Growing up in South Wales, the outdoors gave Bethany freedom, connection and a sense of belonging. After becoming a wheelchair user, she discovered how quickly that world could shut people out. Paths once familiar became barriers. Maps no longer showed the way. In the media, she couldn’t see anyone who moved through the countryside like her.
Rather than accept exclusion, Bethany turned it into action. Through poetry and prose, she has given voice to disabled lives and the landscapes that shape them. Her debut collection Cling Film (Seren, 2025) and her work co-editing Beyond / Tu Hwnt (Lucent Dreaming, 2025) broke new ground, placing disabled voices at the centre of Welsh literature.
Her memoir, My Body is a Meadow: Finding Freedom in the Outdoors, will be published by Headline in May 2026.
Alongside her writing, Bethany helps organisations and landowners understand what true accessibility in the outdoors looks like. As an ambassador for the Wales Coast Path, Ramblers Cymru, and Country Living’s Access for All campaign, she champions practical change and cultural representation.
Whether through her writing, her consultancy or her media work, Bethany’s vision is clear: nature should be for everyone - and every body should belong.
Awards + Recognition
- Highly commended | The Forward Prize
- Shortlisted | Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Poetry Award 2024
- Gold Prize | Creative Non-fiction in the Creative Future Writers’ Award 2023
- Shortlisted | Nine Arches Press Primers 2023
- Nominee | Pushcart Prize (2023)
Bethany featured in:
- 30(ish) Awards 2025 | Cardiff University
- The 10 most influential disabled people working in politics, law and media in the UK | Shaw Trust Disability Power 100
- The 100 most influential disabled individuals in the UK | Shaw Trust Disability Power 100
Bethany'S Story
All about Bethany
"A sharp and witty look at the treatment of people with disabilities [Cling Film] conveys its anger with arresting artistry... Handley has found her weapon."
The guardian
Carol Rumens
"(Handley) has the reader consider what it means to cross out and erase the experiences of those whose bodies are considered to be different."
Poetry News
"Handley’s witty and defiant poetry highlights the systemic discrimination she faces as a Disabled woman."
The Bookseller
Caroline Sanderson
"A potent reminder that poetry can speak of both injustice and joy, even within the same poem/breath."
Buzz Magazine
Mab Jones
If you’re here to spark change through writing, speaking, or reimagining access, Bethany would love to hear from you. She works with individuals and organisations who care deeply about inclusion, nature and wellbeing, especially those that want to move from intention to meaningful action.
Use this form to get in touch with Bethany.
