Bernadette, UK

I have a light disability – many forms of modern lighting including CFLs and LEDs trigger debilitating migraines.  As buildings are refurbished or built, incandescent and fluorescent ‘strip lights’, which never caused me any health problems, are being replaced by those that do.  As a result, I can now barely shop (unless it is online), fill up my car’s petrol tank, travel on public transport, eat out or visit a theatre, museum, art gallery, swimming pool, or my GP surgery.  The introduction of new lighting meant I had to leave the job I loved as a university lecturer. 

My local council changed the streetlights in my area to LED eight years ago (without carrying out an impact assessment). This has left me unable to leave my home when they are on.  There was a time when, during the day, I could leave home by car or to take a walk – I am fortunate in living on the coast and close to paths that run through farmers’ fields.  Now, at both ends of my street there are eating establishments decorated with LEDs that are turned on at 8 am or earlier.  

I contacted my local council to remind them of the council’s equality duty as I have a protected characteristic.  The council report explains their thinking.  It says: it would be difficult to justify the refusal of consent for the illuminated signage solely due to the impact on one person with a specific disability…   It would be disproportionate, apparently, because I am the only person who lives in my street with a light disability.  Rather than advancing equality by removing or minimising disadvantages, as the equality duty requires, as far as my local council is concerned, it is ok to effectively to imprison me as it’s only me!  

So I have to put up with either staying in my home permanently or suffer 3-day long migraines, which leave me unable to carry out my current role as an Open University tutor.  There has been no hint of any compromise suggestions – for example the business could have external and decorative LEDs turned on only during the evening– which would also reduce energy use.   

My life is being lived under permanent lockdown with the predictable effect this has had on my mental health. And I am not alone – there are many of us who lived normal lives until the introduction of supposedly energy-saving light bulbs – and we find ourselves not only disabled by them, but unable to get the help we need to live relatively normal lives. 

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