2023-Year In Review

I have achieved quite a lot, here are my main successes for 2023- year in review.

Blogging

I have continued to write my blog posts. Hopefully, continuing to raise awareness of disability and matters close to my heart.

2023 has seen me begin my TikTok journey, tentatively wandering into the unknown. I have started sharing accessibility and awareness videos on TikTok, and my other social media channels.

@hannahedeakin

Powerchair

I got my new powerchair in March after having my old one for 13.5 years. I love the Bentley rose gold colour. It was a long journey to get it, but hopefully it is something sorted and ticked off the list now for another few years!

Ambassador Roles

Proudly, I became an ambassador of Purple Tuesday in June. Meaning, I am now an ambassador of White Lodge and Purple Tuesday.

Features

I have featured in:

AT magazine on my powerchair

Motability Foundation filmed me for two videos: Motability Foundation rebranding video and a video they did on me (see both below).

I was in Purple Tuesday’s advert which was featured on Piccadilly Lights, Piccadilly Circus, London.

Below is a video highlighting Purple Tuesday- Tuesday 7th November 2023, which I also feature in.

I wrote the forward for White Lodge’s Christmas card message.

Speaking

I spoke with two other colleagues in front of over 150 people at work, about disability and my personal experience, to celebrate International Day for People with disabilities (IDPWD).

I spoke on ITV news about the extra costs I and many other disabled people face, on the day Scope released their new Disability Price Tag research.

My Invisible Documentary full interview was released on disability, access and getting my first job.

It was an honour to be asked to speak at the Motability Foundation AGM, which was held at the Science museum, London, in September. It was an incredible event and so nice to meet Lord Sterling and Hannah Barham-Brown to name a few.

In my roll as an ambassador for White Lodge I spoke at: Kingswood Golf club, on their charity day; Walton Voices’ concert and Weybridge Voice choir concert. This was to raise awareness of White Lodge and disability, but also supported the events to raise many thousands of pounds in total for White Lodge.

In December near International Day for People with Disabilities (IDPWD), I was a guest speaker at Lenoard Cheshire Change 100 graduation event, speaking about my education and employment experience as a disabled person.

Studying and Working

I passed my Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Corporate and Business Law (F4) exam in February, and Financial Reporting (F7) exam in September. As a result, I have now passed three ACCA exams in total, however due to having my Association of Accounting Technicans (AAT) I have three exemptions, so have essentially completed 6/13 exams. So, I am nearly halfway!

I have managed to increase my working hours to 12 hours a week.

Christianity

Our family friend, Caroline has been working on ‘The Bible Course’ with my Mum and myself. ‘The Bible Course’ is an eight week course but we have been completing it at a slower pace, reading one week every month or two. 

Physiotherapy 2023-Year In Review

I have continued working hard with my daily physiotherapy and rehabilitation, making small but valuable gains. I have to remember Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Life Events

We had my cousin, Adam’s wedding, where we saw him and Kat marry, in September, it was lovely to have our first family wedding. I was honoured to do a reading on behalf of Ben and me.

It has been lovely to spend time with family, friends and my gorgeous godchildren.

Sometimes it is hard to recognise our successes. I know I am definitely harder on myself. Writing it down really helps me. What are your achievements in 2023? If you find it hard maybe you should try writing it down?

The Negatives of 2023

I want to acknowledge these as don’t want this post just to be a highlight reel. Something, I know I am guilty of doing. I don’t want others to feel like everything is wonderful for everyone else, and they are the only ones who have had a hard year. If I am honest, I think everyone has hard times in their lives, although I appreciate some seem to have more.

In 2023 I have suffered with grief, exclusion, battles for what I need (a lot of them) to name a few. I am sure there are plenty more, but I am currently trying to focus on the positive.

Thank you for all your continued support in 2023.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Happy, healthy 2024.

Hannah x