Hazel McMichael
@hazelmcmichael.bsky.social
antidisciplinary arts researcher & educator, recovering academic, essay writer, reemerging poet, mad queer witch, currently Curating Visibility curatorial fellow at Charleston (views mine) www.hazelmcmichael.com
come collaborate with me on a digital project exploring histories of “madness” and psychiatric treatment in the lives of people associated with the Bloomsbury group @charlestontrust.bsky.social
We’re looking for Disabled Co-Producers to support our Curating Visibility Fellows.
Interested in museums and the stories they tell?
🔗http://alturl.com/rg7pb
@disabilitylab.bsky.social @londonmuseum.bsky.social
@charlestontrust.bsky.social @barnsleymuseums.bsky.social
Interested in museums and the stories they tell?
🔗http://alturl.com/rg7pb
@disabilitylab.bsky.social @londonmuseum.bsky.social
@charlestontrust.bsky.social @barnsleymuseums.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
come collaborate with me on a digital project exploring histories of “madness” and psychiatric treatment in the lives of people associated with the Bloomsbury group @charlestontrust.bsky.social
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
It’s Section 28 all over again….
🆕🚨 New statutory Relationships and Sex Education guidance published today will:
- Restrict schools from using materials that "encourage pupils to question their gender"
- Teaches children the laws about "biological sex"
- Removes all references to the word transgender
What we know so far 🧵
- Restrict schools from using materials that "encourage pupils to question their gender"
- Teaches children the laws about "biological sex"
- Removes all references to the word transgender
What we know so far 🧵
July 15, 2025 at 10:12 PM
It’s Section 28 all over again….
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
(1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip.
Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.
Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.
June 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
(1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip.
Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.
Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
It's my day off. I'm on my way to Glasgow. But that didn't stop me from writing a reactionary op-ed for @bigissue.com this morning after a Reform councillor referred to some children in care as “not just naughty children... but downright evil.”
Read my take below. ⬇️
www.bigissue.com/opinion/refo...
Read my take below. ⬇️
www.bigissue.com/opinion/refo...
A Reform councillor calling children in care 'evil' is missing the point
When a Reform councillor brands children in care as “evil”, it says more about political ignorance than the kids themselves. Here’s why.
www.bigissue.com
June 5, 2025 at 12:34 PM
It's my day off. I'm on my way to Glasgow. But that didn't stop me from writing a reactionary op-ed for @bigissue.com this morning after a Reform councillor referred to some children in care as “not just naughty children... but downright evil.”
Read my take below. ⬇️
www.bigissue.com/opinion/refo...
Read my take below. ⬇️
www.bigissue.com/opinion/refo...
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
I'm excited to share details for the launch of VERSUS VERSUS: 100 poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets, hosted by Bloodaxe Books on their Youtube channel. DATE: May 22 at 7pm (BST). Link and details in comments.
May 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I'm excited to share details for the launch of VERSUS VERSUS: 100 poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets, hosted by Bloodaxe Books on their Youtube channel. DATE: May 22 at 7pm (BST). Link and details in comments.
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
Networks like NSUN seem vital at this time. I’m so grateful for this space to connect and contribute to conversations on complex issues like this away from social media.
"Activist approaches that depend on sharing stories of lived experiences in state-controlled institutions can come dangerously close to the coercive confessional dynamics of the psychiatric system."
@hazelmcmichael.bsky.social examines the dynamics of confession.
www.nsun.org.uk/the-dynamics...
@hazelmcmichael.bsky.social examines the dynamics of confession.
www.nsun.org.uk/the-dynamics...
The Dynamics of Confession from Psychiatric Services to Digital Activism
For activists concerned with lived experiences of the psychiatric system, it seems especially important to recognise and reduce the risks of reproducing confessional dynamics central to these institut...
www.nsun.org.uk
May 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Networks like NSUN seem vital at this time. I’m so grateful for this space to connect and contribute to conversations on complex issues like this away from social media.
so excited to be part of this project and work alongside these wonderful people!
Now that we’ve welcomed our final three Curating Visibility Fellows, we’re excited to introduce you to all six Fellows currently shaping the programme. Head to our website and get to know more about them! curatingforchange.org/2025/03/26/m...
April 1, 2025 at 6:26 PM
so excited to be part of this project and work alongside these wonderful people!
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
"Applying a 2% tax on assets over £10 million could raise up to £24 billion a year, Tax Justice claim. Around 22,000 people would be impacted. On the other hand, the DWP’s health and disability benefit cuts will put an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty..."
March 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
"Applying a 2% tax on assets over £10 million could raise up to £24 billion a year, Tax Justice claim. Around 22,000 people would be impacted. On the other hand, the DWP’s health and disability benefit cuts will put an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty..."
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
I love telling students about #BorgDiem, Cy Weise and co’s disabled, crowdsourced dictionary of now nearly 300 words for self-ID.
