Rachel Adam-Smith
@rachela-s.bsky.social
Mum & carer. Original “Mustard patient”. Powered by batteries #CHD ❤️. Ex cabin crew. Law graduate. Disability Campaigner. Views mine 📸dogs mine 🐾
Pinned
Rachel Adam-Smith
@rachela-s.bsky.social
· Nov 17
'Neglected, Exhausted and Exploited': Sick Mum's Heartbreaking Story of Caring for Disabled Daughter
A parent carer to a severely disabled woman explains just how difficult life can be - and just how little help and support is available.
bylinetimes.com
“The amount of hours a week unpaid carers are expected to do – or more accurately, left to do – would normally be covered by a team of carers, not just one person”
bylinetimes.com/2024/04/18/n...
bylinetimes.com/2024/04/18/n...
She should have retired
She should be doing as she wishes
She should be just Gran
to a grown-up grandchild
But she’s not
She’s stepping in —
again —
filling the gaps where others should be
Not out of duty
Out of love
Out of fear of what happens if she doesn’t 🪡
She should be doing as she wishes
She should be just Gran
to a grown-up grandchild
But she’s not
She’s stepping in —
again —
filling the gaps where others should be
Not out of duty
Out of love
Out of fear of what happens if she doesn’t 🪡
August 8, 2025 at 6:54 AM
She should have retired
She should be doing as she wishes
She should be just Gran
to a grown-up grandchild
But she’s not
She’s stepping in —
again —
filling the gaps where others should be
Not out of duty
Out of love
Out of fear of what happens if she doesn’t 🪡
She should be doing as she wishes
She should be just Gran
to a grown-up grandchild
But she’s not
She’s stepping in —
again —
filling the gaps where others should be
Not out of duty
Out of love
Out of fear of what happens if she doesn’t 🪡
To every MP voting on PIP today:
Have you ever filled in the forms?
Measured your life in metres and checkboxes?
Been told your pain doesn’t count — because you smiled?
If not, ask yourself this:
Do you really understand what you’re about to vote on? @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
Have you ever filled in the forms?
Measured your life in metres and checkboxes?
Been told your pain doesn’t count — because you smiled?
If not, ask yourself this:
Do you really understand what you’re about to vote on? @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 6:49 AM
To every MP voting on PIP today:
Have you ever filled in the forms?
Measured your life in metres and checkboxes?
Been told your pain doesn’t count — because you smiled?
If not, ask yourself this:
Do you really understand what you’re about to vote on? @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
Have you ever filled in the forms?
Measured your life in metres and checkboxes?
Been told your pain doesn’t count — because you smiled?
If not, ask yourself this:
Do you really understand what you’re about to vote on? @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
Is the real reason @rightmove doesn’t have accessibility filters - because there are so few accessible homes for younger disabled people, it’s easier to hide that?
Add the filters
Show the reality
Maybe then the government & developers would start taking access seriously
Add the filters
Show the reality
Maybe then the government & developers would start taking access seriously
June 14, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Is the real reason @rightmove doesn’t have accessibility filters - because there are so few accessible homes for younger disabled people, it’s easier to hide that?
Add the filters
Show the reality
Maybe then the government & developers would start taking access seriously
Add the filters
Show the reality
Maybe then the government & developers would start taking access seriously
June 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
June 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Visual story of our hospital stay at start of year
Hospital admitted today: “Staff sometimes take a step back & leave the loved one or carer to provide much of the care.”
That carer was me
Stayed 24/7 doing all care while @DWP stopped both PIP & CA
Reality of unpaid care 🧵
Hospital admitted today: “Staff sometimes take a step back & leave the loved one or carer to provide much of the care.”
That carer was me
Stayed 24/7 doing all care while @DWP stopped both PIP & CA
Reality of unpaid care 🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Visual story of our hospital stay at start of year
Hospital admitted today: “Staff sometimes take a step back & leave the loved one or carer to provide much of the care.”
That carer was me
Stayed 24/7 doing all care while @DWP stopped both PIP & CA
Reality of unpaid care 🧵
Hospital admitted today: “Staff sometimes take a step back & leave the loved one or carer to provide much of the care.”
That carer was me
Stayed 24/7 doing all care while @DWP stopped both PIP & CA
Reality of unpaid care 🧵
Reposted by Rachel Adam-Smith
This is an excellent visual story by @rachela-s.bsky.social
It highlights the reality for many carers.
x.com/RaeA_Smith/s...
It highlights the reality for many carers.
x.com/RaeA_Smith/s...
Rae on X: "Visual story of our hospital stay at start of year Hospital admitted today: “Staff sometimes take a step back & leave the loved one or carer to provide much of the care.” That carer was me Stayed 24/7 doing all care while @DWP stopped both PIP & CA reality of unpaid care 🧵 https://t.co/9ip1wIlpyl" / X
Visual story of our hospital stay at start of year Hospital admitted today: “Staff sometimes take a step back & leave the loved one or carer to provide much of the care.” That carer was me Stayed 24/7 doing all care while @DWP stopped both PIP & CA reality of unpaid care 🧵 https://t.co/9ip1wIlpyl
x.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This is an excellent visual story by @rachela-s.bsky.social
It highlights the reality for many carers.
x.com/RaeA_Smith/s...
