MHAG: Ouch! @ BBC

BBC Ouch!

Ouch is a website from the BBC that reflects the lives and experiences of disabled people. It has regular columns, features, quizzes, a monthly near-cult podcast, a blog or two and a community messageboard amongst other stuff.

All contributors, well, 99% of them, are disabled - and Ouch's editorial team is rather wonky and deserve big fat special diversity badges too.

- But disability is really dull... I'm off.

- Um, ssshhhh, secretly we agree with you. Disability can be a bit dull on mainstream TV and in mainstream publications cos they often seize on the wrong things as being important or interesting. For instance, here at Ouch if we hear about yet another blind person about to break the so-called "blind land speed record" we'll vom chunks.

Why is that inspirational, again? We don't get it. Often media doesn't report how rich and varied the lives of us disableds are, and so, here we are, putting our necks on the line for BBC bosses telling them that you lot are more fascinating than just a DSS form, a ramp or a massive drugs prescription list.

Don't let us down readers - or we'll look like utter spazmos.

- Some of this stuff is quite funny - can I laugh? You complete sicko.

Why should you want to laugh at the plight of the disabled? I've just asked round the office and everyone is now Googling you, and will probably send you some dog poo in the mail. There is NOTHING funny about being disabled we can assure you. Actually, we have just taken a vote and are going to use your name as a swear word from now on.

Disabled people are uniquely placed to see some of the stupidest things around, though. Maybe we'll go that far.

- Why is the site called Ouch?

- Oooh, good question. We spent literally months trying to come up with a name that wasn't too patronising: http://www.bbc.co.uk/smile_through_the_tears , or too suggestive of hideous '90s positivity: http://www.bbc.co.uk/Able2Jump2TheSky !

The site's editor Damon Rose came up with the name Ouch! one morning in the shower. He says: "There's an Ouch moment when you become disabled or give birth to a disabled child. There's an Ouch moment when someone gets into the lift, catches the eye of a disabled person then quickly looks away. There are many Ouch moments when people just see disability as a problem and push it to one side because they're too scared or embarrassed to embrace it or tackle it.

Without appearing too negative, we're all aware that disability can be the big elephant in the room that no one talks about - Ouch!"

- Can I send stuff in for publication? Yeah, we're always open to emails. The more original the better. We're keen to see your creativity: send us video, audio, art, writing, it could make it onto our site.

If you have an idea for an article then pitch it at us, but also send us examples of your writing style up front. Don't send us essays, don't tell us about the amazing cripple down the road who goes outside every single day, don't email us saying "you've not included anything about Spindly James Pow-wow Trumpton Blancheette Disorder" ... but DO look at the Ouch house style and DO fascinate us, make us laugh or make our stomachs gurgle.

Email ouch@bbc.co.uk now! We're all very nice and approachable ... and if we felt you were hiding your talents away, we'd be very very angry.