Mary Cole
@dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
European. SEND parent and campaigner.
Pinned
Mary Cole
@dmcricketwidow.bsky.social
· Mar 28
Using language that is dehumanising to people with Learning Disabilities doesn't emphasise the point. It hurts people.
My son had his first appointment at Great Ormand Street last week. Due to his condition, he rarely leaves the house. The day was made so much easier by train assistance working effectively and outstanding input from the Learning Disability team at the hospital.
#LearningDisability #Rareillness
#LearningDisability #Rareillness
January 24, 2026 at 9:33 AM
My son had his first appointment at Great Ormand Street last week. Due to his condition, he rarely leaves the house. The day was made so much easier by train assistance working effectively and outstanding input from the Learning Disability team at the hospital.
#LearningDisability #Rareillness
#LearningDisability #Rareillness
I had a meeting today near the Cambridge Botanic Gardens. I took the opportunity to have a walk in the gardens afterwards.
Stunning as ever.
Stunning as ever.
January 14, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I had a meeting today near the Cambridge Botanic Gardens. I took the opportunity to have a walk in the gardens afterwards.
Stunning as ever.
Stunning as ever.
Snow and snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey today.
January 2, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Snow and snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey today.
Accidentally put the tablecloth on the wrong way round. It was made by grandmother. You wouldn't know without looking very closely because her stitching was so neat.
December 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Accidentally put the tablecloth on the wrong way round. It was made by grandmother. You wouldn't know without looking very closely because her stitching was so neat.
I have kept a diary of what books I have read this year. I hadn't realised this until today, but I started and ended the year reading books by Val McDermid.
It's been a tricky year and reading has kept me going.
It's been a tricky year and reading has kept me going.
December 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I have kept a diary of what books I have read this year. I hadn't realised this until today, but I started and ended the year reading books by Val McDermid.
It's been a tricky year and reading has kept me going.
It's been a tricky year and reading has kept me going.
Reposted by Mary Cole
"Of course current issues do need addressing urgently. But we should also remember that the small seeds of large issues find space to grow and flourish wherever prejudice, discrimination, victimisation and persecution are permitted to go unchallenged. They need rooting out."
Chloë Deakin
Chloë Deakin
‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims
Exclusive: Chloë Deakin tells how she wrote to Dulwich college master to argue against Farage’s nomination as prefect
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:42 AM
"Of course current issues do need addressing urgently. But we should also remember that the small seeds of large issues find space to grow and flourish wherever prejudice, discrimination, victimisation and persecution are permitted to go unchallenged. They need rooting out."
Chloë Deakin
Chloë Deakin
Reposted by Mary Cole
“A petition demanding a full inquiry into Russian influence in UK politics has surged past 100,000 signatures after being shared at remarkable speed across social media.”
Russian influence petition surges past 100,000 signatures
A petition demanding a full inquiry into Russian influence in UK politics has passed 100,000 signatures
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 10:46 PM
“A petition demanding a full inquiry into Russian influence in UK politics has surged past 100,000 signatures after being shared at remarkable speed across social media.”
Reposted by Mary Cole
And the grift goes on 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
November 30, 2025 at 8:51 AM
And the grift goes on 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Still trying to process my son's hospital admission this week. Some takeaways - his hospital passport was used by some staff. Learning Disability nurse visited my son on A and E.
However, some staff made assumptions - discharge notes state he's non-verbal. He's not.
#LearningDisabilty
However, some staff made assumptions - discharge notes state he's non-verbal. He's not.
#LearningDisabilty
November 30, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Still trying to process my son's hospital admission this week. Some takeaways - his hospital passport was used by some staff. Learning Disability nurse visited my son on A and E.
However, some staff made assumptions - discharge notes state he's non-verbal. He's not.
#LearningDisabilty
However, some staff made assumptions - discharge notes state he's non-verbal. He's not.
#LearningDisabilty
What a game of football!
November 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
What a game of football!
Reposted by Mary Cole
Zack Polanski is a breath of fresh air.
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Zack Polanski is a breath of fresh air.
November 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Anglesey Abbey looking glorious yesterday.
October 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Anglesey Abbey looking glorious yesterday.
Reposted by Mary Cole
Hospices: "The government has cut funding to hospices by 10% in real terms compared with 2023"
- BBC Radio 4 news at 6am
www.libdems.org.uk/hospices
- BBC Radio 4 news at 6am
www.libdems.org.uk/hospices
Save Our Hospices
Back our campaign to protect hospice services and ensure they always have the funding and staff to care for anyone who needs their support.
www.libdems.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Hospices: "The government has cut funding to hospices by 10% in real terms compared with 2023"
- BBC Radio 4 news at 6am
www.libdems.org.uk/hospices
- BBC Radio 4 news at 6am
www.libdems.org.uk/hospices
I managed to snatch a brief outing last week to Wimpole Hall. When my son was in better health, he always told me to 'look up' whenever we went out to walk in the woods near our house.
Sound advice I think.
Sound advice I think.
