Lucy Webster
@Lucy_Webster_
Followers
11,716
Following
2,315
Media
337
Statuses
13,690
Journalist | Disability advocate | @guardian @thetimes etc | @cbgbooks @JLASpeakers | THE VIEW FROM DOWN HERE, memoir of ableism and sexism, out now 👩🦼🏳️🌈
London, England
Joined May 2011
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Venezuela
• 2444443 Tweets
Venezolanos
• 1270113 Tweets
Edmundo
• 1006045 Tweets
Nicolás Maduro
• 957289 Tweets
Caracas
• 492406 Tweets
Táchira
• 385691 Tweets
El CNE
• 362591 Tweets
#HouseOfTheDragon
• 237193 Tweets
Hugh
• 129913 Tweets
Rhaenyra
• 94638 Tweets
#LaCasaDeLosFamososMx
• 93207 Tweets
Miraflores
• 86921 Tweets
Diosdado
• 86397 Tweets
Vermithor
• 57197 Tweets
#HOTD
• 51523 Tweets
Ricardo
• 50049 Tweets
Daemon
• 45687 Tweets
Alan Cleland
• 44453 Tweets
最強開運日
• 36570 Tweets
Aemond
• 28968 Tweets
Shanik
• 24337 Tweets
Paola
• 22529 Tweets
Vhagar
• 21193 Tweets
#DemDragons
• 19757 Tweets
Jace
• 19392 Tweets
Homely Shelter
• 17059 Tweets
Providencia
• 14767 Tweets
Silverwing
• 13206 Tweets
Oscar Tully
• 13171 Tweets
一粒万倍日
• 13146 Tweets
Lyanco
• 12941 Tweets
Dragonstone
• 11827 Tweets
Asaprata
• 11498 Tweets
Syrax
• 11217 Tweets
無料10連
• 10645 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
It's publication day!
I'm so proud of this book. Everything I have and everything I've experienced as a disabled woman is in these pages
I hope you love her
22
79
374
Yes, some people who get disability benefits can run marathons because - I hate to break it to you - not all disabilities affect your legs
122
4K
74K
I can't drink without plastic straws. For years I've bought clear ones online (look a bit nicer than kids' ones). Since the straw ban they've got more expensive and now they've disappeared
If your environmentalism only affects disabled people, it's not as progressive as you think
409
2K
18K
Next time a disabled person tries to talk to you about ableism, please remember that it's not just frustrating things like a lack of ramps. It's stuff like this, that hurts more than I can say
225
467
8K
Disabled people look away now, the following tweet involves some really hurtful
#ableism
. Non-disabled people, I don't really want to share this here but I think you need to see it.
485
2K
8K
Imagine for a second being told that you are too disabled for a non-disabled person to love. That's how my Wednesday is going
151
372
8K
I just received this email from a 'professional' dating service. I have been crying for an hour. When I spoke to them on the phone they said that my disability was fine, but when I clarified that I was a wheelchair user, this:
845
1K
7K
It's been a month since I was turned down from a dating agency for being too disabled. I can't seem to stop thinking about it. I really don't want anyone's sympathy, I just wanted to say ableism has very real mental health consequences and it's exhausting
138
501
5K
And for the 837254th time:
YOU CAN GET DISABILITY BENEFITS AND WORK
15
110
5K
Fascinated by the people in the replies who think you can just "claim to be disabled" and get money. As if the real problem isn't that actually lots of people who are entitled to disability benefits aren't getting them because the process is so awful
Oh to be so naive
14
203
4K
And for the 837254th time:
YOU CAN GET DISABILITY BENEFITS AND WORK
15
110
5K
3
11
3K
Just a reminder that today the UK govt is having to give evidence to the UN, having been found to be in violation of the UN convention on the rights of disabled people
No other economically developed nation has ever been found in breach of the convention
23
1K
2K
I deleted this because I accidentally included identifying details. Will report shortly
14
21
2K
Here's a great explanation of why SOME disabled people *NEED* plastic straws
I did create that goofy Straw Chart so if you've seen my name around, it could be from my dope straw facts. Disability advocacy is so friggin important to me, and was never MORE important than when we hit a panorama.
