I wouldn’t change the way that I am for anyone because I love living with Cerebral Palsy

I have absolutely loved shining a light on what it is like living with Cerebral Palsy over the last few weeks because it is nothing to be ashamed of. I genuinely don’t give a flying s**t (sorry granny I know you don’t like it when we swear) what people think or have to say about

It is great to see premier league footballers James Maddison and Jack Grealish shout about Cerebral Palsy in recent years

James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur and Jack Grealish of Manchester City have highlighted Cerebral Palsy by talking about it in the media in recent years. Jack (Grealish) revealed whilst on duty with England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar that his sister is living with condition. James (Maddison) was in the media a

The 28th anniversary of my first brain surgery at the children’s hospital in Birmingham

The 18th of October this year will mark the 28th anniversary of my very first brain surgery at the children’s hospital in Birmingham. The majority of my readers and followers will know that I was born 15 weeks early at 25 weeks gestation which resulted in me being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephulas at

Cerebral Palsy hasn’t stopped me from having a voice in the lead up to International Day of Persons with Disabilities

I absolutely love the month of December because it gives the disabled community an opportunity to celebrate who we are on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is today – Sunday the 3rd of December. I recently spent 110 days fighting for West Midlands Trains to meet with me in order to discuss some

Should the government apologise for there comments relating to disabled people working from home?

I am disappointed and shocked by the comments that government minister, Laura Trott made in the media today about disabled people with mobility & mental health issues working from home. Ms Trott said that our community must work from home in order to do our duty. I absolutely loved completing my apprenticeship in Business Administration

Being born at 15 weeks hasn’t stopped me from feeling empowered to make change this Disability History Month

This week saw the start of Disability History Month which also coincides with World Prematurity Day on Friday the 17th of November. I have spent much of the last 12 months attempting to make change for the next generation of disabled children and young people. I recently embarked on my latest campaign which is designed

Why do you abuse me?

The question that I often asked myself is why do people think that it’s acceptable to abuse me just because I’m in a wheelchair. Time and time again in 2022 I have been on the receiving end of some shocking discrimination. I personally believe that this has become more of an issue in the last

The impact of Bonfire night on those with disabilities

In just a few weeks time its going to be bonfire night and for many with disabilities (including myself) that brings fear and anxiety. I am dreading bonfire night this year because I feel like I’m coming under attack when in bed because the fireworks are so loud. I also hate loud noises and that

I have Hydrocephalus and I’m proud to shout about it.

I am proud to shout about the fact that I live with a condition called Hydrocephalus that I have had since I was born 27 years ago. Hydrocephalus is where there is water on the brain and I have this as a result of being born with another condition called Cerebral Palsy at 25 weeks,

Does not having access to the pavement network as the disabled community breech our human rights

Since I won my fight to get more drop curbs on the pavements in Herefordshire for the disabled community i’ve been left questioning whether having to use the roads as our pavement is against our human rights. Why should we be forced to use the roads as our pavement just because of the lack of

Learning about disabilities will make the world a better place.

If people learn about disability is it will 100% make the world a better place. Since I went to public about my experiences as a wheelchair user on trains I have been subjected to abuse from the public. If these individuals took the time to understand disabilities and how we have to overcome so many

I shouldn’t have made it to 27!

I can’t believe today (Wednesday the 9th of August) is my 27th birthday, a mile stone that I shouldn’t have reached. As many of you, my readers and followers will know I was born at 25 weeks gestation weighing just half a bag of sugar. I spent the first 3 months of my life in

Last week, a dream of mine came true when I took my first cruise as a wheelchair user.

I started a dream of a life time last Saturday (29th July, 2023) when I boarded the Iona cruise ship in Southampton to sail around Norway. The ship departed the port of Southampton at 18:30 and started to make its way to Stavanger. That evening I went to a show called the Festival in the

I am not a Retard and I am proud to have Cerebral Palsy

I have just watched comedian Rosie Jones’s documentary “Am I a Retard” on channel 4 and it doesn’t reflect me as an individual living with Cerebral Palsy. Rosie opens the programme by saying that this documentary has a very shocking word in it, the R word but she believes that we need to comfort it.

If you’re going to stare at me, why don’t you just take a picture because it will last longer!

