2024-02-09 21:59
I’m flying to New York in less than a week, and I’m still very much in the middle of planning everything. I’m traveling alone, and I’m blind, so it’s important… Read More
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Holly Scott-Gardner, public speaker, disability advocate and blogger.
2024-02-08 13:31
I love to travel, and I often don’t have anyone to go with. There’s also so much freedom in traveling alone, as you get to plan your days around the things you really want to do… Read More
2024-02-05 17:07
I used to use this blog as a place to put my thoughts. More of a journal, I suppose. With the really private, embarrassing stuff taken out. But I’ve been writing less and less with eac… Read More
2024-02-01 20:36
Living independently is something adults, at least in my culture, are expected to do. I live in a very individualistic society, where we are told that we must leave home, get our own place… Read More
2024-01-31 01:02
I’ve become quite interested in ChatGPT and what a language model can do. I’m mostly interested in the context of accessibility, such as the place of AI in describing images. How… Read More
2023-10-16 19:14
I used to feel as though my body was filled with words. So full they could not be contained. They fell from my hands, my lips, my very skin. It was as though writing was the only way I could… Read More
2023-04-04 10:47
It started with a binder. I suppose it started before then, with thoughts and questions, but I will always look back at that first binder and view it as a defining moment. I wasn’t one… Read More
2022-10-25 15:21
In that last week before my mum died, I wrote little notes. I don’t know why. Maybe it was a way of working through the…
The post Notes from the end appeared first on Catch Thes… Read More
2022-08-06 20:55
Like most people, I’ve been watching the Conservative party leadership contest with interest. I want to stay informed. I want to care about this country…
The post Anger is unpro… Read More
2022-06-24 18:00
There is loss in transition. Sometimes I feel like I should not speak these words, or type them, or put them to paper. I know…
The post The things I’ve lost appeared first on Ca… Read More
2022-06-10 16:47
It will soon be eight months since my mum died. It will soon be six months since my retired guide dog died. I count the…
The post Grief is not a race to be won appeared first on Catch… Read More
2022-05-14 13:48
There is a group of people stuck in a kind of limbo. Not quite grown-up, not quite a child. It’s a criticism that has been…
The post The Twenties Grief Club appeared first on Ca… Read More
2022-04-27 00:34
When you’re sighted, there is so much to see. I know this sounds obvious when it’s written like this, but for many people it’s just…
The post Can I Touch the World?… Read More
2022-04-25 15:17
In my last post, where I talked about getting an ADHD diagnosis, I mentioned that I would be starting medication soon. I’ve now been on…
The post You Have ADHD Part 4: Starting… Read More
2022-04-23 22:10
I started to write this blog eleven years ago, when I was coming to the end of a tumultuous first year in a mainstream sixth…
The post Finding my Way Through the Years appeared first… Read More
2022-04-14 22:04
I’ve always resisted the idea of a cure for my blindness. I’ve been asked about it plenty of times, shrugging off the possibility with an…
The post What Does it Mean to Fo… Read More
2022-03-11 18:49
I’ve talked about what life was like before my diagnosis, and the specific experience of hyperfocus as someone with ADHD, but I haven’t yet written…
The post You Have ADHD… Read More
2022-01-14 21:52
It’s been three and a half weeks, and I’m still not sure I have the words in me to write this post. On the 21st…
The post Isla appeared first on Catch These Words Read More
2022-01-13 20:36
I haven’t written much about being trans, really. Partly because it feels so personal in a way that blindness does not, so I’m not really…
The post Coming Out and Feeling… Read More
2022-01-04 18:21
Braille, the tactile writing system used by blind people across the globe is a writing system which is easily identified as being linked with blind…
The post The Politics of Braille a… Read More
2022-01-03 15:35
I had high hopes for The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea and I couldn’t be happier to have started 2022 so well by finishing…
The post Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by… Read More
2021-12-22 00:08
I was a teenager when I first read the Old Kingdom trilogy as it was then. I don’t remember quite how old I was, probably…
The post The Inevitability of Death in Garth Nix&rsquo&hell…Read More
2021-11-28 16:51
It’s been six weeks. I’m counting. Of course I’m counting. When will I stop counting? Will it turn to months, and then years? Will I…
The post Something about Grief… Read More
2021-11-27 11:47
I’ve always known that I was able to hyperfocus, though it’s only recently I’ve been able to describe it in those terms. When I hyperfocus,…
The post You Have ADHD p… Read More
2021-11-26 15:23
