My interview with Izzy Thomas!

On Thursday 16th April I had the opportunity to interview lovely Izzy Thomas. For those don't know who she is, she is a 22 year old pop/rock artist from Hull but touring the gig circuit. Her music is brilliant! 

The interview was in a bar in Leeds called Milo's Lounge. She was peforming there that night. Unfortunately, due to the loud music, it's a shame I won't be able to post the video as you can't hear my dynavox. Next time, I hope to interview her and post the video on YouTube. I have typed up the interview and posting it here for those who would like to read about it! 

Interview with Izzy Thomas 

Nadia: Hi my name is Nadia Clarke, I’m 23 next week, oh no I’m feeling old!!

Izzy: I’m 23 in June! We’re the same age!

Nadia: I love going to concerts and festivals and I recently interviewed the Dunwells.

Izzy: I played with their band before! At Oakwell Festival in Cleckheaton.

Nadia: When was that?

Izzy: Last July.

Nadia: It was brilliant meeting them, they were really nice. So with me today is Laura – my interpreter and Mel the filmmaker. My first question is when I was growing up, I liked S Club & and the Spice Girls but now my taste in music has changed, I like Ed Sheeran and George Ezra. What did you  enjoy listening to when you were younger and how has your taste changed?

Izzy: Oh yeah definitely, I changed my mind a lot. I went from liking Michael Jackson to Destiny’s Child and then I loved Greenday!

Nadia: I liked Greenday too!

Izzy: I love Billy Joel – (the main singer in Greenday)

Nadia: Crazy that I liked him as well!

Izzy: I’ll fight you over him!! Haha.

Nadia: (Nadia laughing) my second question is: What has been the main highlight of your journey so far?

Izzy: Erm, ooh I don’t know!? I’ve played so many gigs, it’s hard to pick my favourite! One thing I have loved is having my song ‘Sell your Soul’ feature in a film!

Nadia: Wow what is the name of the film?

Izzy: It’s called God Save the Queen.

Nadia: I’ve seen the trailer! I will keep an eye out for the film. My next question is where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Izzy: I want to be playing bigger venues! I want a record deal and basically tour outside the UK. I want to be successful doing something I enjoy and making good money!

Nadia: Yeah I think those are good ideas. Who has inspired you both musically and in your life?

Izzy: Joan Jett. I admired her because when she first started out, she was turned down by several record labels but she kept trying and didn’t give up and then she released her iconic song – I love Rock and Roll. Who has inspired me musically? I would say Michael Jackson, Joan Jett and then for her strong voice - Christina Aguilera.

Nadia: great! What can you imagine doing as an old lady?

Izzy: You know what, knowing me, I can imagine still going out wearing fishnets and partying when I’m older and hopefully just enjoying life.

Nadia: That’s funny, same as me!

Izzy: I would love to still be singing!

Nadia: Thank you Izzy, it has been great to meet you! Good luck for the future I am so disappointed I couldn’t get upstairs to your gig. I needed to find some strong hunky men to carry me! But I’m sure next time I will be able to come and we will meet again.

Izzy: Oh I know, I felt awful that you couldn’t come up the stairs! But hopefully next time will be at a bigger venue and if there are access issues – I will get my band to come and help you

Nadia: Oh thank you!

(Izzy signed thank you back)

 

Make Decision for Disabled People and Choice Rights

Eg I want to move somewhere. They say no this is risk you can’t move anywhere better nearly family but I’m wondering if parents have accident or died who are look after disabled child. Yesterday I think it is wrong government want to cuts budget for disabled people because they think it is expensive but disabled people should choice rights life and supports need. If they are putting in care home without choice rights make disabled people are confusing. Any families and friends control with disabled people life because they are so scared everything in the future. Some disabled people need someone supports this is fine but they need strong voice and choice rights. Be careful and don’t worry about mistake happen. 

Important Save ILF

Judge decision for ILF on the 8^th December. This is important have ILF for disabled people needs.

Why the Government want close of the Independent Living Fund make to change life without supports. I worry about disabled people have no life, no supports, no job, no families, no independent and change life in the future. I don’t want disabled people go to care home because no choice rights, it is expensive, poor supports and will be depressed.

I want all MPs and councils understand about important need have budget needs and look after for disabled people.

I believe disabled people have choice rights for ILF and they still are strong to tell what needs supports. I want all MPs and councils listen and follow what disabled persons are saying about it.

