For The 100 Percent

by Ryan McMullan | @RyanMcmullan_

Why did I get involved with politics? This is a difficult question to answer. In reflection I stumbled into it out of a realisation that society does not always understand those with disabilities. I could be mean about society stating that they are selfish and uncaring, however I know this is not tr

I was born with Cerebral Palsy and, growing up in a political unstable Northern Ireland, I was presented with many contradictions. It was a society that was always caring and friendly, but only as long you fitted in.  In a sense I was the underdog, the happy guy that was always smiling but who no on

I ended up going to one of the best grammar schools in Northern Ireland. I had a personal assistant following me from class to class. I was treated differently- in hindsight I was bullied. I hated it and could not wait to leave school as well as Northern Ireland.  As a gay teenager I saw that the ‘g

Fast forward to 2010 when the Tories come to power. I was earning a high salary with a Scottish city council (not Edinburgh). I had been there for three and a half years and I was made redundant on Christmas Eve with a day’s notice. Yes, I had been on a rolling six month contract and I had asked for

I like to think society fails to see that people are not born equal, for example due to inherited poverty or a disability, access to education and social inclusion being major grave barriers. People are more swayed and influenced by stories of few individuals abusing the welfare system rather than r

During the past while I have learnt that I need be positive. Being negative and angry with society only gets peoples’ backs up.  It does your image no good as you are seen as a ranting and raving disabled guy, only interested in disabled issues.  I believe disabled issues should be interwoven into a

A major barrier is that if people do not know me personally or are unaware of my background, due to my speech I feel that I still have to prove that I am articulate and intelligent. Perhaps a common assumption is that if you have slow or unclear speech you are intellectually impaired.  Additionally 

Another barrier was that I used to be embarrassed by writing things down and using a speech synthesiser to communicate with people. This is the most effective way of getting my point across in a conversational situation.  I am no longer concerned by making people to wait for them to hear what I have

In conclusion I have become a disabled activist as a result of the way society has treated me, I have struggled terribly in finding employment since 2010. I was lucky to have parents that I could rely on if I was short of a bob or two.  Though pride often left me with little or no money every week,