October 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I managed to snatch a brief outing last week to Wimpole Hall. When my son was in better health, he always told me to 'look up' whenever we went out to walk in the woods near our house.
Sound advice I think.
Sound advice I think.
My daughter just messaged me to ask what I am doing today. My answer was that I am enjoying a day with no home visits and I am wading through paperwork for her brother's annual review.
#Carer #LearningDisability
#Carer #LearningDisability
October 11, 2025 at 12:07 PM
My daughter just messaged me to ask what I am doing today. My answer was that I am enjoying a day with no home visits and I am wading through paperwork for her brother's annual review.
#Carer #LearningDisability
#Carer #LearningDisability
I finally found some blackcurrant juice so I could replicate johannisbeere which I enjoyed on my trips to Germany earlier. this year.
October 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I finally found some blackcurrant juice so I could replicate johannisbeere which I enjoyed on my trips to Germany earlier. this year.
Reposted by Mary Cole
There's just a few days left for you to take part in our Education Surveys if you haven't already! 🎒
They close on the 30 September.
You can find the appropriate survey to fill out over on our website: https://loom.ly/6YEXDzw
They close on the 30 September.
You can find the appropriate survey to fill out over on our website: https://loom.ly/6YEXDzw
September 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
There's just a few days left for you to take part in our Education Surveys if you haven't already! 🎒
They close on the 30 September.
You can find the appropriate survey to fill out over on our website: https://loom.ly/6YEXDzw
They close on the 30 September.
You can find the appropriate survey to fill out over on our website: https://loom.ly/6YEXDzw
Reposted by Mary Cole
I've found research proving that arranging small lovely items like these👇 alleviates PTSD-will be part of my small museums
for mental health wshop Sat 4 Oct
Open to anyone,recorded in full in,3.5 hrs tuition,30% off my Etsy.Earlybird price expires in 4 days:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
for mental health wshop Sat 4 Oct
Open to anyone,recorded in full in,3.5 hrs tuition,30% off my Etsy.Earlybird price expires in 4 days:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
September 22, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I've found research proving that arranging small lovely items like these👇 alleviates PTSD-will be part of my small museums
for mental health wshop Sat 4 Oct
Open to anyone,recorded in full in,3.5 hrs tuition,30% off my Etsy.Earlybird price expires in 4 days:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
for mental health wshop Sat 4 Oct
Open to anyone,recorded in full in,3.5 hrs tuition,30% off my Etsy.Earlybird price expires in 4 days:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
Reposted by Mary Cole
My new small museums for mental health w'shop is on Sat 4 Oct
Recent compelling research shows that collecting & arranging collections neatly alleviates anxiety & lifts mood.
Includes:
🌿2 hr zoom-we'll make & photograph small museums
🗝️30% off my Etsy shop:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
Recent compelling research shows that collecting & arranging collections neatly alleviates anxiety & lifts mood.
Includes:
🌿2 hr zoom-we'll make & photograph small museums
🗝️30% off my Etsy shop:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
September 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
My new small museums for mental health w'shop is on Sat 4 Oct
Recent compelling research shows that collecting & arranging collections neatly alleviates anxiety & lifts mood.
Includes:
🌿2 hr zoom-we'll make & photograph small museums
🗝️30% off my Etsy shop:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
Recent compelling research shows that collecting & arranging collections neatly alleviates anxiety & lifts mood.
Includes:
🌿2 hr zoom-we'll make & photograph small museums
🗝️30% off my Etsy shop:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...
Owls in parks in Edinburgh and Freiburg.
September 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Owls in parks in Edinburgh and Freiburg.
Reposted by Mary Cole
Nigel Farage, whose party recently put a teenager with zero work experience of any kind in charge of an entire English county, accuses the government of appointing people "with no knowledge" or experience in charge of Government departments
September 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Nigel Farage, whose party recently put a teenager with zero work experience of any kind in charge of an entire English county, accuses the government of appointing people "with no knowledge" or experience in charge of Government departments
Yesterday should have been the first day of year 13 for my son, but he's been unable to attend school since March. Due to a decline in health, he now rarely leaves the house. Yesterday was his granddad's 80th birthday and we did manage an outing for celebratory cake.
#LearningDisabilty #SEND
#LearningDisabilty #SEND
September 4, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Yesterday should have been the first day of year 13 for my son, but he's been unable to attend school since March. Due to a decline in health, he now rarely leaves the house. Yesterday was his granddad's 80th birthday and we did manage an outing for celebratory cake.
#LearningDisabilty #SEND
#LearningDisabilty #SEND
Well, it truly has been a school holiday of two halves this year. Lovely trip with youngest to Freiburg to visit our daughter who was studying there. The rest of the time has been swallowed up with appointments and paperwork for our middle child. #SEND #LearningDisabilty
August 31, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Well, it truly has been a school holiday of two halves this year. Lovely trip with youngest to Freiburg to visit our daughter who was studying there. The rest of the time has been swallowed up with appointments and paperwork for our middle child. #SEND #LearningDisabilty