01 March 2024
Bethany’s poem, ‘I’m not advocating for all beauty spots to be tarmacked,’ was commissioned by Country Living for International Wheelchair Day 2024
Country Living Magazine
I’m not advocating for all beauty spots to be tarmacked
Bethany’s poetry explores the intersections of nature, disability, and wellbeing, often challenging ableism and reshaping how we see both bodies and landscapes. Her work has been published in The Guardian, Country Living, POETRY, the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Wales, and other publications. She was a finalist in Nine Arches Press’ Primers 2023 and was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s Jerwood Poetry Award 2024.
Poems that challenge ableism and celebrate connection
May 2022
‘Umbug’ is a playful and lyrical celebration of the Forest of Dean’s wild boar. Witty and playful, the dialect is based on that of the Forest of Dean.
July 2025
Guardian Poem of the Week, Bethany Handley’s humorous, subversive poem examines the treatment of disabled people whilst flying, and the wider, social barriers that disable them.
‘A sharp and witty look at the treatment of people with disabilities conveys its anger with arresting artistry.’- Carol Rumen
The Guardian
2024
Bethany’s poetry for children celebrates diversity, resilience and a love of the outdoors. You’re too young to grow wings, a poem about finding freedom and perseverance as you unfurl your wings, is featured in ‘And I Hear Dragons’, a ground-breaking children’s poetry anthology from diverse Welsh writers.
You’re too young to grow wings
And Ihear dragons (Firefly)
Poem in which I’m a transnational drug smuggler
POETRY
Umbug
Summer 2022
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Poetry Wales
The Heath
February 2025
A poem about being seen, examined, and disrupted by an ableist world. This piece invites readers into the raw spaces where disability, memory, and agency intersect.
Seren Books
Cling Film
January 2023
Bethany Handley’s poem “Cling Film” reflects on the complexities of memory, medical trauma, and bodily autonomy through the metaphor of being wrapped and observed, like food preserved for later use. It’s a haunting yet tender exploration of how the body becomes both witness and object, especially within clinical and institutional spaces.
Poetry Wales
Cling Film
November 2023
Bethany contrasts the physical and emotional toll of disability with the societal expectations and bureaucratic definitions that constantly question her worth and legitimacy. It's a powerful meditation on fatigue, autonomy, and the quiet resilience of living a life beyond conventional measures of productivity.
Nine Arches Press
When I Say I'm Tired
November 2023
Bethany Handley’s poem captures a moment of joy and defiance as she and a friend navigate Rest Bay beach in her wheelchair, leaving bold tire marks in the sand. The poem reclaims space through humor and confidence, challenging passive pity with presence and pride. It’s a celebration of movement, visibility, and belonging in the natural world.
Poetry Wales
Hiya Butt Bay
01 March 2024
To mark International Wheelchair Day, writer and disability activist Bethany Handley shares a powerful poem with Country Living about making nature accessible to everyone. At 24, Bethany reflects on how using a wheelchair has offered her a unique and profound perspective on the natural world, especially during this season.
Country Living Magazine
I’m not advocating for all beauty spots to be tarmacked
"A sharp and witty look at the treatment of people with disabilities 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
where to find Bethany
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If you’re here to spark change through writing, speaking, or reimagining access, I’m ready to partner with you. I work with individuals and organizations who care deeply about inclusion, nature, and wellbeing, and want to move from intention to meaningful action.
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