On Thursday (6th of July) whilst I was out and about in Hereford on my daily walk I was on the receiving end of someone staring at me. The incident has left me questioning once again what people think of me and others from the disabled community. I have also been reminded that there is

As a wheelchair user I need allies to help me celebrate acceptance during Disability Pride Month.

I marked the start of Disability Pride Month by visiting Edgbaston in Birmingham to watch England take on Australia in the 2023 women’s Ashes. If you are interested in reading more about what happened in the first T-20 woman’s ashes match between England and Australia, you can do so here: https://cameronwooddotblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/01/australia-beat-england-in-the-first-t20-match-of-the-womens-ashes-at-edgbaston/ I believe that the

The Glastonbury Festival is discriminating against wheelchair and Mobility Scooter users by not making the festival accessible to our community.

This weekend has seen thousands of festival goers flock to Glastonbury at Worthy Farm in Sommerset. They were treated to music from the likes of Elton John, Lewis Capaldi and Becky Hill who hails from Brewdley in Worcestershire. I was at home watching the festival on TV as a 26 year old, Wheelchair user who

The panic I experienced when I found out that direct trains from London to Hereford are cancelled for weeks as a wheelchair user.

It was announced that direct train services from London to Hereford are being cancelled for several weeks earlier this morning (Thursday 6th of April). This news comes hours before I’m due to jump on a train to London and cheer on the England lionesses at Wembley this evening. I’m due to be heading home back

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month 2023

Its march and that only means one thing, it’s time to celebrate all things Cerebral Palsy and what it means for those living with the condition. As many of you, my loyal readers and followers will know that I was born at 25 weeks (15 weeks early) weighing just half a bag of sugar. Since

Celebrating Hydrocephalus Awareness Week and the 27th anniversary of my first brain surgery.

Today (Monday the 6th of March 2023) marks the start of Hydrocephalus Awareness Week for 2023 so I thought that I would write a blog to celebrate both that and the 27th anniversary of my first brain surgery which takes place this October. I have a device called a VP shunt in my head that

It’s intimidating when you don’t speak to me at my eye level

I have been thinking a lot recently about why people don’t get down to my level when they are trying to engage in conversation with me. These thoughts got me thinking about the time that I first met Mark Gough from ITV News Central when I was a student at Hereward College in Coventry. Mark

My experience of education as someone living with Cerebral Palsy whilst using a wheelchair

As a 26 year who has been in both mainstream and specialist education for young people with disabilities I wanted to share my experiences of both areas. I started school as a 5 year old at a mainstream primary school but attended a specialist unit that was integrated within the main school. I moved out

Why I find the thought of having a carer undignified

Today is Dignity Action Day and I have been thinking about why I find the thought of having a carer undignified. I find this thought undignified because I do not want a random person supporting me with my personal care needs. I would much rather have the support of either family members or a friend

Flying to Orlando, Florida as a wheelchair user.

A year before the pandemic started I flew to Orlando, Florida to visit Disney. Flying as a wheelchair user isn’t always easy and this was a classic example of that. As we arrived at the gate to board the aircraft I was sat waiting to board for nearly an hour because of the lack of

The disabled community urged to stay warm and indoors for the rest of the week.

Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning those who vulnerable and have disabilities to stay in doors for the rest of this week because of the extreme cold weather forecast. As disability rights campaigner I would like to urge communities across Herefordshire and the wider West Midlands to check in on there vulnerable neighbours

Having an advent calendar as a disabled person

I hate having an advent calendar as someone who only has one hand that works. Opening an advent calendar with one hand is very difficult and I sometimes have to get support to do this. I don’t like having to get support with this type of task because this is something that I like doing

My 24 hour stay awake in aid of the children’s hospital in Birmingham

I completed a 24 hour stay awake in aid of Birmingham children’s hospital who cared for me as a young person with disabilities from 1996 until 2014. I have a device in my head called a VP shunt that drains fluid away from my brain. I last visited Birmingham children’s hospital as an impatient in

My left hand is no laughing matter!!!!