But here! Have a freshie with no jpeg rot!
19
312
929
28
181
2K
Something I think about a lot is how hatred of benefits claimants is just acceptable hatred of disabled people
37
291
1K
Also. I get that people are trying to help but it's kind of wild to think a disabled person in this position won't have thought about and tried alternatives
21
30
1K
Once I'm in bed I can't get back into my wheelchair without help
I have a buzzer to let my (also asleep) PA know I need help (loo, a drink, etc) and always have my phone just in case
Tonight I dropped my phone, and then discovered the buzzer wasn't working
What would you do?
161
64
1K
If anyone comes at me with recs for paper, glass or reusable ones
32
24
1K
Hi
@Waterstones
- I've just noticed your disability section of your website comes under 'coping with personal problems' which is a bit icky. Disability is neither personal nor, indeed, a problem
Signed, a disabled gal who routinely gives you all their money
13
91
1K
Let me tell you about what happens when you dare to go on a night out as a wheelchair user. Hold on to your hats, it's a bumpy ride...
80
585
1K
"Taking benefits from disabled people who can’t work is not really some misguided attempt to help us... it’s just another way to punish and demonise us, to push us further into poverty"
My response to the
#AutumnStatement
in today's
@guardianopinion
panel
35
424
1K
The really wild thing is that for a lot of disabled people, PIP is what enables us to set up our lives so we *can* work
9
205
1K
Hi, if you are surprised about wheelchair inaccessibility at Cop, you have not been paying attention.
Access is bad everywhere, all the time. And no, it is not 'illegal'
8
213
1K
@hippychicky55
These are similar to the ones I had been buying, which were also biodegradable but have disappeared. But £34 for 250 straws isn't really plausible!
12
5
963
Anyway I wrote a book and you should buy it
It's publication day!
I'm so proud of this book. Everything I have and everything I've experienced as a disabled woman is in these pages
I hope you love her
22
79
374
1
28
934
@thisislaurent
Lauren didn't you know disabled people are only allowed to date each other??
Also not that there's anything wrong with that, disabled people are clearly superior, but smells like segregation to me
8
19
877
Just landed back in the UK to see Rishi is coming for the only benefit that makes this country liveable for millions of disabled people and I'm caught between thinking what the hell is the point and wanting to start a riot
13
122
881
My election challenge to the parties *and* the media:
Actually mention the UK's 16 million disabled people
13
247
855
Absolutely delighted to now be permanent staff at BBC News. Even happier to be staying with my ace team at BBC Politics. And super excited that I've been selected for the
@JSchofieldTrust
mentoring scheme! Bring on 2021 🎉🎉
40
4
832
if he calls the sodding election I hope we don't forget that the Tory DWP is now being investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission over its treatment of disabled people
Every MP at every hustings should be asked about it
6
355
827
As you mark your ballot today, spare a thought for the disabled people still denied the right to vote in secret because voting is so inaccessible
5
209
816
.
@SW_Help
need to retrain your staff. Guard on the 22:41 from Twickenham to Waterloo last night was extremely rude re ramp
Said we'd held up the train and made his job harder by not booking. Talked over my PA as she explained legal right to Turn Up And Go and wouldn't talk to me
21
200
812
WHEN are we going to stop using the term "special needs"?
44
105
738
Why am I tweeting this? I don't know. I think these realities of disability - a 29 year old woman sat on the floor in the dark, shouting for help - are hidden. We experience these things and then we move on. We trust that the buzzer will work tomorrow. But the stress accumulates
3
9
745
For Christ's sake
@BBCNews
at Ten, I can't believe you just described a disabled woman as "having special needs" and disabled people as "people with special needs". The woman's mother used "learning disabled" - why can't you listen to that?
17
92
706
While it's true that you should never assume a disabled person's needs, the government's new
#AskDontAssume
campaign is completely misguided
Disabled people already face intrusive questioning ('what's wrong with you?' etc). Encouraging this is just opening the ableism floodgates
9
185
689
Disabled people please remember there are exemptions for care. You should have all the help and support you need over Christmas
4
241
687
While we're all here being angry about straws, can I recommend pre-ordering my book and being angry about... everything?
