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Dr Amy Kavanagh

@blondehistorian.bsky.social

3.9K followers 2K following 800 posts

Blind activist, Mama, accessibility professional and Londoner. Guided by the Diva Retriever. Sharing my blurry world view

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · Nov 19

Hello!

I’m Amy a blind disability activist.

Follow me for posts about:
♿️ disability
🧑‍🦯 accessibility
👶🏼 disabled mum stuff
🦮 cute guide dog
🏙️ London life

Stuff I love includes:
🎮 gaming
🎭 theatre
📜 museums & history
🍻 a decent pint
🍽️ delicious food
🚂 public transport

Say hello & please share!

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 9h

Also, why join a family friendly kid focused health club! The majority of gyms are adult only!

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah the diagram of people who are mad that kids are on iPads and the people who are furious when children make noise is a circle

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 1d

Same here! Many schools don’t have the resources to teach kids.

Also it’s like everyone forgets they were a child who needed to learn things?!

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah that’s absolutely on them.

Similar to this person, the majority of gyms aren’t for kids! Why join the very very kid family friendly health club?!?

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 1d

Got stuck in a conversation with another lane swimmer complaining about “too many children” in the pool.

It’s a Saturday morning, when they have the kids classes.

They chose to swim at this time. Instead of any weekday evening? Or before 9 on a weekday?

There are so many child free times to swim!

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 1d

Fantastic! Thank you

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 1d

Oh wonderful! There are also great options re: third party access

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 3d

I’m doing some tidying and preparing for the baby.

So I went up on my little step ladder just one step. Guide Dog Ava came over and huffed at me until I got down.

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 3d

It really is. I just enjoy having to do less admin. Calling every bank or utility provider again and again!

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 3d

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 3d

As a blind person I constantly received communication from essential services like banks or utility providers that I can’t read because it’s not in an accessible format.

Yet when I ask for an email version or the information over the phone I’m told it’s not possible.

But there is a solution. 3/

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 3d

This is the experience for many disabled people when trying to understand printed letters.

It could be notifying you that the water is going to be shut off for 24 hours.

Perhaps it is a final demand for an overdraft payment because you’ve not responded to other letters. 2/

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 3d

What does this letter say?

Imagine this letter contains essential information and you can’t access it.

You can’t decipher the blurred text, the paper colour makes the type disappear, and the few words that you manage to read are worrying or confusing. 1/

Purple and blue text on a white background. The image is of a blurred indecipherable letter, text is greyed and blacked out, words emerge like offer or overdue. Tables and figures are partially visible.

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 7d

Agreed

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 8d

Isn’t it just?

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 8d

Yeah you’re not born with those attitudes

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 8d

Yup.

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 8d

Yup what are they around

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 8d

Small child at gym softplay: why are you so fat?

Me: I’m having a baby very soon.

Child: well you’re fat and you should exercise.

🫠

I nearly argued with a 5 year old that I’d just done 26 laps in 33 minutes at 37 weeks pregnant but it felt a bit redundant…

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 10d

Yup. “Ava wait for dinner! Until after television!”

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 12d

She’s getting used to being told off by the toddler for incomprehensible reasons 🤣

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 13d

I read some advice that it’s good to randomly tell the newborn to “wait for” something so that the toddler feels less conflict & impatience.

So we’ve started practicing with Guide Dog Ava.

“Ava wait for your dinner!”

But Ava’s just like “ummm sure I wasn’t doing anything?”

A confused Guide Dog Ava lies on her grey round bed. She’s a golden retriever with a puzzled expression

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 14d

Entirely possible. But the age gap was quite significant and the bloke was entirely backing off the whole time!

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 14d

The energy of the whole studio is lovely. Just really welcoming and supportive. I can transfer to the Mummy and Baby class after Baby arrives!

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Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · 14d

Luckily she didn’t! Just some occasional big sighs