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Beth Moulam BC3 boccia athlete and Christie Hutchings Ramp Operator. Wearing sports kit and clear lip reading masks. Beth with thumbs up, showing delight qualified for the BC3 individual semi-finals.

So much more than boccia

As Piglet says life is an adventure, and this trip was certainly one to remember, definitely a full-on adventure.  From the highs of coming 4th individually in the first-ever BISFed European boccia women's competition, to the lows of coming 4th in the newly configured mixed pair event.  But the trip...

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Reading time: 5 mins
Beth Moulam, female with CP, BC3 boccia athlete. Wearing red GB sports kit

Levelling up the playing field

The future of boccia is changing, what we are seeing is a levelling of the playing field.  In fact, as of this week, it is a reality, we have the female competition in Dubai.  In sport, we must take the opportunities made available to us, and I’ve worked relentlessly to...

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Reading time: 4 mins
Beth Moulam, boccia athlete at closing ceremony Tokyo 2020 with Christie Hutchings sports assistant. Wearing red and blue GB kit and masks.

Staying clean

Elite-level sport must be the only time in life when you are expected to wee in front of an absolute stranger.  It’s necessary to prove that the sample of urine you are producing has come from you, and you alone.  Until I entered the Boccia World Class Programme (WCP) I...

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Reading time: 5 mins
Young woman with cerebral palsy in power wheelchair entering a shop

Occupational Therapy Week

OOOh, this has apparently been Occupational Therapy week and I am immediately reminded of the lovely Jenny.  She was my OT from way back. I think from when I was under a year old until she retired in my early teens.  I know I still do things today she taught...

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Reading time: 4 mins
2 balls on a balance board to show planned versus spontaneity in augmentative and alternative communication using AAC

Using AAC means being understood

Have you ever opened your mouth to speak only to find you can’t get a word into the conversation? Or managed to say something, just at the point everyone goes quiet, and the whole room turns to look at you because it seemed you shouted?  Or managed to blurt something...

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Reading time: 3 mins
AAC users socialising, sharing my passion for AAC, in Lisbon at ISAAC 2014

AAC and identity

We are all different.  A big part of my own identity is undoubtedly my physical disability, my communication impairment, and my hearing loss, and all of these contribute to how others see me.  Just because I am disabled does not mean I am the same as other disabled people.  However,...

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Reading time: 7 mins
Beth Moulam in power chair using communication aid, sports assistant holding microphone to communication aid so Beth's voice can be heard at Leeds Arena

Boccia and AAC

I’ve been thinking about the skills I needed for boccia at Tokyo 2020. Especially, how being a communication aid user helped me to achieve my dream of representing my nation internationally. I was questioning if boccia and AAC could be connected.  I’ve used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) since I...

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Reading time: 7 mins
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