Good luck and please keep campaign! 

my dream job

Advisor for Disability Rights

·      NHS

·      Social care

·      Fundings

·      Education

·      Families with children disabled

·      Change way

·      Choice rights

·      Speech

·      Law, political and legal

·      Support for disabled adults

·      Government advisor and MPs

·      Media social

What I want to do this job in the future. I want to change in the world for disability because I heard problem government decided budget cuts for disabled people make my frustrated I want to tell. I want to change way for NHS, Education, Social Care and Media Social. I want to support for families with disabled children because parents don’t know how is controlling with children. It is important disabled people have choice rights life. I want to change improve for Law, Political and Legal. I would like to help many idea for disability because I went to mainstream school, I join campaign with disabled people, I went to conferences and workshops about disability something, I went to do speech in houses of parliament and I know about my experience grown up. I want to do teach about medical model and social model this is important everybody know about it.

I’m hoping to find this job, I would like to work experience first but I want to study at university make me knowledge. So, I would like to work for 3 days because I have a cerebral palsy, use wheelchair, I have communication aid, I’m deaf but I can hear everything with cochlear implant but I need BSL interpreters. I have a personal assistants teams because I need someone help me feeding, drinking and personal care. I have difficult to write English on communication aid make me tired and slow.

I have a CV, if you want contact me my email is nadia_rocks@hotmail.co.uk. 

Meeting with MP about ILF in Calderdale

I went to meeting with Linda Riordan MP at Halifax Town Hall on the 17^th October.

·      I said I would like to talk about Independent Living Fund this is ok?

·      She said we have talked about this before.

·      I said now it is fine but next year big change my life without support for me, I don’t want my parents look after me and I won’t go to care home this will be terrible.

·      She said I totally agree, I always will help you and make sure government will support disabled people.

·      I said how many disabled people have Independent Living Fund in Calderdale?

·      She said I will find out for you. I know we had this is meeting before and it’s not been really helpful for you.

·      I said how many MPs decided have Independent Living Find?

·      She said maybe 2 or 3 but I’m not 100% sure.

·      I said it means they have decided disabled people have Independent Living Fund.

·      She said we will ask these questions to council.

·      I said it is important for me I need have personal assistants because I’m busy life but if without I stay at home every day do nothing and I will have mind health problem.

·      She said don’t worry, I will support you as my mother is disabled and I understand where you coming from. I know you are busy person I will try my best.

·      I said thank you, I believe disabled people should have rights and choice.

·      She said I agree. We had disabled girl came on Monday and wanted same support as you. You need to make sure you keep in touch and let me know if there is any change in the future.

I think this meeting went well but I think Linda should research more about Independent Living Fund and support for disabled people in Calderdale. She said agree but I think it is not working and she said will ask council but I think her responsible job MP. I didn’t know she has disabled mother same David Cameron had disabled son but they should know about it. I really hope Linda will take this seriously because this will affect disabled people in the future.

End meeting I felt emotional because first time I can do myself with my new PA. 

Disabled people working for £2 hour, I don't think so

I don't believe happened MP said disabled people wage £2 for works. I think it is not enough money pay everything. If  I  go to work and I have £2  I feel like cheap labor but normal wage £6.50. It is same thing ILF and budget cuts. it is important equality disabled people get a jobs opportunities. why MPs decided but make disabled people lost life without supports families and friends, social and communities, this is so discrimination what MPs were saying about it. sometimes I felt so angry with David Cameron because he had disabled son but he should know about disability rights. in the future I'm hoping disabled person control government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29631573

ILF it is important my life

Hi

My name is Nadia Clarke. I am from Halifax, West Yorkshire. I am 22 years old, I'm deaf and have Cerebral Palsy.

I am working for an organisation called Triangle in Brighton. I am also doing English at Bradford college. Sometimes I give presentations at different venues about my life. I regularly go to meetings and conferences for organisations and charities like One Voice and Quiet Riot. I am often involved in campaigning for disability rights.

I go to Rainbow House in Ormskirk every week for physiotherapy. I have a physiotherapist visit me at home too and I regularly go swimming.

I love going to the cinema, theatre and going to see live music. I like going out for a drink, meet friends, shopping and going on holiday.

In the future I want travel the world, studying at University, live independently, become a model, interview famous people, become a working advisor for Disability Rights and to have a relationship and children.

I feel so worried about the possible closure of the Independent Living Fund next year.  If I have no Personal Assistants this will change my life, it will be terrible because I will feel so depressed, have mind and health problems, do nothing but stay at home all day and watch TV.  My parents will have to look after me but how they have no money and my life will worthless. 

Many disabled people need money for Independent Living Fund it is really important for our health and well-being.  

Thank you for listening to me.

This is written in BSL and AAC