Selina Mills

She/Her

Journalist, Author, Broadcaster

Selina Mills is an award-winning writer and broadcaster who is legally blind. She has regularly written for various publications including The Observer and The Spectator. She has a keen interest in disability and how it shapes our world. Selina’s first book, “Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness”, was published by Bloomsbury on July 13th 2023 and the paperback is launching in October 2024.

Selina is also a regular broadcasters. She has been a contributor to the ground-breaking BBC/Loftus series “Disability: A New History” (2013) which has been rebroadcast around the world, and regular commentator to BBC Radio 4’s “In Touch” programme.

Selina also created the original idea and co-wrote the libretto (with Nicola Werenowska) “The Paradis Files”, a chamber opera by the composer Errollyn Wallen, which premiered at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank in April 2022, and then on tour around the U.K. The opera follows the real life story of Maria-Theresia Von Paradis (1759-1824) the talented musician and composer, known as “the Blind enchantress” https://graeae.org/our-work/the-paradis-files/

Never judge yourself through other people’s values. You are you and you achieve by doing something because you are passionate about it, you care about it, and you do it your way, however long it takes. It often takes a great deal of focus, discipline and passion. So Listen to your own internal compass, and learn what you want to say and do. I wish I had learnt this early on. Just keep going, and do not expect a reward. If you get some, so much the better, but its not why you do what you do. Do it because it means something to you.

Q&A

Selina Mills

As a role model, what advice would you give a disabled person at the start of their career?

How has your work impacted the disabled community or raised awareness about disability issues?

What are your future goals or aspirations in your field or in disability advocacy?

What do you do to switch off and have fun?

What or who brings you joy?

Do you prefer dogs or cats?

What is the one thing you would change if you could?

What barriers do you think still need to be addressed to improve the lives of disabled people?

Useful links

Selina Mills

Areas of expertise

Accessibility, Art, photography, Charity, social enterprise, Disability Advocacy, Employment, Equality, Performing arts, Publishing, Social Media influencing, Television, radio, podcast

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