Devon eccentric campaigns for the rights of the disabled
“Nothing comes easy for the disabled,” - laments Colin Shaddick, a 75 year old disabled resident of Barnstaple, - “My world is contained within a ten mile radius: up to a fence where experiences end and memories exist.”
But Colin’s ability to travel, limited by the power of a battery pack and the rocketing prices of mobility equipment, does not stop him from going an extra mile in his campaign for the rights of the disabled residents of Devon.
He is not prepared to just sit on his mobility scooter. Instead, he overcomes big social distances with the power of his character and charisma, getting heard by the local authorities and quickly becoming an unelected spokesman for the disabled Devonians.
“It wasn’t until recently that I started using a mobility scooter and noticed how many discriminatory access issues the disabled people have to face daily. We are expected to put up with them. But this is unacceptable and must stop.” - says Colin, missing his active social life, in which he organised many creative projects in Devon and belonged to the Eccentric Club in London, where he dined with Prince Philip.
Artist, photographer, cartoonist, poet, singer and songwriter, Colin felt very isolated when he had to start using the mobility scooter. But his initial frustration soon transformed into a positive public campaign.
Started as a Facebook group “Is Your Town Mobility Scooter / Wheelchair Friendly?”, prompting other disabled users to report access problems, it went on to a live meeting with Barnstaple Town Councilor Ian Roome, who welcomed Colin’s assessment of Barnstaple’s disabled access issues and agreed to work on them together.
Now, a set of steel barriers on the crossing to North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) was removed, making it easier for the wheelchair and mobility scooter users to make their journey.
Colin is proud of this first achievement and is looking forward to continuing improving lives of the fellow disabled Devonians with his new friend at the Town Council, who should be equally congratulated on returning creative purposefulness to the life of a local eccentric.
