As a prominent figure in the field of disability awareness, Claire Buckle, the founder of both Ability Consultancy (NW) Ltd, and Ability Digital Ltd, is often asked to share her lived experience of disability with the press. Whilst her passion for helping other people with disabilities shines through in everything she does, Claire often finds it difficult to talk fluidly, with Cerebral Palsy affecting her speech. So, it is very rewarding for the Ability team to see their leader overcome her personal challenges and be featured in the press, not only once, but three times in a month! Claire featured on BBC local radio, BBC local television news, and itv’s local television news, Granada Reports in the month of March. Her spotlight slots not only highlighted the fantastic work of both her companies in promoting disability acceptance, but also aimed to support both cerebral palsy awareness month and International Women’s Day.
Radio debut!
Claire’s first live radio appearance was Breakfast on BBC Radio Lancashire on Wednesday 13th March. The show is known for waking up the county with the very latest news, sport and information for Lancashire and is hosted by Graham Liver. Claire and Graham discussed Claire’s technology business Ability Digital Ltd and the launch of the innovative new app Xplore DisAbility®. The interactive app uses a tablet or phone to bring disability to life and helps non-disabled people, especially school children to experience and understand what it is like to be disabled.
TV star!
Claire also runs the Manchester Frame Running Academy through her Ability Consultancy business, with weekly sessions held on a Wednesday evening at Manchester Regional Athletics Arena. Frame running is a fun and freeing sport that allows people with a disability that would typically struggle to stand up or walk, to run with the sturdy support of the wheeled frame. Claire has worked tirelessly to secure funding and equipment for the sessions which she coaches free of charge to support the next generation of potential para-athletes. Claire knows the benefit that sport had on her life and wishes to share her successful experience with others with cerebral palsy or related impairments. Granada Reports attended a session at the end of February and on Wednesday 13th March, the report aired showing the huge talent of our fantastic team of frame runners – both on and off the track!
To view the tv report, please visit:
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-03-13/disabled-young-people-able-to-run-for-first-time
For more details and to join our short waiting list to try frame running, please contact: framerunningnw@gmail.com.
Trio of fame
The third media appearance of the month was on the BBC North-West Tonight programme on Tuesday 19th March. The news piece featured an in school demonstration of how Ability Digital’s new app Xplore Disability® can be used in schools for PSHE lessons and so much more. The interactive app and supporting tools help school children and their educators to understand what it is like to have a disability and to experience it for themselves interactively. Claire Buckle and the film crew visited a local primary school, and the children were astonished at the simple struggles in life that people with disabilities often face. One pupil used the app to see how a book would look to someone with a visual impairment. “The book looked bigger than it actually was, and I couldn’t see any of the words,” she said. “It felt like it wasn’t real, and now I feel for people who are partially blind.”
To view more about how the school children engaged with the app, please watch the full tv report at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-68581280
If you would like to book a demo for the app, or would like to book Claire for an interactive disability awareness session, please email info@ability-consultancy.co.uk.
