Attending the candidate briefing this evening at the Ron Short Centre (organised by Rob Harnish and Aindre Reece-Sheerin) was heartbreaking and deeply humbling. Our island is largely inaccessible and people capable of implementing change largely resist. I hope the amount of candidates in the room suggests that things will now change and they weren’t simply there to get votes.
I’m ashamed to say that was my first time in the RSC. It’s inspiring. Just about everything has been thought of with accessibility in mind, things most people will never think of. The corridors, archways and doorways are wide. The floor and walls are starkly contrasting black and white, the floor is smooth and seamless, the computer area has noise deadening cladding and partitions, the shop’s shelves are mostly easy to reach for those in a wheelchair. I could go on. The shop sells wares made by the people who the RSC is for. They are set up as a social enterprise so that people can do what they’re good at and leave aspects of business admin and marketing to suitably able volunteers where that is appropriate.
I got talking to the mother of a neurodiverse and gender-diverse family because of course I did. Very much looking forward to Thursday’s meet-up with Autism & Me.
Tomorrow evening, I’ll be in a hustings panel 7:30 – 9:30 with Art Allen-O’Leary, Kerry Barnfather, Chris Blin, Rob Curgenven, John Gollop, Rob Harnish, Munazza Malik, Aidan Matthews, Diane Mitchell, Chris Nicolle and Jennifer Strachan in the St. Peter Port Douzaine. The public and Jenny Kendall-Tobias will keep us on our toes, I’m sure. Others were invited but sadly can’t make it.
Tom Moore for Deputy 