Learn With ESS

The hardest part of this challenge isn't the wheelchair.

It's the door.

🚪 Position yourself.
🤝 Reach the handle.
⬅️ Pull it open.
✋ Keep it open.
♿ Move through before it closes.

One simple task.
Five different challenges.

That's why we believe awareness is built through experience.

When you put yourself in someone else's position, you begin to understand why accessibility matters.

Sometimes it's the smallest moments that teach us the biggest lessons.

I always joke that when I'm paying for something, I'm tapping the biscuits, the snacks, the counter and pretty much everything except the card reader.

But the reality is, as a visually impaired person, this is one of the challenges I face every single day.

Not because I don't have my card or phone ready.

Simply because I can't find the card machine.

It might sound like a small thing, but when you're standing at a counter searching for it while people watch, unsure whether to help or what to say, it can quickly become frustrating.

The good news?

Making that experience easier often takes just a few words.

"Would you like me to bring the card machine to you?"

"Would you like me to guide your hand to it?"

"Would you like me to place your phone on the reader for you?"

Simple questions.

No assumptions.

Just offering support.

Sometimes accessibility isn't about major changes, expensive equipment or complicated solutions.

It's about understanding the challenges that others face and having the confidence to ask how you can help.

The smallest interactions can often make the biggest difference.

What everyday task do you take for granted that might be a challenge for someone else?

💚💙🧡

My steering wheel costs £20,000.

Most people are surprised when they hear that.

The specialist technology that allows me to drive independently costs far more than most people would imagine.

It's a reminder that accessibility often comes at a cost many people never see.

I'm incredibly grateful for schemes like Motability and the organisations helping make independence possible for people with disabilities.

Because driving isn't just about getting from A to B.

It's about freedom. Opportunity. Independence.

Accessibility helps remove barriers so more people can live life on their own terms.