Elaine Ferguson

Elaine Ferguson

@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Public protection law and policy geek. Mum. Basset Hound valet. Snack enthusiast.

314 followers157 following485 posts

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

A couple of weeks ago, I became a part-time wheelchair user. This has been met by people who know me with equal parts concern and relief, especially those who have seen the physical decline over the past year. Anyway, here are some things I have learned:

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Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Hardly anything is accessible. Dropped kerbs are bumpy, and often not aligned. "Accessible" toilets often down allow wheelchair access, and we care less about the conditions of pavements and paths than we do roads. Businesses often want to appear accessible rather than *be* accessible.

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Short out to John Lewis in the Buchanan Galleries where I did my first solo test drive - a truly accessible store. Also a shout out to ScotRail staff on the Largs-Glasgow and Glasgow-Ayr lines for a really positive first experience of taking the chair on the train.

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

A couple of weeks ago, I became a part-time wheelchair user. This has been met by people who know me with equal parts concern and relief, especially those who have seen the physical decline over the past year. Anyway, here are some things I have learned:

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Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

The major barrier, for me at least, was how others would react to it. We're still not entirely comfortable with the idea that people can walk, work, and do "normal" things while still being disabled. We're also not comfortable with disabled people not really being able to do these things.

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

There comes a point where you've made your life as small as you possibly can and there's nothing else you can strip away. Maybe it works for a short time, but in the long run it is too high a price to pay to avoid the judgement of using an aid. You don't owe anyone your happiness.

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

A couple of weeks ago, I became a part-time wheelchair user. This has been met by people who know me with equal parts concern and relief, especially those who have seen the physical decline over the past year. Anyway, here are some things I have learned:

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

No one will tell you that you should think about a wheelchair, or any other mobility aid. Partly, that's because no one really monitors the kind of condition I have over the long term, and when it's discussed with healthcare professionals what they get is a 10 minute snapshot.

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

There's no point at which, with a condition like this, you "become disabled". You kind of have to figure that out for yourself. To the extent that medics engage with it, they're likely to discourage use of mobility aids, but to do so without offering a viable alternative.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Captain Mark Kelly
@captmarkkelly.bsky.social

Before losing her life in 1986 aboard Space Shuttle Challenger, Christa McAuliffe was set to be the first teacher in space with plans to teach a lesson to kids around the world from orbit. Today is her birthday, and even now, her courage and dedication to education continues to inspire.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans
@astroroyalscot.bsky.social

Calling all #Glasgow & #Edinburgh Planetarium, space and all-round Matrix-movie enthusiasts. We're going to be re-considering what it means to be real! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Sept 11 Dynamic Earth dynamicearth.org.uk/event/how-to... 🔭 Sept 23 Glasgow Science Centre www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/whats-on/dav...

Glasgow Science Centre@glasgowscience.bsky.social

🌌 Could our Universe be a simulation? Our new David Elder Lecture series begins with Scotland's Astronomer Royal, @astroroyalscot.bsky.social, exploring one of science's biggest questions: could we ever create a virtual universe as rich and complex as our own? 📅23 September https://bit.ly/3Uhxrmo

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Graeme Beale
@midfyffe.bsky.social

Scottish Government is #hiring #social #researchers. B2 is our entry level grade, for masters or PhD with an interest in applied social research. 2x 4yr posts initially, but with a reserve list. Apply by 20/08/2026 Pls share to folks! fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.comSocial ResearcherWant to help shape Scotland’s Census, informing the decisions that improve public services and capture the story of Scotland for generations to come?
Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Having a Basset Hound means that you exist in either of two states: “I love you so much I would do die for you;” or “that’s it, you’re going on Gumtree”. There is no in between.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Anthony Zacharzewski
@anthonyzach.be

Nothing will satisfy anti-immigration campaigners. So we should give them nothing.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social

In the Telegraph, Alison Pearson says the Home Secretary has "as good as declared war on the British people" & calls for fury. The accusation of declaring war is about working with UNHCR on opening a refugee sponsorship scheme www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06...

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Adulting is just doing the waddle of shame in your PJs because you were tucked up in bed with a good book at a REASONABLE HOUR when you remembered tomorrow was bin day, and raging at the capital to interest ratio on your mortgage repayments until you die, isn't it?

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

I've had things to do, so I've only been able to dip in and out of the stage 3 Assisted Dying debate. All I'll say is that our politics would be so much the better if the standard of conduct and good-faith engagement on display here was the standard for all proceedings.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Judge Roy Ferguson
@judgefergusontx.bsky.social

Today is the 5th anniversary of the release of the infamous #Lawyercat video, which I posted roughly thirty minutes after the start of the second impeachment trial. Who would have thought it would have such a lasting impact on the world! Happy Lawyercat Day for all who celebrate!

Judge Roy Ferguson@judgefergusontx.bsky.social

Happy #Lawyercat Anniversary for all who celebrate! It's been four years since the kitten appeared in my Zoom courtroom, and I released the 48 second video that made the whole world laugh. Here is the full video showing the big reveal at the end (in two parts because Blue sky). Enjoy!

Elaine Ferguson reposted

CYCJ
@cycjscotland.bsky.social

The Justice that Works report has been published today. It sets out a number of key recommendations, including our call for the Whole System Approach to be extended to under 25s, and our work on making restorative justice consistently available across Scotland.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

CYCJ
@cycjscotland.bsky.social

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s call for views on the short-term release of some prisoners; this includes the release of some under-18s in secure care on justice grounds. Read the full response at our website here:

buff.lyShort-term prisoner release call for views - CYCJ response - Children and Young People's Centre for JusticeOverview The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s call for views on the short-term release of some prisoners; this…
Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Decades of evidence shows that often prison is an expensive means of failing to prevent, or increasing, reoffending. The challenge for govts is what to do when the public would rather spend money on prisons than schools and hospitals regardless.

Hannah Graham@drhannahgraham.bsky.social

NEW: the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 final report and recommendations have been published today. As one of the Commissioners, this year has involved an enormous amount of work. Our report sets out an agenda for change. 🔗 link to report www.gov.scot/publications...

Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

The challenge for those of us that work in the justice system is how we communicate that evidence, and support people to understand what actually makes them safer. We talk a lot about 'stakeholder engagement', but everyone is a stakeholder in the justice system.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Risk Management Authority
@rmascotland.bsky.social

Selecting Approaches for Effectively Responding to Risk (SAFERR) is our new online directory that provides a summary and evaluation of the effectiveness of different risk management approaches used in forensic practice across the world: saferr.rma.scot vimeo.com/1105419615?s...

vimeo.comSelecting Approaches for Effectively Responding to Risk (SAFERR)SAFERR is a free resource from the Risk Management Authority (RMA). It is designed to support a wide range of professionals, including those working in justice services,…
Elaine Ferguson
@elaineferguson.bsky.social

Brief foray back onto X went well. Started a professional account with a view to just keeping an eye on things. I muted some extreme right-wing sources, followed some sensible ones and had my account suspended 3 times for verification, then permanently for “inauthentic” activity.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Aileen McHarg
@aileenmcharg.bsky.social

This is utterly inhumane. Traumatised people unable to have any sort of settled life here, and liable to have everything turned upside down overnight as regimes change in unpredictable ways and with unpredictable consequences. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukUK set to limit refugees to temporary staysShabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.

Elaine Ferguson reposted

Robert Reich
@rbreich.bsky.social

Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.