I was not ready for this series when I picked it up. I bought the audiobook after having seen other people talk about it on…
The post Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang appeared firs… Read More
2021-11-25 00:32
I recently received an ADHD diagnosis. This didn’t come as a huge surprise to me, in fact it was something I decided to explore because…
The post You Have ADHD part 1: Life Befo… Read More
2021-11-15 18:26
I miss my mum. Of course I do. Writing those words feels stupid and wholly inadequate because it’s obvious that I miss her and shouldn’t… Read More
2021-10-27 23:33
Since coming out, quite a few friends have asked me the same questions around my transition and how they can be respectful when talking about… Read More
2021-10-24 16:19
In recent weeks there has been a tension running through certain pockets of academia. It’s hard to say if this can be felt on campus,… Read More
2021-10-17 22:36
My mum passed away last night from cancer at the age of 68. Writing those words doesn’t feel real, as much as I know that… Read More
2021-09-27 15:16
You never remember your lasts. Perhaps you tell yourself that you will. Surely you will remember your last conversation with a person, last shared meal,… Read More
2021-09-25 11:32
I’ve become familiar with anticipatory grief, the process of grieving a loss before it actually happens. I wasn’t sure if it was something I’d write… Read More
2021-09-24 13:37
I came out as transgender around six weeks ago. I’ve debated writing this post in the days since coming out, knowing that at some point… Read More
2021-07-28 14:37
This morning, the UK government released their National Disability Strategy, a paper which outlines their policy focus pertaining to disabled people. A comprehensive strategy to…
The… Read More
2021-07-09 22:28
I’ve been reading and thinking a lot lately about the systems that enable discrimination against certain groups of people. Of course I experience this discrimination…
The post B… Read More
2021-06-13 07:22
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about information deprivation. These aren’t new thoughts. As a blind person, I’m constantly denied access to information that other&hellip&hell…Read More
2021-06-11 12:45
The ethics form for my master’s research project wasn’t approved. I have to start by saying this, because it’s what has prompted the following thoughts.…
The post Re… Read More
2021-06-03 09:39
As a blind person, I feel a significant amount of disconnect from my own body. I feel connected to my body in a physical sense,…
The post To Know a Body I’ve Never Seen appeared… Read More
2021-06-02 11:55
I’ve taken the chance recently to reach out to a couple of people who I know are living in the area and ask if they’d…
The post You’ve got to reach out appeared firs… Read More
2021-05-30 18:40
Last night I was reading an article about a start-up that claims it can help prospective parents by allowing them to choose healthy embryos. I’ve…
The post I Don’t Want a… Read More
2021-05-28 16:39
I learnt something about power in advocacy spaces when I studied abroad in Colombia. Specifically about communication involving people who speak different languages. It’s something&hel&hell…Read More
2021-05-27 20:53
This semester I’m taking a class in European human rights law. It’s one of the most complex and deeply interesting classes I’ve ever taken, not…
The post Who has the… Read More
2021-05-27 11:14
Earlier this week I received a call from Guide Dogs finalising the rehoming of Isla, my retired dog. In four days, she’ll have lived with…
The post There’s no map for navi… Read More
2021-05-26 13:03
Recently I’ve started exploring my feelings around being a postgraduate student on this blog, documenting the highs and lows as it were of student life.…
The post I am Not a Com… Read More
2021-05-25 11:31
Today I cried over a research proposal. Truly I am living the very glamorous life of a postgraduate student. The research proposal is for an…
The post Cry over your research and then… Read More
2021-05-24 18:00
I wish we put as much pressure on society to change as we put on young disabled people to learn self-advocacy skills. This is a…
The post Who should Speak for Justice? appeared first… Read More
2021-05-21 14:01
One very exciting thing about being a postgraduate student is that I get to attend a lot of academic conferences. But I also know just…
The post Academia. It’s a Mystery appeare… Read More
2021-05-20 12:25
I’ve always been a strange mix of both extroverted and introverted. I love to travel and ask questions, especially in new places. I’m also quite…
The post The pandemic has… Read More
2021-05-19 09:06
If you asked me whether disabled people are a burden, I would tell you without hesitation that no, they are not. But it’s a hell…
The post The Burden of Being a Disabled Student… Read More
2021-05-17 11:29
I was stepping down from a train yesterday when I felt a hand grab my waist. I didn’t have time to think, my body instantaneously…
The post I’m Tired of Begging Strangers… Read More
2021-05-06 16:11
I’ve somehow dragged myself through a really challenging few months, and although in many ways there have been some incredibly positive changes in my life,…
