Bryony Moss is an actor, voiceover artist and disability advocate from Buckinghamshire. Through her Instagram and website called Defeating Disability, she shares her experiences, challenges negative attitudes towards disability and helps others feel less alone.
Bryony is 28 and lives with her parents and sister in Buckinghamshire. She has cerebral palsy, dyslexia, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis.
She's supported by a one-to-one support worker who helps her maintain independence, is active in mental health and disability advocacy and also acts in short films and works as a voiceover artist.
Bryony runs an Instagram account and website, both called 'Defeating Disability' and uses her platforms to raise awareness and promote positive attitudes. Bryony says,
"I think the image of disability needs to change more positively because we shouldn't be scared of it."
Over the years, Bryony has often experienced negative attitudes, and even bullying and discrimination. These experiences have affected her mental health.
"I got bullied a lot which led to me being suicidal and being in a psychiatric ward for a bit of time… I think society's views in general - once you say you're disabled - they think you must be a certain way or you must look a certain way, speak a certain way, be able to do this and not be able to do that."
Bryony manages fatigue and sensory challenges, so she uses a yellow lanyard and blue badge when out in public. A yellow lanyard signals the wearer has a hidden disability. A Blue Badge is a disability parking permit. But she often faces judgement from others, saying,
"Especially with hidden disabilities. You wouldn't think straight away that I'm disabled - people give me strange looks if I use the disabled loo, or even when I'm out and I wear my yellow lanyard, or when I put my blue badge out. People are like, 'But you don't look disabled.'"
Bryony has also received inappropriate messages through her online platforms.
"I'll get comments like, 'Oh, you're disabled but can you have sex?'"
Bryony finds the volume of negativity relentless at times.
"It used to make me feel quite anxious, now I just feel a bit fed up, I'm a bit like, 'Oh, god, here we go again.'"
But she also receives supportive messages from disabled people in similar situations.
"It's nice to know there are other people going through similar situations… I get questions from people that genuinely want to know the answer. I find it really interesting when I get comments from someone else who identifies as disabled, and they're like, 'This has happened to me as well.'"
Bryony is a regular user of the Scope online community. When she joined in 2018, she immediately related to other people's experiences and made new friends.
"There were questions from people and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, they've experienced this,' and I can relate to that, and we just started to support each other."
Bryony enjoys chatting on the Scope online community about anything from fashion and food, to music concerts and things like sensory-friendly movie screenings.
"Some people discuss going to the theatre and adapted shows... that's how I found out about that option, so now I can enjoy the theatre more."
"The online community has definitely helped me feel less alone. It's helped me not to be embarrassed by my disability. To say 'this is me', it's part of me, but it doesn't define me and it doesn't own me. I wouldn't be me without it."
Speaking about her identify as a disabled person, Bryony says,
“Being disabled is part of me, but it doesn't define me and it doesn't own me, it's just a part of me and I wouldn't be me without it."
"The Scope Online community definitely made me more positive, it's definitely helped me feel less alone, it's helped me to not be embarrassed by my disability”
Challenging the narrative around attitudes to disability is important to Bryony who says,
"I think in the media, there needs to be a lot more recognition of disability… and more representation of hidden disabilities."
She is passionate about increasing representation,
"Growing up I didn't see people like me on TV, and that really affected my mental health."
And she wants to see more people like her in campaigns, media and charities,
"We're all different and because we all bring something to the community."
"I identify as disabled. It's actually OK to talk about it. Don't be scared to talk about it."
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