"Thank you for talking to me" That’s what I heard after I asked a lady in a wheelchair whether she was waiting in the line for the loo’s, we engaged in small chit chat whilst she waited for her carer to come out. and now even hours later that just keeps coming back… “thank you for talking to me”. I don’t know this lady, I don’t know her story. But I do know that this simple sentence made my heart stop for just a moment, realising the lack of inclusion for those with disabilities in todays world. "Thank you for talking to me", this shows the state of the society in which we live, a state of disconnect, a state of isolation and a state of ignorance and discrimination. Imagine living day to day being ignored, dismissed or just invisible to anyone outside of your immediate bubble, just because you are ‘different’ in some way. To go to a restaurant for a waitress to ask your carer for your order, to go to the shops for the cashier to [...]

Christmas is a magical, happy and exciting time for most families, full of laughter and festive fun, but for families whose loved ones have a learning disability, this can be far from the most wonderful time of the year. The flashing lights, crowds of people, unexpected guests, loud music and even family gatherings can cause severe anxiety and distress to those suffering from a learning disability, particularly those with Autism. The National Autistic Society produced a video to try and give some insight into what it's like for people with autism, take a look at the video, then try to imagine the same scenario at Christmas with all the music and lights. Far from the special time that most people experience, Christmas for those with learning disabilities, sometimes, has to be more like a 'normal' day. As if Christmas isn't stressful enough for most parents, it is especially stressful for those whose children suffer from learning disabilities, where they need to make sure their child sticks to as near to the usual routine as possible whilst ensuring other siblings [...]