The Secret Life of Nathan
My mother and father, with the help of the local authority, do their very best to ensure that I am able to live the life I want.
Read More...The #SecretLifeOfUs campaign aims to provide families with disabled children an opportunity to have their experiences heard.
It brings to life the realities of the challenges disabled children, young people and their families face in living a life that many other members of society will not have to even consider. It reveals the parts of their lives that most people simply do not see.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to see blogs and videos from families with disabled children sharing their #SecretLifeOfUs. Share them and help us spread the word.
Having a disabled child is not a tragedy nor a cause for pity. The injustice is that families do not receive the support to which they are entitled to and that barriers exist in society that prevent families from have equality in opportunity to others. During the pandemic, this situation was only made worse by even more support services being delayed.
Every parent carer, disabled young person and family member has the potential to achieve great things in society – but all too often these barriers, and restricted support, stop the entire family from being able to achieve their full potential.
Developed in close partnership with parents, #SecretLifeOfUs campaigns to raise awareness of these barriers, change attitudes, challenge myths, and create better understanding.
Are you a parent carer or disabled young person? Please email us to share your #SecretLifeOfUs (disabledchildrens.partnership@mencap.org.uk). It could be a blog, video, poem or more. You could share challenges you face, or lovely positive experiences your family sees.
Read and share #SecretLifeOfUs stories below.
The Secret Life of Ethan
Ethan needs round the clock care and he relies on us fully. We follow a strict routine for his meds, food and physio, and fit in fun in between.
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The Secret Life of David
He is an exceptional child who battles daily with the things that are hard for him. David isn’t autism. David is David – the autism just makes him see things differently.
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The Secret Life of Ellen
If Ellen had more hours with her carer she could be more independent. Disabled children are like everyone else. They have ambitions and dreams and the desire to work and contribute to the world as everyone else. And they should have the same opportunities as everyone else.
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