"All kids are the same"

There is still a divide for children who have an impairment. As a child I spent long periods of time in hospital and I always knew I was different. This was a big reveal for me, as my home existence was not medically orientated. The neccessity to have a parent constantly present was essential but its more, its about the celebration of difference. i was seen as a job lot of problems. It would have helped had I been accepted the way other children were on the ward. The nurses I think were scared of me, they found it easier to ignore me and concentrate on the others who were easier to read.

It has become slighty better but because we do not systematically train in the Social Model of Disability it is not intrinsic to practice. The notion of telling our stories is a useful and easily accessed way of sharing our knowledge and experiences. More experiential training around difference and how disablility is imposed would make a difference.

There has to be a shift in the power plays. Disabled people will no longer allow authoritarian powers to continue to believe they know best.