The post Making sens… Read More
2021-04-05 13:50
A fun and refreshing middle-grade fantasy, filled with magic, monsters, and nerds! Title: The Gatekeeper of PericaelAuthor: Hayley Reese ChowGenre: Middle-grade fantasyPublication date: Apri… Read More
2021-03-17 13:10
Kevin works as a Communications Officer for a sight loss organisation in the UK. Originally from Colombia, he had to adapt to both learning assistive…
The post Interdependence is key… Read More
2021-03-05 20:58
When I was in my final year of university, I had to take a pregnancy test. I was embarrassed at the time and scared that…
The post I Took a Pregnancy Test and I Was Scared My Blindnes… Read More
2021-02-25 20:15
If you have an interest in web accessibility, you’ve doubtless found yourself at some point involved in a discussion about the best way to fix…
The post Do Automated Solutions l… Read More
2021-02-15 15:31
Set in early 1940’s France, the Paris Dressmaker tells the story of two women who risked their lives to save the people and country they…
The post Review: The Paris Dressmaker b… Read More
2021-02-06 18:23
Lucy Edwards is a journalist and social media influencer from the United Kingdom. After losing her vision she started a YouTube channel, where she educates…
The post Working Blind Epi… Read More
2020-12-23 20:29
Title: Who I Was With HerAuthor: Nita TyndallPublication date: September 15th 2020Publisher: HarperTeenFormat: EbookRating: 5/5 Synopsis There are two things that Corinne Parker knows to&hel&hell…Read More
2020-12-15 18:43
If there’s one thing we can probably all agree on, it’s that 2020 has been an objectively bad year. However, one silver lining has been…
The post Rounding Up My Favourite… Read More
2020-12-14 20:24
Title: A Sky Beyond the StormAuthor: Sabaa TahirSeries: An Ember in the Ashes, book 4Publisher: HarperCollins PublishersPublication date: 10 December 2020 (United Kingdom) Where to…
T… Read More
2020-12-09 15:10
“Fingers.” “Hands down.” “Holly, eyes.” These were all familiar phrases to me as a child, uttered by the adults around me when they saw a…
The post… Read More
2020-12-08 21:24
I’m a perfectionist. I look at my completed work and feel irritated and disappointed because it’s never quite good enough. No matter how much time…
The post The Truth Is:… Read More
2020-12-07 06:06
I’ve been blogging for almost ten years. Writing that down feels a bit scary, especially because I’m not sure how much I have to show…
The post It’s Okay to be My Au… Read More
2020-12-04 16:06
This post was submitted to the blog by Caitlin Hernandez. As a totally blind high schooler, I read every online “How To Kiss” article I…
The post Guest Post: Top Ten Thing… Read More
2020-12-02 20:14
I’m pretty critical of the education system. I’m pretty critical about everything actually, I’m just that kind of person. Despite this, I look back at…
The post Teac… Read More
2020-12-02 01:43
This blog post is essentially an expansion of a very long thread about cane travel which I wrote on Twitter. Feel free to check out…
The post Stop Taking Our Canes Away appeared first… Read More
2020-12-01 15:39
I often find myself saying “I failed my A-levels,” when what I actually mean is I got two c’s at a2 history and politics and…
The post Not Every Student Learns the S… Read More
2020-11-29 16:39
Matthew Johnson has been blind since birth. He moved from Bermuda to the UK to attend a school for the blind, studied languages at university,…
The post Working Blind Episode 9 &ndash&hell…Read More
2020-11-05 15:51
Introduction At the beginning of Blindness Awareness Month, which took place during October, I was left feeling frustrated and disheartened by the high level of…
The post Is Your Awar… Read More
2020-10-31 14:28
Lawrence has always been interested in music, but he started seriously playing in high school. From there he went to university, and he’s now a…
The post Working Blind Episode 8… Read More
2020-10-04 15:22
It’s Blindness Awareness Month and I’m here to talk about the content you’re posting online for it once again. I’ve already written about how awareness…
The po… Read More
2020-10-03 12:15
October is blindness awareness month, or so countless posts over on Facebook tell me. I forget about it for the most part, until I’m reminded…
The post Sharing Posts for Blindne… Read More
2020-09-30 12:24
I keep a journal. Sometimes I write in it multiple times a day for weeks on end and then I don’t write at all for…
The post I’m not sure any of us are ok, maybe all we can… Read More
2020-09-23 15:33
In recent years, several companies have developed apps or implemented technology which uses artificial intelligence to describe photos to blind people. In 2016 Facebook released…
The… Read More
2020-09-17 13:14
This year has been hard for us all. We have had to deal with loss and the need to adapt to a new way of…
The post The Life List appeared first on Holly Scott-Gardner Read More
2020-09-09 16:30
On July the 18th I published a blog post entitled Despite Covid19, Student Finance England Continues Discriminatory Application Process in which I outlined ongoing problems…
