Meet Mimi Jones - IDPD Community Spotlight
This Wednesday was International Day of Persons with Disabilities - but we’ve been celebrating it all week!
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an annual event created by the United Nations to “promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities”.
Within the All The Elements Community there are some incredible disability campaigners, activists and changemakers. Through this blog series we’re shining a light on their work, celebrating their achievements, and championing the importance of disability inclusion in the UK outdoors.
As part of our week-long series we’re spotlighting two incredible community members today! First up is Mimi Jones (they/he), founder of Queer Out Loud and Director of NeuDICE. In this article Mimi shares their own experiences as a change maker, as well as the key role that All The Elements Community member Stu Watson has played in helping them access the outdoors more easily.
Mimi, can you start by telling us a little bit more about the work you do?
I am a multiply disabled, trans and neuroqueer activist.
I run a community interest company called Queer Out Loud, a queer support network with regular performance nights. In my experience, when working with queer people, you learn pretty quickly that you are also often working with disabled people. As such, all our events are considerate of neurodivergent people and those with physical disabilities (as much as our incredibly inaccessible city will permit). I am also a co-director of NeuDICE, a neurodivergent support network.
One of my favourite examples of my disability inclusion work, is partnering with Plymouth Community Homes, who donate all the mobility aids they find when clearing out properties. This means Queer Out Loud can then provide them to our community free of charge, helping reduce some of the financial barriers to mobility.
I first started getting into disability activism because I was getting increasingly frustrated at thebarriers I was facing. I have a variety of chronic pain and connective tissue issues that makemoving (and simply existing) rather difficult. I am also AuDHD, dyslexic, and have PTSD.Outside of Queer Out Loud and NeuDice I have also been pushing my local council to increasethe times that the disabled bus pass is valid. As well as showcasing what life is like for disabled peoplevia social media and my writing - I have a poetry anthology that follows what it’s been like coming to terms with my disabilities through the lens of my relationship with my partner.
What do you love most about spending time outdoors?
I haven't been able to engage in the outdoors anywhere near as much as I used to when I was a kid and my joints liked staying in their places a lot better. That being said, I do still love swimming, whenever I get the chance.
I live by the sea. My favourite thing will always be floating on my back at night, staring up at the sky and listening to the distant sound of ships honking at each other. I used to go on hikes across Dartmoor loads as a kid, and was great at scaling trees and boulders too - I have not figured out how to make this possible for myself again yet though. I currently spend most of my time appreciating nature through watching the videos my friends take on bike rides or kayak adventures.
What's one thing you wish more people understood about accessibility and the outdoors?
There's a silly saying that's something along the lines of “all you need to access the outdoors is a good raincoat”
There are SO MANY ways in which this is simply incorrect, but I don't think non-disabled people realise the sheer amount of mental preparation that goes into accessing the outdoors as a disabled person.
Even if all you needed was a good coat, as a disabled person there are many questions to consider. For example: where can you get a coat that fits nicely as a wheelchair user? Where do you find one that doesn't touch your wrists in the gross way that all the coats with velcro fasteners do? How do you afford one when the disabled community is notoriously under-employed and, from November 12th, is effectively working for free for the rest of the year?
There are so many more questions I could ask, and that's just for a coat! Let alone trying to figure out how to get somewhere, when I can take breaks, how many days I need to ensure I have to rest after, making sure I have food I know I will actually eat while out despite the fact I won't notice I am hungry etc…
Non-disabled people don't seem to understand that you can't simply jump in the car and drive up to the Moors. As much as I miss being out in nature, the mental energy it takes to figure all this out can be more effort than it's worth.
What's the most impactful adaptation or change that you’ve found, or someone has made, that's helped you to access the outdoors more easily?
My friend and co-director Stu Watson has, by far, made the biggest impact, simply by caring. They have taken the time to ask questions, to suggest ideas, and to listen to any anxieties or frustrations I have had while trying to access the outdoors again. They didn't give up as soon as we reached a hurdle, they didn't just decide it was not worth the effort and go on a walk/whatever without me like many others have done, and they didn't tell me to ‘buck up and just try it’.
While we don't share the same experiences of disability, they understand what barriers I might face, and have actually cared about how that makes me feel. We still haven't had the big outing we want to go on, but that's because this takes time. I really appreciate them for sticking it out with me.
Stu has also invited me to share my experience to help me contextualise disability activism within the outdoors through their other CIC: Ethical Activities. This has been impactful for me in having my story heard and believed, but has also helped others feel seen, or to understand barriers they otherwise may not have learnt about.
To find out more about Queer Out Loud, check out their website and follow them on Instagram
To find out more about NeuDICE, check out their website and follow them on Instagram
To find out more about Ethical Activities, check out their website and follow them on Instagram
This article is part of a series written by All The Elements, to celebrate some of our incredible community members, inspired by International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Each day this week, we have spotlighted a different person. You can explore the full series here or follow along with us on social media.
Join our Disability Campaigners’ Community!
Are you working on disability inclusion in the UK outdoors? If so we’d love you to join our Community! Our last online social of this year was earlier this week, but the 2026 dates will be announced soon! Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about future dates - or drop us an email at hello@alltheelements.co to find out more.
