Speaking out: Joe and Jill blogs

In this first in an occasional series, Blogger and activist Martyn Sibley checks out the impact that disabled individual and collective bloggers can have

According to a recent BBC technology news report, there is one new blog being created every second. A portmanteau – two words combined into one from “web log” – a blog simply defines a regularly updated website. Blogs are now being used worldwide by mums, students, charities, corporate brands and, of course, disabled people. But how are blogs being used by disabled people?

I have heard many people who are unsure of the purpose in having a blog say “Why would anyone care what I have to say?”. My view, having blogged and tweeted for two years is that firstly, people are inquisitive – everyone has an interest in the news and people’s views on it.

Secondly, individuals matter – one person can write a blog and have their views seen by decision makers and people in power. People are naturally engaged by real stories from other people.

Thirdly, blogs can be unified and amplified – multiple blogs can be pulled together into one “blog swarm”. An online campaign created and started in this way can engage thousands, gain press attention and begin the process of bringing about social change.

The first blog I want to highlight in Blogwatch illustrates the power an individual’s story can have.

Rob West writes a regular update on his life.

Rob shares his love of sport, worries over government decisions and his journey towards driving independently. Whilst Rob’s blog hasn’t overthrown a government or a policy decision, people relate to him, his life and are inspired to aim for their own dreams as a result. Keep an eye on how his application and aspirations with the Motability scheme develop.

Then there’s the blog from the campaigning group The Broken of Britain (TBofB), a group created as a result of some of the oppressive government decisions concerning disabled people, welfare and benefit reform  and employment.

At thebrokenofbritain. blogspot.com the group campaigns tirelessly. Their blog has a unified mission: “Non-partisan UK-based Disability campaign. Advocacy for people with invisible illness and/or physical & mental health conditions. Also Carers, their families and friends. Our individual voices are too quiet to be heard, but collectively we can shout loud enough to drown out this tide of abuse against us.”

One example of how this works came when over 100 disabled people participated in the “one month before heartbreak” campaign. They shared personal stories of their need for Disability living Allowance (DLA). It was partly as a result of this that the Government’s consultation on DLA was extended and ministers were pressured into considering every aspect of this policy decision.

Blogs may not yet be running the country or dictating the political agenda, as they have in other countries, but from this snapshot we can see how one individual and an united group of people can and do make real change.

• See Rob West’s blog at ginger-rob.com

•• See a full list of TBofB campaigns at thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com/p/campaigns.html