Read more… Read More
2020-09-08 00:12
We often associate grief with death, acknowledging that it is a process we must go through after the permanent loss of a loved one. The…
Read moreThe Complicated Grief after Retiring… Read More
2020-07-18 22:03
As a disabled student, I rely on Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), in order to receive the support I need at university. Administered by the government…
Read moreDespite Covid19, Stu… Read More
2020-03-23 01:55
The following resources can be used as part of distance learning. Whilst they primarily focus on blindness skills training in the field of technology, there…
Read moreFree Online Trai… Read More
2020-02-24 17:35
When people ask me about my blindness, they can’t imagine how I could ever truly be happy with who I am. How do I work?…
Read moreMy Life with Lebers Congenital Amaurosis: Livin… Read More
2020-01-12 00:59
A Harvard geneticist, George Church, is developing an app that would prevent couples who carry the same recessive gene from ever meeting. The goal: to…
Read moreA Dating App would Mat… Read More
2020-01-08 21:45
Martin works for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association UK leading their technology service. Although initially a reluctant technology user himself he ended up…
Read moreWorking Bli… Read More
2020-01-07 04:10
Looking back into the past can sometimes feel like meeting a stranger. I read posts I wrote when I first started this site and I…
Read moreThe Evolution of a Girl
The post The Evoluti… Read More
2020-01-03 03:09
The last ten years have been momentous for me. Perhaps I’ll look back and think that it was the most significant decade of my life.…
Read moreThe Decade in Review
The post The D… Read More
2019-12-29 06:30
Tonight, I miss my home. Not the childhood house I grew up in, because I’ve barely spent more than a handful of days there at…
Read moreI Miss my Home
The post I Miss my Home ap… Read More
2019-12-23 18:21
Justin works at a university ensuring that classes are accessible to disabled students. As a blind person he knows first hand why accessibility matters, and…
Read moreWorking Blind Ep… Read More
2019-12-07 18:34
On Wednesday I will start cooking a meal for 60 people. My final project at CCB, a celebration of how far I’ve come over the…
Read moreFinding a Family at the Colorado Center fo… Read More
2019-11-27 03:42
At the state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado I was given the opportunity to share my experiences growing up as…
Read moreLiving as a Blind Person in the… Read More
2019-10-07 01:51
Family, friendship and exploring the past. The latest YA novel from Sarah Dessen didn’t disappoint. Title: The Rest of the Story Author: Sarah Dessen Publication…
Read moreRevie… Read More
2019-10-04 20:22
Yesterday I was dropped somewhere in Denver. Wearing a blindfold and with no access to my phone I had to find my way back. I…
Read moreA Blindfold, a Cane and the City
The post A Blin… Read More
2019-09-23 08:28
A blind person is crossing the street. You see them waiting, white cane in hand. Should you tell them it’s safe to cross? They can’t…
Read moreA Blind Person is Crossing t… Read More
2019-08-05 19:41
I have been in training at the Colorado Center for the Blind for two months. Moving to another country no longer feels strange to me,…
Read moreMeasuring the Impossible
The post Measu… Read More
2019-05-29 19:00
Matthew works at a school for students with disabilities. A number of his students are blind and need access to braille. We chat about braille,…
Read moreWorking Blind Episode 5 &ndas&hell…Read More
2019-05-15 20:00
Angela turned her hobby of producing beef jerky into a business when she set up Gliding Eagle Jerky. She hopes to not only sell quality…
Read moreWorking Blind Episode 4 – Angel… Read More
2019-05-08 22:02
“She’s so clever.” “She loves to read.” “She’s very good.” These were phrases I heard often as a child. I was outgoing, unafraid to approach&h&hell…Read More
2019-04-17 20:15
Sean Randall works at New College Worcester, a school for young people who are blind or visually impaired. He uses his skills and experience to…
Read moreWorking Blind Episode 3 &ndas&hell…Read More
2019-04-04 19:36
I’m so glad to have seen some recent discussions of blindness and mental health, and how these two things can come hand in hand. These…
Read moreBlindness and Anxiety
The post B… Read More
2019-04-03 20:15
Caitlin Hernandez lives in San Francisco and works as a teacher. I chatted to her about her education, what made her become a teacher and…
Read moreWorking Blind Episode two – C… Read More
2019-03-20 20:30
Florian Beijers is blind and lives in the Netherlands. He now works as a programmer after completing a degree at university. I met with him…
Read moreWorking Blind Episode 1 – M… Read More
2019-03-15 22:23
I love my dog. Isla is sweet, friendly and endlessly curious. Her independent yet loving nature makes her easy to be around and we have…
Read moreWhat I Wish I’d Known before ge… Read More
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