It highlights the reality for many carers.
x.com/RaeA_Smith/s...
An unpaid carer is never off duty, hour after hour, year after year
May 30, 2025 at 5:42 AM
An unpaid carer is never off duty, hour after hour, year after year
Reposted by Rachel Adam-Smith
What does the Pathways to Work green paper actually mean, who might be affected, how much could they lose, what are the good and worrying bits of planned changes to support & assessments? A long 🧵 ...
March 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM
What does the Pathways to Work green paper actually mean, who might be affected, how much could they lose, what are the good and worrying bits of planned changes to support & assessments? A long 🧵 ...
@angharadbeckett.bsky.social saw this article thought you’d be interested
internationalednews.com/2022/03/30/t...
internationalednews.com/2022/03/30/t...
Time for an inclusive turn: Mel Ainscow on Inclusion as a guiding principle for educational reform in Portugal
This week Mel Ainscow shares his reflections on the implications of Portugal’s efforts to make inclusion a centerpiece of educational policymaking.
internationalednews.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM
@angharadbeckett.bsky.social saw this article thought you’d be interested
internationalednews.com/2022/03/30/t...
internationalednews.com/2022/03/30/t...
Inspirational woman #InternationalWomensDay2025
Dr Olive Scott @TheBHF @CHSurgeryFund @HeartSomerville
#DrOliveScott #Killingbeck #CHD
history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-phys…
Dr Olive Scott @TheBHF @CHSurgeryFund @HeartSomerville
#DrOliveScott #Killingbeck #CHD
history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-phys…
March 8, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Inspirational woman #InternationalWomensDay2025
Dr Olive Scott @TheBHF @CHSurgeryFund @HeartSomerville
#DrOliveScott #Killingbeck #CHD
history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-phys…
Dr Olive Scott @TheBHF @CHSurgeryFund @HeartSomerville
#DrOliveScott #Killingbeck #CHD
history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-phys…
Thanks to @joshhalliday.bsky.social for reporting on our story.
A change of environment to a hospital rather than your home doesn’t mean your caring responsibilities disappear, they actually increase. Carers allowance (& PIP) should not stop when in hospital, as we are still there, still caring
A change of environment to a hospital rather than your home doesn’t mean your caring responsibilities disappear, they actually increase. Carers allowance (& PIP) should not stop when in hospital, as we are still there, still caring
Mother had carer’s allowance stopped while with disabled daughter in hospital
Rachel Adam-Smith says stopping benefits when loved ones are in hospital fails to recognise carers’ ongoing role
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Rachel Adam-Smith says stopping benefits when loved ones are in hospital fails to recognise carers’ ongoing role
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Mother had carer’s allowance stopped while with disabled daughter in hospital
Rachel Adam-Smith says stopping benefits when loved ones are in hospital fails to recognise carers’ ongoing role
www.theguardian.com
February 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Thanks to @joshhalliday.bsky.social for reporting on our story.
A change of environment to a hospital rather than your home doesn’t mean your caring responsibilities disappear, they actually increase. Carers allowance (& PIP) should not stop when in hospital, as we are still there, still caring
A change of environment to a hospital rather than your home doesn’t mean your caring responsibilities disappear, they actually increase. Carers allowance (& PIP) should not stop when in hospital, as we are still there, still caring
Reposted by Rachel Adam-Smith
“When people get to 18, it’s like being sent in a tiny little boat, out to sea. It’s just terrifying.” A lot of nodding reading this from @johnharris1969.bsky.social
#SEND
#SEND
Shut away and ignored: thousands of disabled adults are at the frontier of the human rights struggle | John Harris
When you attend your local choir or yoga class, just stop and think – where are the disabled adults, asks Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
“When people get to 18, it’s like being sent in a tiny little boat, out to sea. It’s just terrifying.” A lot of nodding reading this from @johnharris1969.bsky.social
#SEND
#SEND
Reposted by Rachel Adam-Smith
More from Sir James Munby on assisted dying following the recent debate in the House: What role for the judge - more thoughts. transparencyproject.org.uk/assisted-dyi...
December 6, 2024 at 8:49 PM
More from Sir James Munby on assisted dying following the recent debate in the House: What role for the judge - more thoughts. transparencyproject.org.uk/assisted-dyi...
“The amount of hours a week unpaid carers are expected to do – or more accurately, left to do – would normally be covered by a team of carers, not just one person”
bylinetimes.com/2024/04/18/n...
bylinetimes.com/2024/04/18/n...
'Neglected, Exhausted and Exploited': Sick Mum's Heartbreaking Story of Caring for Disabled Daughter
A parent carer to a severely disabled woman explains just how difficult life can be - and just how little help and support is available.
bylinetimes.com
November 17, 2024 at 11:18 PM
“The amount of hours a week unpaid carers are expected to do – or more accurately, left to do – would normally be covered by a team of carers, not just one person”
bylinetimes.com/2024/04/18/n...
bylinetimes.com/2024/04/18/n...