6
64
633
@Fighting_LC
I am too wobbly - they are actively dangerous for me. I need plastic ones, as I said
4
5
623
Hey disabled pals! I'm writing another piece about language and disability. So...
Tell me your most hated phrases! C'mon, do your worst
#DisabilityTwitter
#journorequest
406
175
604
Here's your periodic reminder that removing covid restrictions is a deliberate middle finger up to disabled and vulnerable people
26
168
606
when I tell people that the Tories are letting disabled people die, they look at me like I've lost the plot
just going to show them this front page from now on
honestly not sure how much more I can argue for my community's right to be alive
I’ve reported on a lot of terrible Tory ‘welfare reforms’ over the years but withholding sick people’s medicines to force them to get a job is genuinely a new low.
458
4K
11K
12
213
615
Somewhat unbelievably, an extract of my book is in tomorrow's Sunday Times News Review
It's about the ableist bullying I endured at school and what it did to me
I'm very nervous sharing this - it still really affects me - but also quite proud
22
90
601
Imagine if Green Park was shut for six months for nondisabled people
Green Park station will have no step-free access to the Piccadilly line for over 6 months while the lift is replaced.
GP is one of the very few accessible interchanges in central, making it indispensable for disabled people.
Effectively this means 6 months of no Tube travel.
29
371
1K
7
183
603
Your annual
#InternationalWheelchairDay
reminder that wheelchairs are great
They're freedom and fun and power and life. Keep ya pity in ya pants
I bloody love mine
12
90
600
Update: my fab BBC colleague Katie Wright asked
@Aquum
for a response and they have offered an apology and are going to retrain their third-party staff
41
19
554
Luckily I have a pretty good set of lungs on me and after what I think was about ten minutes of yelling my PA heard me
I'm safe and back in bed but honestly pretty shaken
I have a lot of anxiety/literal nightmares about these exact scenarios so this is really hard to process
3
1
543
Absolutely can't-keep-the-smile-off-my-face delighted to say that I am officially moving to
@BBCPolitics
online full-time from January. This is a dream come true and I can't believe my own luck, working with the best in the business.
104
4
524
I'm not reading the Matthew Parris piece because I have frankly seen enough ableism this week and I can guess what it says
But I will say: this is where 14 years of extreme govt rhetoric about disabled people takes us - a 'moderate' encouraging sick people to kill themselves
19
114
513
Stephen Timms will hopefully make a good DWP minister with responsibility for disabled people
But I would really like to see a minister for disabled people not only focused on work and benefits but on all the ways policy affects our lives
13
107
513
Some *personal news* (am I doing this right?)
After four fab years I'll be leaving the Beeb in August to try my hand and freelancing and (hopefully) writing a book!
Will pop into Millbank a few times before I go but today saw my last NBH trip so I took the obligatory photo
40
14
498
This makes me so happy!!
Quick, effective change to make this industry just a little bit more representative
Thanks,
@Waterstones
! 😍
@Lucy_Webster_
Hi Lucy, thanks for raising this excellent point. Some categorisation is driven by the industry database, Nielsen, but we're going to change it so that Disability sits within 'Personal, Social & Health Topics'. That should take effect later today. Thanks again.
9
13
690
9
19
479
In surreal life moments, tonight I watched the Last Leg's brilliant
@alex_brooker
address my dating agency shenanigans by saying it all better than I ever could. It hasn't been a great week but I'm really glad we're finally having this conversation
6
10
472
If you are shocked that disabled people, including *children*, have had blanket
#DoNotResuscitate
orders imposed on them, you have not been paying attention
Firstly, disabled people have been shouting about this since spring 2020. Secondly, medicine has been ableist forever
5
163
449
Does it bother you that the UK government treats disabled people like children? Why not?
They want to turn disability benefits into pocket money, to be given or withheld depending on whether they approve of what we buy
12
151
454
Just your regular reminder that the disability benefits system is literally designed to stop disabled people getting the benefits they're legally entitled to
5th of april - got a letter from the DWP saying my PIP review had started and to expect a letter in 2 weeks.
20th April - hadnt come so I spent 45 minutes on hold and got cut off.
