Disability rights activist needs support

I’m fundraising for my mum, Merry Cross, a radical disability rights activist who needs support for costs towards her mobility and independence. She will be getting a powerchair for the first time through the wheelchair service, and whilst the chair itself comes at no cost to her, the add-on, a riser, a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and some changes we will be making around the house for appropriate access, will be pricey, so we’re asking for help.

My mum has been a relentless campaigner and activist for disabled people’s rights. She continues to spend huge amounts of her time and energy supporting and rallying for other people. It’s time we step up for her.

[Photos of Merry at protests; one in the 70s in central London stopping buses in central London to demand wheelchair accessible public transport, the other is Merry at a Disabled People Against Cuts demonstration.]

What the money will go towards:

A chair riser: This is an additional mechanism in the powerchair that allows my mum to move the seat of the chair up and down. This will offer her more independence in a world built with only standing people in mind.

A new bedframe, mattress, and bedding: Merry will have to downsize her bed in order to make her bedroom accessible with a powerchair, so that the door can open wide enough and she has a decent turning circle.

A wheelchair accessible vehicle: Having a powerchair will be lifechanging, but less so if my mum has to choose between her chair or her car. Driving has been a huge source of her independence for a long time, but she relies on having someone come along with her who is able to lift her manual wheelchair out of the carboot, and push her in it to get around most places. Having a vehicle that will allow Merry to drive, whilst bringing her powerchair, will mean she can access so many spaces previously inaccessible to her without assistance.