![Aisha Edwards and Marsh Stitchman of Lewisham Speaking Up](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Aisha-Edwards-and-Marsh-Stichman-of-Lewisham-Speaking-Up-img_8955LR-640x400.jpg)
Opinion
![Aisha Edwards and Marsh Stitchman of Lewisham Speaking Up](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Aisha-Edwards-and-Marsh-Stichman-of-Lewisham-Speaking-Up-img_8955LR-640x400.jpg)
![Scott Watkin](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/scott-watkins-img_9752LR-640x400.jpg)
Jan Walmsley: elections offer an opportunity to improve lives
![Hand holding payment card](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/pexels-pixabay-50987-640x400.jpg)
Mary O’Hara: sick note ‘moral mission’ blames the weakest
![Mary O'Hara with award](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mary-OHara-award-640x400.jpg)
Award win for Community Living columnist
![Frozen Light: The Bar at the Edge of Time](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/0475.frozen-light-the-bar-at-the-edge-of-time-jma-photography-640x400.jpg)
Saba Salman: Arts can shine a light on many an overlooked area
![Shalim Ali DJing](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Shalim-Ali-pic-credit-Shalim-e1712309503316-640x400.jpg)
Shalim Ali: nothing is better than being with friends and dancing
![Silhouette of man in prison cell](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-donald-tong-143580-640x400.jpg)
Mary O’Hara: the often overlooked population within our prisons
![Pills in blister pack](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3980850952_956de23975_b-640x400.jpg)
Chris Hatton: calling learning disability an illness harms people
![Teresa - TO UPDATE](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Teresa-DownsyndromeHands-Mar8-2022_8906-640x400.jpg)
Saba Salman: People need real jobs and career prospects
![Ebba Hreinsdóttir, her husband Jonni Gretarsson, Mabel Cooper (centre, back) and Gloria Ferris (front)](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BFCCF72199B343DAAF08DE41027A65FC-612x400.jpg)
Jan Walmsley: why we need to revisit and reclaim the past
![Ian Goldsworthy](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-Ian-Goldsworthy-contributor-615x400.jpg)
Ian Goldsworthy: amid all the clouds, the silver linings shine brightly
![Waitress taking order outside](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DSC06683LR-640x400.jpg)
Mary O’Hara: poor pay and access to jobs should not be the norm
![Josephine Euter](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/josephine-640x400.jpg)
Saba Salman: Uplifting stories show potential and are vital
![Father and son on sofa](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_8032-640x400.jpg)
Chris Hatton: it should be obvious that backgrounds are multifaceted
![Man holding 'Save Medicaid' sign outside US Capitol](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/p11-Medicaid-colorized-640x400.jpg)
Mary O’Hara: vigilance needed to maintain disability funding
![Joey Unwin](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/p24-25-SECOND-IMAGE-Joey-Unwin-credit-Stephen-Unwin-1600x900-1-640x400.jpg)
Stephen Unwin: Chilling view of the value of lives
![Shalim Ali](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/shalim-ali-colorized-640x400.jpg)
Shalim Ali: no reason to use such a stigmatising and horrible term
![Boy with floating ball](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/p13-floating-ball-CREDIT-Ambitious-about-Autism-640x400.png)
Saba Salman: fulfilling lives need a focus on early years
![UN member flags](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/UN_Members_Flags-640x400.jpg)
Jan Walmsley: stories spread the word about making rights a reality
![President Joe Biden](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/p11-Biden-CREDIT-The-White-House-CC-BY-3.0-US-via-Wikimedia-Commons-640x400.jpg)
Mary O’Hara: contrast lays bare the values of two governments
![Cycle lane](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_2075LR-640x400.jpg)
Ian Goldsworthy: how the road divides on the journey to adulthood
![City Lit Percussion Orchestra - man beating drum](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Finding-our-rhythm-640x400.jpg)
Saba Salman: Inclusion needs to be visible to bring change
![Statue of Liberty](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/avi-werde-QqUceByQlhM-unsplash-640x400.jpg)
Mary O’Hara: Introducing lessons from America
![Woman holding photo at home](https://communitylivingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Woman-holding-photo-at-home-1-640x400.jpg)