It finally arrived 25th April, deadline was 4th May. I sent it 30th.
Just had a letter today a
313
695
3K
4
135
440
Right. I have had enough today. So I just want to say being disabled during this pandemic is really hard. And if you, like me, are suddenly exhausted and stressed when you thought you were ok, and the whole disability situation is getting to you, I just want to say I see you.
13
48
436
I have spent a lifetime subconsciously and consciously making plan Bs and plan Cs for how to reach help. Already tonight I've attached string to my door handle so I could open it from the floor, making it more likely a PA would hear me shout. I'm calming down now
3
3
417
Here's what I did: crawled down to the floor to retrieve my phone
But in the dark I couldn't find it
How do I turn the light on? With my phone
This was when I started to panic because I was now not only unable to get help but also stranded on a wooden floor
7
3
395
Funny how this is doable but disabled people not being able to go to the loo is just one of those things
Gender-specific toilets to be required in non-residential buildings in England
296
58
856
5
79
393
Hi
@BBCNews
why are you uncritically repeating Simon Steven's claim that no decisions were made about who would live and who would die during covid?
People with learning disabilities had Do Not Resuscitate notices imposed on them - deciding they would die - as you have reported
10
124
382
Due to my disability needs, I can't do my NCTJ exams via their remote portal in April. Will have to wait until me (and my PAs) get the vaccine to do it in the office in May/June. I have paid nearly a grand to do the course. And people wonder why journalism has a diversity issue
16
69
378
Would effing love to know what treatment I'm supposed to be getting for *checks notes* incurable brain damage I've had since birth
The PM is now pushing ahead with a consultation on Personal Independence Payments that was almost published previously (but was considered too controversial). It has some pretty radical ideas including replacing cash payments with access to treatment 1/
83
105
220
10
47
381
Sorry, did Rishi just say the Tories have CLOSED the disability employment gap?!
Stick a fork in me I am done
9
51
375
Accessibility in Japan is so good I don't know what to do with all the spare anxiety I use up just getting around in Europe
It's genuinely a different world. I just used a wheelchair accessible escalator in a train station
8
29
354
@S_Tinyhome
That's really kind but please don't worry - was tweeting to raise awareness rather than out of dire need. Thank you
4
1
346
Let me just say that again.
@Aquum
wouldn't let me in in my wheelchair because they decided the music wasn't suitable for me. It is 2019.
10
57
334
Hi
@Se_Railway
@networkrail
why aren't there any staff at Deptford station to put a wheelchair user on the train? Now have to wait half an hour for the next one, provided the staff arrive. You are in breach of your legal Turn Up And Go obligations
6
63
347
Tomorrow is International Day of Disabled People and I have a few things to post
But the truth is I'm not feeling very celebratory at the moment. Both professionally and personally, it feels like a difficult time to be a disabled person and especially a disability activist
19
46
343
There are more failsafes to implement. If I do end up stuck it'll only be until the morning or the start of the next PA shift. It'll probably never happen. But the possibility that it could is always in the back of my mind. I wonder what else I could do with all that brain space
31
0
347
@SW_Help
@sw_train
@TransportForAll
@SW_Help
your staff need to know that there is no obligation to book a ramp
They also need to treat disabled people like people
If you're struggling to train them, give me a call
4
30
344
The thing is, I'm unlikely to see this exact confluence of problems again. But there'll be another time when my options fail and I have to swallow my panic and find an answer. So far I've always found one. But I worry that one day I'll just be stuck on the floor, needing the loo
4
0
343
I poured my heart and soul into a memoir of disabled womanhood and now...
IT HAS A COVER! AND YOU CAN PRE-ORDER IT!
The View From Down Here, out 7 September with
@dkbooks
19
67
343
Reminder ahead of the autumn statement: sick and disabled people are not the enemy
We are not the cause of this dire economy. The Tories are
Don't let them shift the blame by demonising us
5
99
337
Why are there so few disabled MPs? Because politics is incredibly inaccessible
Me for
@guardian
@guardianopinion
13
126
332
"It can’t be right that going on holiday as a disabled person so often involves public humiliation"
Disabled people keep being left on planes and trains. It needs to stop
Me for
@guardian
@guardiang2
5
148
326
I understand the horror here but I can't help but feel that if you "can't get your head around" this you have absolutely no idea what society is like for disabled people
'It makes me feel sick.'
