Comedian Rosie Jones has won praise for an impassioned speech she gave during her first ever appearance on Question Time on Thursday night.
Rosie – who has cerebral palsy – began by speaking about how her life was improved by the Disability Discrimination Act, which was introduced in 1995.
“I was five years old, and without a doubt my life has been better because of [the Disability Discrimination Act,” she said. “I had an education, at a mainstream school, I went to university and got a job and with my cerebral palsy I have been a successful and independent human being.
“And I am proud of who I am… I can wee in disabled toilets and park where I want, because of this groundbreaking Disability Act.”
As health secretary Matt Hancock and presenter Fiona Bruce looked on, she continued: “Saying that, we’re 25 years on, and whenever I walk in the street alone I wear headphones... because of how I walk and I talk, I get abuse on a daily basis. I am not alone in that.
“I am not alone in that I have had times of unemployment. Unemployment is huge among disabled people. I’ve tried to apply for jobs and I have been hung up on because of how I speak. And I’m not alone, because right now a quarter of a million disabled people are unemployed and because of Covid, that is rising.”
Rosie concluded: “I was going to say that disabled people are overlooked, but they are not, they are deliberately ignored because disabled people need more care and more money, and I don’t feel like as a disabled person, I am getting the care and support I need right now.
“I want to end by saying stop ignoring disabled people, we make up 22% of the population. We’re here and we’re worth listening to.”
The speech was met with applause from viewers on screen who were watching from home, as well as winning praise from many on social media:
Rosie also reposted the clip, commenting: “I am disabled and I am bloody proud of it.”
After making her debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 2017, Rosie has gone on to become a regular at the event, and supported fellow stand-up Nish Kumar on his UK tour.
She’s also written for panel shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats and The Last Leg, as well as co-writing an episode of the most recent series of Sex Education.