These days, it's almost impossible to log on to your email account without discovering a bunch of spam messages offering you loans, a certain treatment that rhymes with Niagara or, worst of all, a seedy email from Lusty Linda of Luxembourg which features words that would make even the most broad-minded person blush.
So you can imagine what it's like if you're visually impaired and use a screen-reader on your PC. The only way to sift through all that spam to locate your genuine emails is by listening to the subject line of every message. If you're working in an office, you've got the added bonus of everyone around you being able to hear that you've been sent an email offering to improve your manhood. Nice. And all that before we've even mentioned the huge amount of extra time it takes to go through your daily deluge of spam using a screen-reader.
A new report in addresses this problem, and whether there's any technological solution.
If you've been paying attention, you'll remember that a few weeks back we posted links to some of our favourite blogs by disabled people (and we're still interested in hearing about YOUR weblog if you've got one - you should know the email address by now).
Well, it seems that has picked up on one of our choices - - and named it as one of their Top Blogs. They say: "... her acerbic, witty posts give this blog an edge over run-of-the-mill 'what I did today'-style blogs."
Congratulations Lisy, excellent stuff! Of course, Ouch got there first with our recommendation of your superb weblog, but we'll let those nice folks at The Guardian have their moment!
Famous childrens' TV character implicated in disability-related headline! Bungle could hurt disabled>. (Unfortunately, this link has now been removed from the web.)
He could, you know. Especially if he sat on one.
OK, that's not really the story, but it's been a long day and this did at least succeed in getting all of us in the Ouch office laughing like drains.
Oh, and if you don't know who Bungle is, you're missing out on a classic character from the annals of children's television history. Crippled Monkey says: ask your parents.
Exciting news for those of you keeping tabs on the development of Audio Description across British television. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, together with ITV and Channel 4, have announced today that they will be making Audio Description services - which allow visually impaired viewers to access an additional audio commentary describing what's happening on screen - available via digital satellite television in a new generation of set-top boxes. You can get more details on this development from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Press Office site.
OK, enough wacky disability gossip and trivia! I think it's time that we had a bit of proper culture on this blog!
Those nice folks over at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Proms have been in touch to let us know that this year's festival of classical music - which numbers some 70 concerts between 16 July and 11 September - has greater access than ever for disabled concert-goers. There's full wheelchair access to the Royal Albert Hall, an infra-red hearing system, guide dog facilities and large-print programmes and texts. All the stuff you should expect, really. However, when you're booking, disabled concert-goers (and a companion) receive a 50% discount on all ticket prices (except Arena and Gallery areas) for concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and for Proms Chamber Music concerts at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
You can find all the details of the Proms concert schedule in the What's On section of their website. There's also plenty of info about getting those discounted tickets, and much more about access facilities.
So go and get yourself a bit of highbrow culture before all the seats sell out. Just tell 'em Ouch sent you.
This week on Ouch, our columnist Tom Shakespeare turns his attention to the subject of disabled pets. Did you know that apparently all Dalmations are deaf, or that some dog breeds are prone to epilepsy? Well, you do now.
While searching out some web links for Tom's article, one of the Ouch team happened across an extraordinary Yahoo newsgroup on the net - it's the :
"For too long, the compassionate caretakers of mentally and physically disabled rodents have been the targets of much ridicule and torment for adopting their 'special little darlings.' The Challenged Hamster Support Group is here to help the loving owners of challenged hamsters like Hermia, my baby who only has one eye."
Please remember that Ouch isn't just a site for disabled people. We're here for all those disabled hamsters too.
A new survey conducted by the people at TV Licensing has revealed an interesting statistic. TV licence evasion was rated only third in the 'morally wrong' stakes; in second place was not paying road tax and, in pole position - yes, it was illegally parking in a disabled bay. It's the most morally wrong thing ever, folks, and there's the proof.
Doesn't stop 'em doing it though, does it?
Of course, Crippled Monkey can't really comment too much on this, since although I often find that the disabled parking space at my local supermarket has been nicked, the licence fee also pays my wages and supports the wonderful website you're reading at the moment. So I'm saying nothing, guv'nor.
Have you decided which way you're going to vote in the European elections on 10 May? Well, if not, you've still got time to choose. However, disabled people north of the border have already decided on the three famous Scottish figures they would most like to take with them to the polling station next Thursday.
Research carried out by Capability Scotland last year showed that at the Scottish elections, less than half of disabled voters were aware of the statutory measures in place to help them cast their vote - one of the most important being the right to bring a companion along to the polling station.
Now, in a new piece of research, the disabled voters of Scotland have spoken again, and have nominated the 13th-century Scots historical figure William Wallace, the best Bond of them all, Sean Connery, and The Big Uin himself, Billy Connolly as their three most popular choices to accompany them to the vote. Of the three of them, Crippled Monkey would probably go for Mr Connery, because if there are any access difficulties at the polling station (which, of course, we know there won't be, don't we?) I can at least be fairly certain that 007 would sort 'em out.
Joking aside, this latest survey contains lots of interesting facts and figures about the opinions and voting intentions of disabled people. You can check out all the details for yourself on the website.
