About with Friends talk about the need for flexibility and true participation in care planning for individuals in supported living.
Highlighting the rigid schedules and infantilisation often imposed on adults with disabilities, they should have the freedom to make their own choices, such as engaging in activities other than stereotypical options like bowling.
Each person with a disability is unique and should be treated as an individual rather than being subject to a one-size-fits-all approach
In this clip, the point is that neurodiverse people would benefit most from having one clear, central place to connect – online, in person, or both – and then branch out to whatever support they need. The focus should be on building a community that can sustain itself, with lots of knowledgeable people involved, rather than trying to design a long list of services or insisting that only neurodiverse staff can run them.
They explain that they only found a local meet-up list through a forum after searching for more than a year, which shows how scattered and confusing information currently is.
A single hub with up‑to‑date, positive, encouraging information – and visibility of people at different stages of their journey – would help people feel reassured, connected, and able to see what’s possible.
Christopher and Sam reflect on the personal impact community reporting has had for people telling their stories.
This moving video tells the story of one of three siblings caring for their 89-year-old mum. After a fall during the pandemic, she was left bedbound, unable to see properly, and physically frail. Things got worse after a poor hospital stay, where she didn’t get the care she needed. Even after the neglect was officially recognised, the family struggled to get proper help at home.
Because of the stretched and underfunded care system, they had to take on most of the care themselves—managing everything from daily needs to navigating endless red tape. Their experience shows just how hard it can be for families to get support for elderly loved ones when the system is at breaking point.
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Holly talks about her experiences of care and support as someone with adhd and autism, and the impact that has had on her wellbeing and mental health. The feelings of isolation, related to not fully understanding herself. The impact of her neurodiversity in relation to not being able to work, and the further impact on her own mental health and wellbeing. Holly describes her experiences of the living well with autism course, what was really good about it, but also what was really bad about it. Including being taught ways to being more neurotypical! Her response – “I’ve been masking for 37 years I want to know how to not do this, [mask] not how to push me back in there”
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Kyle shares his experiences of home-care, the good staff members, the team leaders if you can get hold of them, but Kyle is not so happy with the managers! Kyle talks about the staff who come into the home, who he enjoys talking with and chilling out with, after doing chores! 😉
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A brother and sister use Lego to illustrate how they helped a homeless man by giving him some food. They use Lego to tell their story. They discuss the importance of treating everyone fairly, ensuring that no one goes hungry, and the emotional impact of seeing others ignore those in need.
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Nonnie describes the challenges faced by mental health patients in North Walsham, emphasising the need to travel to cities like Norwich, Kings Lynn, or Great Yarmouth for support, which can exacerbate stress and complicate recovery.
They talk about a personal experience of ending up in Accident & Emergency in London due to a mental health crisis. They highlight the bureaucratic process, where fulfilling administrative tasks often takes precedence over patient care, describing how this system fails to provide continuous support.
There is also an account of an unsatisfactory experience at a rest hub that focused on task and administration overshadowing patient care.
Nonnie shares a positive experience at Birchwood Surgery in North Walsham, where a dedicated mental health service allows for face-to-face interactions and comprehensive care. This establishment provides a model for primary care where regular check-ups and personal engagement are prioritised.
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The conversation revolves around Kyle enjoyment of wheelchair rugby, what he enjoys, so much that he saved up for his own specialised chair. Kings Lynn Wheelchair Rugby was started by an individual injured during military service and struggling to find adaptive sports in Norfolk during COVID lockdowns. They describe how the initiative grew from solo sessions to a diverse group of 25 participants. Participants, both disabled and able-bodied, engage in wheelchair rugby, emphasizing inclusivity and community. They share their experiences, highlighting the joy, challenge, and camaraderie of the sport, with a special emphasis on the thrill and excitement of playing and overcoming initial hesitations.
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Andrew a longtime library employee explains how libraries are more than a traditional book-lending facility. They are vibrant community hubs offering various services from mental health support to migration assistance and warm drinks for those in need and ongoing programs like summer reading challenge for children.