'Every day I hit a new level of shock.'
@Matthew_Wright
hears from a mother, whose daughter's class were given the option to edit her child out of a school photo because she has additional needs.
93
154
466
8
78
329
All my life, people have pitied me because I need full time care. And yeah, managing a care team is uniquely stressful
But the reality is that my care is my freedom: to work, to travel, to enjoy my flat and make memories with my friends
Me for
@guardian
6
73
315
My old school, where I experienced the worst ableism of my life and which I pay significant money to reprocess in therapy, wants to use me in their list of alumnae to watch and honestly sometimes I wonder if I'm existing in a satirical play and I just can't see the audience
5
7
308
@FLORIDABUTTERF1
I have very little muscle control so I shred paper ones but hurt myself on hard metal or glass. Also need them for hot drinks
6
1
300
A member of the UN committee has just accused our government of fuelling hate speech towards disabled people
Of course, we know this. But it should still sober and horrify us that the UN is alarmed by the UK govt's rhetoric towards disabled people
7
121
301
it's not accessible if there's no disabled loo it's not accessible if there's no disabled loo it's not accessible if there's no disabled loo it's not accessible if there's no disabled loo it's not accessible if there's no disabled loo it's not accessible if there's no disabled l
3
52
294
there's only 16 million of us, no big deal
Literally we're over a week into campaigning and none of the parties have even mentioned disabled people. WTF man
24
123
572
4
56
291
Talk of blackouts is especially terrifying for disabled people who can't keep themselves warm and get sick easily. But don't count on the government doing anything at all to protect us
6
41
281
A large proportion of avoidable deaths were of disabled people
They labelled us as inherently vulnerable so we wouldn't notice that they let us die
UK government and devolved nations "failed their citizens" with Covid causing more deaths than it should have, inquiry says
237
474
1K
3
95
293
Hi
@GreenFlagUK
could have done without your mechanic asking what was wrong with me and telling me I look too healthy for my wheelchair
20
28
284
Over the past few months my job has basically been interviewing brilliant disabled people and I am hyped for the day we take over the world
7
11
273
Hello TV and radio editors working this weekend!
Did you know Sunday is International Disabled People's Day?
1 in 5 people are disabled. It'd be really great if you could mark this day for and with us!
I'd love to help you do so
#IDPWD
#InternationalDisabledPeoplesDay
#IDPD
5
142
265
Literally wouldn't let her finish a sentence or even look at me
When she asked for his name said "I think you mean thank you for helping even though you hadn't booked"
Other passengers commented on how rude he'd been
#DisabledByTheRailway
@SW_Help
@sw_train
@TransportForAll
2
31
259
"Disabled people voting - it's time to scrap it."
5
47
259
This is just... all disabled people? Do other people still not know that this is how the state treats us?
🚨 EXC: A generation of children left permanently disabled by epilepsy drug sodium valproate, are being hauled in front of degrading and barbaric DWP tribunals that has left some traumatised 1/8
32
261
480
7
61
256
Aside from the horrendous ableism involved in the 'how much of your taxes go to those lazy disabled people?', I find it wild that people think they should choose where their taxes go
Quite a lot of us don't like the Home Office. We still fund it. It's called the law
2
22
248
NEW from me: A quarter of disabled people fear losing their jobs because their employers can't make their workplace safe for them to return.
Campaigners want disabled people put at the heart of the Covid recovery plan
6
148
242
NEW from me: Working age disabled women are 11x more likely to die from coronavirus than their peers. Disabled men are 6.5 times more at risk. I spoke to disabled women, public health experts and charities about fear, inequality and calls for an inquiry
6
202
242
To cap a brilliant week, my new book, The View From Down Here, is featured in
@GdnSaturday
today!
I wrote about how being disabled led me to love my body, and the lessons the disabled community has for everyone else
Really proud of this essay
6
73
237
Days like this should make us hang our heads in shame about the effort our government makes to keep out refugees
1
37
228