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Apparently, being disabled now comes with a league table. Who knew? 🙃

In this episode of Mad About, Maddy is coming to you from bed, in pain, and with a bit of a rant about something that has been seriously pissing her off: disabled people being made to prove that they are “disabled enough” — and sometimes other disabled people joining in.

After sharing a video about accessibility in Camden, Maddy was told that because she can get out of her wheelchair and walk, places with steps are technically “accessible” to her.

Erm… no.

Maddy talks about being an ambulatory wheelchair user, why being able to walk doesn't mean walking is pain-free, safe or sustainable, and why wheelchair users shouldn't have to perform their disability to be believed.

She also talks about her experience applying for a Nimbus Access Card and the frustration of feeling like support and adjustments can depend on ticking the “right” boxes — PIP, a Blue Badge or particular evidence — rather than looking at someone's actual access needs.

This episode gets into:

♿ Why accessibility means creating access for everyone, not just saying “well, technically you could…”

🦽 The reality of being an ambulatory wheelchair user

🤦‍♀️ The ridiculous “I saw you walking!” argument

🔥 Why disabled people don't need to compete over who has it worse

🧠 Why two people with the same condition can have completely different support needs

🚪 Why sending disabled people around the back of a building isn't magically inclusive because you rename it “the entrance”

💥 How gatekeeping and judgement within the disabled community hurts all of us

❤️ Why reasonable adjustments aren't special treatment — they're about giving people equitable access

Maddy also gives an update on the Mad About Disability documentary, which has now been FILMED 🎥 and features disabled people sharing their experiences and challenging some of the biggest misconceptions around disability.

The next mission? Getting it edited, funded and out into the world.

Because disability isn't a competition.

You don't have to prove you're more disabled than somebody else to deserve access, support or reasonable adjustments.

And seeing someone stand up, walk, work, laugh, travel, create content or have a good day tells you absolutely fuck all about what their disability costs them behind the scenes.

🎧 Subscribe to Mad About for more conversations about disability, neurodivergence, money, business and all the things Maddy is passionate, excited, frustrated or downright MAD about.

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