That'd be a great #BorgDiem word. I use houserealmed, as someone who largely is (only left flat twice last year aside from medical appointments and feeding birds in communal garden outside the flat on good days). LMK if you'd like links to some fun entertainment ciadish.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/b...
Borg.Diem Dictionary, Second Edition by The Borg Collective
Late in 2022, poet, artist, activist and Cyborg Jillian Weise, (Cy) had an idea. Cy wanted words to describe disabled people that were created by disabled people. All too often, disabled people hav…
ciadish.wordpress.com
March 29, 2025 at 4:29 AM
I love telling students about #BorgDiem, Cy Weise and co’s disabled, crowdsourced dictionary of now nearly 300 words for self-ID.
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
My 4 min video on proposed disability benefits cuts as a disabled person who works with the help of PIP, & how this is continuing previous governments' killing of disabled people through brutal DWP systems and policies.
youtu.be/lCr9RuTpOys
youtu.be/lCr9RuTpOys
Benefit Cuts Will Kill
YouTube video by Dolly Sen
youtu.be
March 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
My 4 min video on proposed disability benefits cuts as a disabled person who works with the help of PIP, & how this is continuing previous governments' killing of disabled people through brutal DWP systems and policies.
youtu.be/lCr9RuTpOys
youtu.be/lCr9RuTpOys
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
If you want to write to your Labour MP about disability benefit cuts but have limited spoons, here’s a template from @sensecharity.bsky.social you can use:
t.co/E8QB6EDi9o
Public backlash *does* work at times so let’s keep the pressure up. You too, non-disabled allies!
t.co/E8QB6EDi9o
Public backlash *does* work at times so let’s keep the pressure up. You too, non-disabled allies!
https://action.sense.org.uk/page/167765/action/1?ea.tracking.id=twt-org
t.co
March 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM
If you want to write to your Labour MP about disability benefit cuts but have limited spoons, here’s a template from @sensecharity.bsky.social you can use:
t.co/E8QB6EDi9o
Public backlash *does* work at times so let’s keep the pressure up. You too, non-disabled allies!
t.co/E8QB6EDi9o
Public backlash *does* work at times so let’s keep the pressure up. You too, non-disabled allies!
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
Afterwords: Pauline Oliveros airs tonight on BBC Radio 3 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Feat. Stephanie Loveless from @deeplistening.bsky.social, @irenerevell.bsky.social @drlcagray.bsky.social, Maria Chavez and Annea Lockwood
Produced by @listentosteve.bsky.social
📸 Paula Court
Feat. Stephanie Loveless from @deeplistening.bsky.social, @irenerevell.bsky.social @drlcagray.bsky.social, Maria Chavez and Annea Lockwood
Produced by @listentosteve.bsky.social
📸 Paula Court
March 16, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Afterwords: Pauline Oliveros airs tonight on BBC Radio 3 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Feat. Stephanie Loveless from @deeplistening.bsky.social, @irenerevell.bsky.social @drlcagray.bsky.social, Maria Chavez and Annea Lockwood
Produced by @listentosteve.bsky.social
📸 Paula Court
Feat. Stephanie Loveless from @deeplistening.bsky.social, @irenerevell.bsky.social @drlcagray.bsky.social, Maria Chavez and Annea Lockwood
Produced by @listentosteve.bsky.social
📸 Paula Court
I’m finishing up my first week in my dreamy new role as Curatorial Fellow at @charlestontrust.bsky.social with @accentuateuk.bsky.social - so excited to work with disabled co-producers on a crip, mad & queer project responding to the collection & its equally delightful and difficult histories.
March 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I’m finishing up my first week in my dreamy new role as Curatorial Fellow at @charlestontrust.bsky.social with @accentuateuk.bsky.social - so excited to work with disabled co-producers on a crip, mad & queer project responding to the collection & its equally delightful and difficult histories.
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
Just a reminder that disabled folk and organisations have incredible form for beating the DWP in court when they break our human rights:
March 8, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Just a reminder that disabled folk and organisations have incredible form for beating the DWP in court when they break our human rights:
It’s about time major institutions like Tate start following the example of smaller ones like @museumartcraft.bsky.social and actively address Eric Gill’s sexual abuse of his daughters. www.ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk/event/eric-g...
March 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
It’s about time major institutions like Tate start following the example of smaller ones like @museumartcraft.bsky.social and actively address Eric Gill’s sexual abuse of his daughters. www.ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk/event/eric-g...
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
‘The brain has its own handwriting, which depends on a certain protein. I can imagine my poor brain throwing up its hands in dismay to find all the good handwriting protein gone.’
