Steph Driver
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stephdriver.bsky.social
Steph Driver
@stephdriver.bsky.social
94 followers 150 following 160 posts
Personal profile. A11y specialist working on Janeway at the OLH.
#Knitter #ActuallyAutistic #ADHD #IAmWriting

with guest posts from #AssistanceDog Archer 🦮

was @driver_steph on the other.
Posts Replies Media Videos
stephdriver.bsky.social
Wintry and beautiful at #FingringhoeWick today.
photograph across marshy coastland, with dramatic sky. Bleak yet green with life. Photograph of sandy beach with tufty grass down to wide estuary with low-lying green land in the distance. Wooden polls stick out of the beach in a line, blackened with age like giant’s teeth. Photograph across estuary. Marsh this side, with broken remains of flood defences, and houses on the far side. Nature staring across at Man.
October 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Show-off Bird or Harbinger?

Seen from the #WivenhoeTrail at Hythe.

I’m still unsure whether the bird was covered by sewage discharge (the smell was overpowering) or simply a dark shadow against the light.
photograph. A large bird on top of a pole in silhouette against a grey sky broken by low rise flats and an electricity tower with overhead lines fading into the distance.
October 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Officially Halloween season - Archer came back from grooming with a novelty collar accessory.
photo of cream labradoodle lying in her bed looking at camera, with a green bandana decorated in skulls and pumpkins.
October 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
I’m guessing this is how GP surgeries like mine who were reluctant to make their booking accessible to those who can’t communicate by telephone are getting around the new online booking rules. I wonder if there are ever any appointments available?
screenshot from NHS app: No appointments available to book online at this time You'll need to contact your GP surgery to book an appointment.
October 1, 2025 at 8:19 AM
stephdriver.bsky.social
beautiful day to walk along the Wivenhoe Trail.
Photo. dog looking out along an estuary at high tide on a sunny day with radiant blue sky and fluffy clouds.
September 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Yesterday I took a short walk along a riverbank, The path was wide and flat, perfectly accessible for wheeled mobility, except none were there because every hundred yards or so there was a kissing gate.

This is society excluding it’s own, this is the #SocialModel of disability.
Photo of river. soft green banks, somewhat idyllic.
August 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Archer has shown she fits perfectly in the chair, and all the reasons she should not be on the furniture have fled my mind. Clever girl!
photograph. Paisley wingback armchair, with a snoozing labradoodle curled up perfectly sized for the seat, her chin resting on one arm, and ear falling to either side of the arm. Very cute. Very settled and not about to move, ever.
August 13, 2025 at 2:29 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Today’s small source of #AutisticJoy, new drawer spice rack arrived.
photograph looking down on the contents of an open drawer. It is filled by three perfect, colourful and alphabetical rows of spices and herbs, the jars lying almost flat with their labels on readable on top, and a few packets of stock cubes tucked down the right hand side.
July 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
This is my setup. e-assist recumbent trike with trailer for my assistance dog. I kept being pushed towards mobility scooters, but I held out for active travel option.

Without it I’d be relying on poorly accessible public transport - or in reality, just not going anywhere.
Photo of a recumbent trike with an orange dog trailer on an unmade up road beside a creek.
June 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Sunday’s #InclusiveCycling highlight: seven cygnets swimming in single file.
photo as per accompanying text - seven cygnets swimming along a calm river in single file with a parent Swan at either end.
June 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
we’ve had a lot of trouble with inaccessible cycle barriers recently, something I hope I’m not going to be alone in pushing to fix.

The chicane (second) is by the hospital - blocking disabled cyclists from getting there along cycle-paths, alternative is an unsafe heavy traffic road!
photo: cycle barrier on bike path in three segments, and with a bollard - all gaps are very narrow. Photo, from riding position of recumbent, looking at legs , while stuck unable to turn through a chicane barrier as not enough space between the two parts to get round.
June 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Happy #WorldCyclingDay

My cycling companion of choice is Archer, my assistance dog. This is our freedom! She love running alongside on tracks, and then travels in style in the trailer along the roads.
Photo, the full cycling setup, red recumbent tadpole trike with bright orange dog trailer, dog herself, a cream furred labradoodle, posing sat in front. photo - mid cycle along a sunny treelined track. Taken from onboard the recumbent looking down at brown trousers and feet on pedals, a dog just ahead on the trail. Photo, another on a track, this tome dog standing alongside as if we’re taking a breather together and having a chat. photo - dog aboard orange dog trailer. Head put the top, tong lolling, happy as… a dog on a cycling trip.
June 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Beautiful day for a cycling adventure to find our way to Highwoods Country Park. #Colchester
photograph. Wide path amid tall trees, still without many leaves. A labradoodle stating down the path, attached by lead to (out of shot) cyclist on recumbent cycle, pedals and one foot just visible.
March 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
@ecargo-colchester.bsky.social

Nice to meet you today - we continued on to the Wivenhoe trail where Archer got out and ran alongside - that’s why she was impatient about us pausing - she only grudgingly accepts that in order to run, first she must ride in the trailer to get to the trail.
Photograph. Archer and me at Hythe end of the Wivenhoe Trail. It’s a dull day. Archer is on the left, looking ahead down the trail. You can see my legs and the pedals of the recumbent trike. To the right is a simple metal fence beyond which is the river and boats. The trail here is brick paved, very built up area.
February 16, 2025 at 1:53 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
It’s been a year like none other, on the heels of four “years of hell” and culminating in the last working week of December dumping three nightmares on me one after the other.

So as I await the new year, I’ve been weaving…
photograph, tablet woven band with text “Fuck off 2024” in white on a brown ground.
December 31, 2024 at 10:29 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
The #WivenhoeTrail as glorious as ever.
Archer, a cream furred labradoodle stands on a gravel path along the side of an estuary. The tide is half out exposing mudflats in front of distant houses on the far bank. It’s sunny and glorious.
September 19, 2024 at 4:15 PM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Happy Sunday
photograph: close up of a dog either her nose nestled on top of a colourful crochet blanket. She’s a cream furred labradoodle. It’s a waffle-stitch stash-yarn busting blanket.
December 3, 2023 at 10:58 AM
stephdriver.bsky.social
Off on an adventure.

and to take some videos for Assistance Dog Archer’s assessment.
photograph. ground level view. Dog tucked under seat, with brown trouser-clad leg of human visible sat on that seat.
October 29, 2023 at 10:35 AM