As my readers and followers will know Saturday the 3rd of December saw us mark International day of person’s with disabilities. When I was out and about minding my own business recently I over heard a couple of young people saying his fingers look funny. Their guardian made no attempt to educate them about what

Reflecting on how the FA both in Herefordshire and at national level supported me as a disabled youth leader within football for International Day of Person’s with Disabilities

I would like to start this blog off by apologising for releasing 2 blogs on the same day about the same topic, International Day of Person’s with Disabilities. The purpose of my second blog on this topic is to reflect on how the FA in Herefordshire and at national level supported me as a disabled

International Day of Person’s with disabilities

Today (Saturday the 3rd of December) is International Day of Persons with Disabilities and as I have Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephalus I wanted to celebrate it. As I have mentioned so many times in my blogs I use a wheelchair because I was born at 25 weeks (15 weeks earlier) weighing just half a bag

Hello my name is Cameron, please respect my wishes

This morning, Friday the 25th of November 2022 I visited my local co-op store and once I had paid for my shopping I began to pack my rucksack in the normal way that I would. Once I had finished packing my rucksack I proceeded to put it on the back of my wheelchair and this

During the next 24 hours of extreme weather please check in on your vulnerable neighbours and relatives

The next 24 hours is going to see Herefordshire, the West Midlands and wider United Kingdom battered with storm like conditions. As a disability rights campaigner and wheelchair user who is unable to venture out during severe weather conditions as it becomes too dangerous to use the pavement network because of large amounts of standing

Your having an impact on our independence!!!!

On Tuesday the 22nd of November (Yesterday) the RMT union announced further industrial action next month and into early 2023. The industrial action is due to take place on the 13th,14th & 16th, 17th of December 2022. There will also be further strike action by the union of the 3rd,4th & 6th, 7th of January

World Prematurity Day 2022

Today is world Prematurity day and as somebody who was born 15 weeks early I wanted to write a blog to mark this very important day. As I have written in many of my blogs I was born at 25 weeks weighing just half a bag of sugar. I spent the first three months of

You are not alone, I’ve had negative comments and abuse directed at me in recent months for being in a wheelchair and having a disability.

It has been revealed through some research that 75% of the U.K.’s disabled population have experienced negative attitudes towards them this year alone. This research was carried out by scope- The U.K.’s leading disability charity. Scope spoke with 4015 disabled adults and carried out 100 telephone interviews as part of this research. They also held

The continual failures of a train operator when it comes to protecting wheelchair users.

Yesterday afternoon when I boarded a train at Crewe on the final leg of my journey to Manchester Picadilly I had to sit by the train doors, This is the third time in a matter of months on these particular trains that I’ve had to do this and I am finding it increasingly frustrating. There

Replacing the terms disabled and disability with people of determination is a disgusting suggestion.

I have been left feeling shocked, upset and angry that someone within our society has created a petition to ask His Majesty’s government to replace the terms disability and disabled with “people of determination”. I am very determined to achieve everything that I set out to despite being in a wheelchair and having a range

A Comedian with Cerebral Palsy comes to Hereford

A comedian who has Cerebral Palsy visited the Courtyard in Hereford on Saturday the 11th of March. Rosie Jones started touring England with her Triple Threat show on the 3rd of March when she visited Birmingham Rosie visited theatres in Birmingham, Leicester, Cardiff and Guilford before heading to beautiful Hereford. She headed to theatres in

My 3 hour wait to buy tickets for a football match over the phone

Yesterday (Monday 31st October) I waited a number of hours in an accessibility ticket phone queue. I was attempting to purchase wheelchair tickets for the lionesses match against Brazil at Wembley Stadium in April next year. I called the dedicated phone line at 11:30 am and didn’t put the phone down until 2:30 pm. It

Please don’t tell me to wheelie on!!

Last night whilst I was trying to defend a friend I was told to wheelie on. I didn’t however react to this abuse and this lead to more of it coming my way. The same individual then said that I am unable to find my **** hole and he also has more GCSE grades than

Hydrocephalus and Me

As many of my readers and followers will know I have Cerebral Palsy however I also have second condition called Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is where fluid is unable to drain away from the brain and this means that I have a device in my head called a VP Shunt that does this more me. I’ve had

Hate Crime awareness week 2022

Today marks the end of Hate Crime awareness week for this year and it’s time to stand up against all forms of hate. I am passionate about Hate Crime and helping to stop it within our society. Hate crime awareness week runs from 8th to the 16th October. I have been a victim of Hate

Disability rights campaigner abused twice in two days for just being himself

Whilst I was out and about in my community this afternoon I was abused for just feel myself. Whilst walking along part of the pavement network a couple walked towards me and one of them decided to say road hog to me. I have been left feeling upset and angry by this incident because this

