A disabled candidate in the forthcoming Council elections has spoken about her struggle with her health and the barriers it presents to becoming a politician.
Sarah Anderson, 37 from Kilbarchan is hoping to be elected in Ward 9 for Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch.
Last year, Sarah was selected as a candidate by her party but became extremely unwell, developing Sepsis which nearly took her life.
Renfrewshire Greens campaigning in Paisley with Ross Greer MSP for the West of Scotland and Greens England and Wales Co-Leader MP Caroline Lucas with Emma and Sarah (middle) alongside other candidates and members. Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Greens
During a MRI with contrast procedure at New Victoria Hospital in Glasgow, she suffered complications and found herself fighting for her life in hospital followed by a slow recovery to regain the ability to walk.
Sarah said: “I walked into the hospital and got wheeled out in a wheelchair.
“It took 3 visits to A & E for someone to realise I wasn’t just sore and by that point the sepsis had set in. Sepsis is such a difficult thing to recognise so by that point most of my organs had began to shut down and I was very close to dying.
“I received blood filtering, that is similar to dialysis and various treatments including blood transfusions.
“Thankfully amazing work from the doctors saved my life and although its been a very long battle I’m confident i’ll get there with support of my family, the Party and my brilliant care team.”
Sarah was already a disabled person before this happened and has become aware of everyday difficulties she has to overcome to take part in the elections, but now the practical challenges of fighting an election campaign are even more significant.
(L-R) Sarah with Caroline Lucas, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Greens
Fortunately help is at hand – a new pilot project called the Access to Elected Office Fund (Scotland) was established last year with funding from the Scottish Government and is delivered by Inclusion Scotland, a consortium of, organisations of disabled people and disabled individuals.
The Fund’s purpose is to provide advice, support and funding for specific help for disabled candidates in this years elections. The funding will be used to develop measures to address disability related needs to help ‘level the playing field’ for disabled candidates.
Funds received cannot be used to fund campaign materials or similar costs.
For Sarah, this means some specialised equipment and software, some support from a Personal Assistant and a budget for additional transport costs. Sarah hopes to be able to canvass voters in the ward using technology, due to being incapable of physically getting to doorsteps – party volunteers will use smartphones to set up video links so that voters can still meet and speak to the candidate.
Sarah said: “I’ve several disabilities and they were the reason I applied and worked to getting Access to Politics recognised by Parliament. I’m dyspraxic, I also have ME, an underactive thyroid and PCOS.”
An estimated one in five people in Britain live with a disability, but figures suggest the number of disabled people in politics is far below that level.
Sarah continued: “I’m proud to be standing to show that with the right adjustments someone in my situation can still do the job as a Councillor.
“My hope is that with my personal experience of dealing with the challenges disabled people face the Council will soon make decisions that better reflect and address the diversity of needs the people of Renfrewshire have.”
Sarah will be competing against the SNPs Graeme Stockton and Emma Rodden, Bill Binks of the Scottish Conservative Party, Labour’s Chris Gilmour and Derek Bibby, William Duff of the Liberal Democrats and Independent Andy Doig.
The Renfrewshire Greens are headed up by Sarah and Emma McShane who is standing in Ward 6 for Paisley Southeast.
The party, for their first time in Renfrewshire, will be contesting in all wards and if successful will have their first elected candidate for the Greens in Renfrewshire.
The Greens have seen a large surge of growth leading up to and after the 2014 referendum on independence.. They are now the fourth largest party in Scotland ahead of the Liberal Democrats and have their sights firmly set on overtaking the Labour Party.
Emma and Sarah say they are keen to try new ways of bringing members of the community together and are looking forward to discussing and tackling local issues.
Main Photo: Sarah with Danial Speirs who is standing in Ward 5 Paisley East & Central. Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Greens