This morning finds me extremely ratty and irritable. You might remember, back in May, I had a bit of trouble at a Wetherspoons pub in Lewisham: they refused to serve me because I did not have a personal assistant with me, despite the fact I had been going there for months. Things became a bit heated, I grew very angry, and basically I had to stop going there. I had barely been there for months, apart from once a few weeks ago to meet Dom. I had no trouble then. However, Dominik invited me to meet him there for a drink late yesterday afternoon, so of course I made the short bus ride to Lewisham. As soon as I entered the pub, though, I was told I once again could not be served – no reason given, just that they wouldn’t serve me, and I was clearly unwelcome there.

Of course I instantly found this hugely frustrating; I wanted to speak to the manager. Ten minutes or so later, Dom arrived and I explained the issue. Clearly thinking everything would be fine, he found us a table and made an order on his phone. It came quickly, only for the manager to then approach us and tell us we needed to leave – I had been barred for causing trouble. I felt furious, embarrassed and humiliated, but obviously not wanting any trouble Dom suggested we find another pub.

A short bus ride later, we were at the Wetherspoons in Brockley. I still felt very hurt though: how could anyone be so obstinate? This is a clear case of discrimination against a disabled person – after all, would they refuse to serve a black or gay person if they were unaccompanied? I now plan to take this issue further, possibly with my friends in the disabled people’s Direct Action Network. I cannot allow myself or anyone else to be treated like this.