Please don’t say I’m speeding when I can’t in my wheelchair

As many of my readers and followers maybe aware it is Hate Crime awareness week. This morning whilst I was out and about independently minding my own business I got told not to speed by another member of the public using the pavement network. This has yet again left me feeling confused and upset because

The cost of living and me

This winter is set to be the scariest yet for the disabled community of the United Kingdom. This is because there is talk of a daily three hour power cut to save energy but this is going to have a detrimental impact on our community across the nation. The entire disabled community rely on energy

World Cerebral Palsy Day 2022

The day has finally arrived and it is World Cerebral Day. I am incredibly excited for today as I get to celebrate my condition for what it is with my friends and family. This year has been incredibly challenging for a number of reasons living with CP but I will not let any of these

24 hours to go until world cerebral palsy day

There is just 24 hours to go until world Cerebral Palsy day. I have spent the last few days sharing my experiences though blogging about what it is like living with the condition. These blogs have been emotional to write but I’m so excited to write my world cerebral palsy day blog for this year.

I face abuse for having cerebral palsy

Over the years I’ve faced a abuse for having cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair. This summer the abuse increased and this has been incredibly difficult for me to understand. I got called some obscene names whilst using the train to travel home from Birmingham in august. This really knocked my confidence about living a

Understanding my Condition

Cerebral Palsy can be a hard condition to understand because there are various types of it. My version of the condition means I use a wheelchair because neither of legs work. I also have the added complication of not having the use of one of my arms and in my case it’s my left arm.

Having Cerebral Palsy and using a wheelchair

As many of my readers and followers will know I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair. My chair is called Aston and I took ownership of him in April 2021 and we have had some incredible adventures together. The biggest advantage that we have had yet was stepping out on to the pitch at

A series of blogs on what it is like living with cerebral palsy.

As we build up to World cerebral palsy day next week I wanted to write a series of blogs. I was born at 25 weeks and weighed half a bag of sugar in 1996 and this led to me being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Over the next few days I will be writing a series

Being a disabled young person who’s passionate about Careers Education for those young people with disabilities

On Thursday January 20th 2022 I was given the opportunity by the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) to share my story with careers leaders and enterprise hub coordinators from across England. I told them about my background in education and how I had successfully completed mainstream primary and secondary school education. I then went on

I’m just a wheelchair user and it doesn’t make me any different.

I cannot believe that I’m having to write this blog today but unfortunately following some negative comments from the public recently I feel that I have no choice but to stand up for myself. I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair because I was born at 25 weeks and weighed half a bag of

Disability Pride Month 2022

July marks Disability pride month and I wanted to celebrate by writing a blog about what it is like living with Cerebral Palsy. I’m in a wheelchair because I was born at 25 weeks and weighed just half a bag of sugar at birth. Despite having a disability and being a wheelchair I try a

Representation is getting better in our society

On Sunday, the 27th of February 2022 I travelled to Birmingham to see a choir made up of people with disabilities called sign along with us. This concert was an important step in ensuring that the disabled community feel that they are represented. I really enjoyed the The concert because it was not your average

A year on from getting Aston

April 2022 marked one year since I took ownership of Aston my new Set of wheels. We have had so much fun in the past year travelling the length and breath of the UK experiencing some good times. The highlight of the last year has to be putting our wheels on the hollow turf of

Getting the powers at be to listen to my concerns.

On Tuesday, the 25th of January 2022 I went on ITV news Central to raise real fears that a couple of Herefordshire’s Roads are an accident waiting to happen. I had been trying to raise this issue with the local authority since 2019 but hadn’t had any luck until January 2022. As part of the

Cerebral palsy awareness month 2022

March each year is Cerebral Palsy awareness month and I wanted to write a blog to celebrate the month for 2022. I have had Cerebral Palsy since birth and try to live my life to the full in the best way that I can. This year has started well for me because I was named

Achieving my mission of getting young people with disabilities heard.

As we are all so aware the last 18 months have been challenging for all of us on a number of different levels. During these difficult times I have insured that young people with disabilities have been represented in a number of different ways. I have led a piece of major work alongside groups of

How I celebrated international day of persons with disabilities for 2021

On Friday, the 3rd of December 2021 it was international day of persons with disabilities. As I live with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus meaning that I use a wheelchair I wanted to write a blog about how I celebrated this day. I celebrated by talking about getting young people with disabilities heard through my youth