Anne Carson on handwriting, online early from the next issue: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Anne Carson on handwriting, online early from the next issue: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Anne Carson · Beware the man whose handwriting sways like a reed in the wind
This is an essay about hands and handwriting. I think of handwriting as a way to organise thought into shapes. I like...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
‘The brain has its own handwriting, which depends on a certain protein. I can imagine my poor brain throwing up its hands in dismay to find all the good handwriting protein gone.’
Anne Carson on handwriting, online early from the next issue: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Anne Carson on handwriting, online early from the next issue: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
Behold this spectacular contemporary phenomenon wherein the collective courage of women - symbolized by individuals like Gisèle Pelicot and Carla Antonelli (here pictured) - stuffs patriarchy's shame back down the throats of its propagators. I could watch Antonelli's speech again and again.
February 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Behold this spectacular contemporary phenomenon wherein the collective courage of women - symbolized by individuals like Gisèle Pelicot and Carla Antonelli (here pictured) - stuffs patriarchy's shame back down the throats of its propagators. I could watch Antonelli's speech again and again.
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
Extremely excited for the next Small Press Takeover - Pamenar Press will be launching Laynie Browne's Everyone and Her Resemblances! This poetic sequence is a conversation with an oracular presence, exploring blindness, dreams, and loss🦋
February 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Extremely excited for the next Small Press Takeover - Pamenar Press will be launching Laynie Browne's Everyone and Her Resemblances! This poetic sequence is a conversation with an oracular presence, exploring blindness, dreams, and loss🦋
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
I want to send 400+ A5 postcards to all the Labour MPs. Can cover printing costs, but have a fundraiser for the postage. Thanks in advance :)
Activism like this is acting like a mosquito, small but irritating, and causing a tiny disruption to comfortable bullshit.
www.gofundme.com/f/postage-to...
Activism like this is acting like a mosquito, small but irritating, and causing a tiny disruption to comfortable bullshit.
www.gofundme.com/f/postage-to...
Donate to Postage to send 404 Labour MPs this postcard, organized by Dolly Sen
Hello, I am Dolly Sen, an artist, writer, filmmaker and activist. I campaign on… Dolly Sen needs your support for Postage to send 404 Labour MPs this postcard
www.gofundme.com
February 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I want to send 400+ A5 postcards to all the Labour MPs. Can cover printing costs, but have a fundraiser for the postage. Thanks in advance :)
Activism like this is acting like a mosquito, small but irritating, and causing a tiny disruption to comfortable bullshit.
www.gofundme.com/f/postage-to...
Activism like this is acting like a mosquito, small but irritating, and causing a tiny disruption to comfortable bullshit.
www.gofundme.com/f/postage-to...
On #CareDay I’m sharing these meandering reflections I wrote last year on state ventriloquism and how I came to poetry through care experience for the wonderful ProjectChange, published alongside a bunch of brilliant blogs by #CEP www.projectchange.scot/2024/10/19/s...
February 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
On #CareDay I’m sharing these meandering reflections I wrote last year on state ventriloquism and how I came to poetry through care experience for the wonderful ProjectChange, published alongside a bunch of brilliant blogs by #CEP www.projectchange.scot/2024/10/19/s...
Reposted by Hazel McMichael
Coming soon! Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets. Three months until official publication in the UK and Europe (22 July elsewhere), this anthology is up on the Bloodaxe Books website, with pre-orders via Amazon now available.
www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/...
www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/...
February 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Coming soon! Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets. Three months until official publication in the UK and Europe (22 July elsewhere), this anthology is up on the Bloodaxe Books website, with pre-orders via Amazon now available.
www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/...
www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/...
I started a Substack and wrote a manifesto for fellow care experienced people seeking care, community, and identification beyond the institutions that have been responsible for our parenting. Note: this text reclaims discriminatory stereotypes and terms targeting care experienced and queer people.
February 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I started a Substack and wrote a manifesto for fellow care experienced people seeking care, community, and identification beyond the institutions that have been responsible for our parenting. Note: this text reclaims discriminatory stereotypes and terms targeting care experienced and queer people.
fantastic conversation on interdependent networks of care in art and beyond @wellcomecollection.bsky.social www.youtube.com/live/KXaBnFT...
Access to Work
YouTube video by Wellcome Collection
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2025 at 12:53 PM
fantastic conversation on interdependent networks of care in art and beyond @wellcomecollection.bsky.social www.youtube.com/live/KXaBnFT...
Join me in Making Oracles, a 4 week writing course exploring spiritual, political, historical, and practical ways of giving form to the future. We will be meeting on Tuesdays in May 6-8pm GMT on Zoom. Sliding scale pricing. More info / register here: www.beyondformcreativewriting.org/current-work...
February 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Join me in Making Oracles, a 4 week writing course exploring spiritual, political, historical, and practical ways of giving form to the future. We will be meeting on Tuesdays in May 6-8pm GMT on Zoom. Sliding scale pricing. More info / register here: www.beyondformcreativewriting.org/current-work...