Views and experiences

This section includes a selection of feedback from young disabled people and their families about their own experiences

1. Disability and School Life

This resource comprises a range of comments about the school experience. They include the views and experiences of disabled people, their families and those who work with them.

Their stories illustrate a diverse range of experiences of school life, and they offer some very varied opinions. It is clear that their comments on this subject are extremely personal and subjective. They describe both negative and positive experiences of school, but together their feedback represents an insightful collection of comments which can surely help us to consider new ways to improve access and inclusion.

'The way people are treated often has a lot to do with the degree to which they "look" disabled' - Rob
'I didn't like having to use a scribe at school, as I don't like asking people for help' - Joe'
Accessibility is not just about putting ramps outside a building, it is also about that welcoming smile that says we accept you for who you are' - Annette, parent

Download Disability and School Life (PDF document, 153KB)

2. Disability and Society

This resource contains a collection of quotes and comments about society's attitude to disability. They include comments from young disabled people, their families and those who work with them.

These comments indicate that society has a long way to go in terms of ensuring disabled people feel fully included and accepted. There is clearly a need for people to develop a greater understanding of different forms of disability and to endeavour to reduce preconceptions and avoid making assumptions. There is also a strong sense that if people grow up seeing disability around them, they accept it as the norm.

'People assume because we are deaf that we are dumb. I think it would help if people were more deaf aware' - Helen
'People need to become more used to seeing disability as a normal part of society. My daughter looks different from her friends but has never been bullied or treated badly where we live because people in the area have always seen her out and about and they accept her completely' - Dawn, parent
'Seeing disabled adults in successful positions is really important for all children. I wish there were more disabled teachers and sports coaches' - Zac

Download Disability and Society (PDF document, 153 KB)

3. Disability and children's books

This resource contains a collection of quotes and comments about children's books and disability. They include comments from young disabled people, their families and those who work with them.

The young people commented on the need for more books featuring positive images, and particularly for boosk to include a full spectrum of different forms of disability. It is clear that this is important both in terms of some disabled children seeking to find themselves in the characters they see in books, but also in terms of exposing non-disabled children to disability from an early age.

Although the main purpose of this section of the resource was to collect views on how disability is depicted, a strong message also came through concerning the need for books to be more accessible to children with different needs. For example, young people voiced a particular need for more 'high interest' books for those who struggle with reading, to avoid such young people losing interest and being 'turned off' books.

'I think it's important for all children to see positive images of disability in books, as some children, in rural communities for example, won't come across a disabled person until much later in life possibly, so having it there in books from a young age helps introduce it as a normality' - Rob
'Disabled people should be illustrated and included so that we grow up more familiar and aware of people's differences' - Holly
'As a young deaf person it is difficult to find books that are easy to read but still interesting to you, and about topics you want to read about' - Danni

Download Disability and Children's Books (PDF document 170 KB)

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