 20 years.
I'd like to say Mighty Villa has a point but i'm with Bob as a Baggie but, unlike Bob i'm real black country so who care what the higher strata says.
So..... YES.... continue with our model, build on it, positively promote rights and opposition. Hang the thought that we can't say what is ours and continue asking questions
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