Guest Article

A message from Jill Wadley - Who am I, why did I get involved with Intersectional Sigma Placed-Based Aging (ISPA) and why I need your help!

My name is Jill Wadley, I have been a permanent wheelchair user since 2007. I live in an adapted property and my landlord is Bron Afon Community Housing Association. I got involved with housing when Torfaen County Borough Council realised that there was no money to bring their housing up to the original Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).  Through the themed groups that we attended I got involved with compact groups and when the stock transfer took place, I became a member of the Membership Committee.  I moved to an accessible property in 2011, and had to finish on the Membership Committee, as I had moved out of the area I had represented.  I was asked to get involved with Scrutiny, where we reviewed all services that are delivered to their customers ensuring that they are effective, efficient, economical, and value for money.  During these years, I was asked by Bron Afon if I would like to complete my level 2 in housing studies, I wanted to know more about social housing and decided that I would go to Cardiff Metropolitan University, to gain HNC in housing, which followed with a 2:1 degree in Housing Studies.

This gave me a good understanding of how housing associations operate, I have been able to use my education within my housing association and have pioneered to become activist for the plight of those living with disabilities and living in unsuitable homes that can’t be adapted for their needs.  I sit on Bron Afon’s Adaptation Panel where we make informed decisions about adaptations.

I also volunteer at Cadwyn Housing Association in Cardiff, and one of the members of the Cadwyn Tenant Scrutiny team member, who is completing her Master’s at Sterling University in Scotland, thought this would be up my street.  I gave permission to be involved and have not looked back. My role within Intersectional Sigma Placed-Based Aging (ISPA), is to find as many disabled people as possible regardless of type, in Wales, to complete peer research, this is where we record a diary, (writing, pictures, recordings, video) whichever way you feel comfortable to show where we live and the environment around us.  Such as, where I live the road on my estate is old and seems like cobble but it is like a cement mixture with lumps (best I can describe), the local railway station have had millions of money spent on it, is not accessible and I have to come out of the station, go up over the bridge come down, and cut through a housing estate to access the platform if I am going to Cardiff by train. This isn’t good enough, mainly as I am fortunate to use an electric wheelchair, but those who wheel themselves would not manage getting up and over the bridge, to the right platform.  I complained to the train organisation, they suggested that I either go to Newport or Abergavenny to catch a train. This is just my experience, but I am sure you have many.  I am fortunate to live in my home, but I waited for 3 years before one became available, why? Because I am a mother of two girls, who were still living at home, and we needed a property big enough for us.

I have been looking for a job since I completed my degree, but although I am overqualified for the role, I get as far as an interview but not further, I really think, that some people are nervous to employ me as I am in a wheelchair.  I have now given up on this idea and have put myself in a position to be able to speak up about what we go through to live a comfortable life.

If you are interested in this, please email me: - [email protected] and I will send you the information for you to make a decision about being involved.

Jill