Am I worth less than you?
Do I not matter?
Do I not have a place in this world?
I wake every day and want to do the same things as you.
I want to go to the same places as you.
I want to live a good life.
I want to fit in.
I want to be wanted.
I want to be free to go wherever I want, whenever I want.
When I was a baby, there were facilities everywhere to ensure my safety, health and wellbeing. If you have a baby, you probably expect those facilities too.
But we are not all equal.
We are not all given an equal right to access.
We are not all provided with all we need for our dignity.
We are not all welcome to go wherever we want.
I am a child.
A boy.
Eleven years old.
I cannot stand or walk.
My bones break easily.
Simple things, for you, are harder for me.
Even something as simple as using the toilet isn’t easy for me.
I need a hoist to lift me from my wheelchair.
I need a long changing table to lay down on so that I can get ready to use the toilet.
I have a harness which can be used to hoist me onto the toilet.
And then I can “go”, just like you do!
I know you “go” too, it isn’t a secret!
But can you imagine having to talk about it to people?
Having to explain your needs?
I need two extra pieces of equipment in the toilet. That is all.
Some places have understood and are keen to improve.
Some have made changes straight away because they were good people.
But others have ignored me.
Some have simply said they will not install them.
Not small places.
Big places.
Supermarkets, theme parks, theatres, towns…
When they say that they have no plans to make changes, despite knowing that I can’t come otherwise, they are really telling me to stay away.
They are telling me that I don’t matter.
One day I might believe them.
Children shouldn’t be afraid to go out but, all too often, I am.
If you haven’t already signed this petition, please do it now.
All I want, is what you already have. Please support me in having it too.
Adam.xx
Ordinary Hopes 
The petition closed early but think I remember signing a while ago…
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This one is definitely still open. There have been others but this one is very specific regarding building standards, which is where the change really needs to happen.
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This is such an important post. It’s awful how some places, even big companies, don’t make their venues accessible for everyone. Going to sign the petition now!
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Thank you. It really is a massive issue for hundreds of thousands of people who are all forgotten about in our society.
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Thanks for continuing your work on this your continued perseverance is appreciated.
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Every post – a chance for change xxx
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This is so sad and really touched my heart and hope with your continued work that things to change for the better 🙂 x
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I’ve signed the petition and really do hope that people everywhere will start accommodating those with physical handicap. It’s really something so very simple – would think it would be very easy to comply. Here’s hoping!
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Thank you. It really is easy to make sure that everyone is welcome. If only more places cared.
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Thank you for signing. It means a lot to have your support.x
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You speak for so many my daughter being one she is 11 and no you shouldn’t ever be excluded. My daughter wants to be involved in all aspects of life especially as she has a younger sister who wants her to do everything she does and loves her so much and doesn’t see her differences and it really hurts to know we have to fight for small things that others take for granted. We will keep going and get equality eventually.
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All children should able to experience full lives with ease. It hurts so much to know that our children are hurting.x
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This is a great cause and I if it is still open I will sign the petition too.
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It is still open. Thanks for caring, it is appreciated.
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such a frustrating thing to have to be fighting for
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Signed ✔
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This post is so important & it’s great that you’re giving your boy a voice x
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Thank you. This issue should have been tackled a decade ago. Then my son would never know this hurt. I am determined that, ten years from now, there will not be another little boy struggling like Adam is right now.x
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I can tell you write as a way of stress releasing because I wrote the same way when I started writing about my wife’s illness. Keep speaking for Adam….
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I certainly do. It helps to share our stories and it is a great way to highlight the difficulties.
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I shared your entry in a FB page I manage and will do so every time you post. It’s the least I can do.
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Thank you. Your support really has brightened my morning.x
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I am glad to help,those Hoyer lifts are a pain in the butt,aren’t they?
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For me, they are a pain in the lower back! Ceiling hoists are so much better.
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What a lovely post – thanks so much for sharing!
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It’s such a shame when entities don’t take care of these aspects when building the infrastructure of the buildings. They might not be important to them, but are so much important for some.
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This must be SO annoying and to be honest pretty disrespectful when people don’t bother to think about disabled access in venues, everyone deserves to be able to experience whatever they want!x
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It is horrible. Every day I hear stories from people who have been refused access to public transport, or been unable to access toilet facilities. Sadly, the person who has been treated less favourably has to bring legal action themselves, nobody can do it for them. When you have been treated horribly over time it wears you down and affects your confidence. It also costs a lot of money to take action and people are afraid of costs being awarded against them if they lose.
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I hope things change to support him to have an easier life whilst out. It should definitely a priority of companies to be inclusive of everyone
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Signed and sent to my friends in the hope that they will help as well. Well done for giving your little man a voice.
Louise x
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It’s awful how little awareness there is around the kinds of equipment that people might need to help them access facilities! Hopefully changes can be made so that everyone can enjoy visiting places like theme parks and theatres.
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Thank you. It really shouldn’t be such a battle for inclusion in everyday life.x
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Signed of course and hoping for you that things will change sooner rather than later. He deserves it, you deserve it, and you are doing an amazing job of making others aware of the injustice x #sendbloggers
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Thanks Steph. It helps just to know that people support this and care about each other.x
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Your boy is so incredibly brave and it’s a shame that his needs have been ignored. I too would fight for changes – every little piece of the puzzle matters. I’ll sign the petition. Best of luck!
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Thank you for your support. It really does make a difference.
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I’ve signed the petition, I remember a post you wrote awhile ago about this. I’m disappointed that change wasn’t made yet but I’m hopeful. #KCACOLS
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Thank you. It is so hard to get politicians interested in something like this. Speaks volumes to me about how disabled people are really viewed by them.
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This is so important to these families, why are the “big wigs” not doing more about it!? grrr
Thanks so much for linking up with #kcacols. We hope you can join us next time.
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I think ive signed the petition already but I will make sure. This change needs to happen soon no one should be scared of going out due to lack of appropriate facilities especially children #kcacols
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I have just signed the petition, so important to have these facilities available. #KCACOLS
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This is so sad. Nobody should feel like they don’t matter. This basic need should be met #blogcrush
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Cant believe someone is having to fight for such basic rights. Signed. #Blogcrush
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Well written post and such an important topic. I really hope the petition makes companies realise the importance of making toilets accessible for ALL. It’s unacceptable.
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Thank you. It shouldn’t need a campaign and nobody should have to plead. Organisations, businesses and councils should be horrified when they learn about the reality faced by many disabled people and they should want to change.
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I am totally in support with you and agree that there should be some changes made for the help of some. This is the best way we can help them. Very well written post and motivating too. #Blogcrush.
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This post really hit home with me as my son has autism and at nearly 4 years old is unable to use to use the toilet. We can just about use the baby change units when we are out but most of them no longer support his weigh and he has to scrunch up as I change him as he is too tall. Your challenge is even more pressing. I have signed the petition. This needs to change! #blogcrush
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Thank you. Together we can bring change. The world shrinks for disabled children as they grow bigger.x
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This post really resonated with me. As the mother of a little boy with autism who at nearly 4 cannot use the toilet we are often left to grapple with baby change units that are not too small for his height and weight. What you are going through seems like that magnified a thousand times and it needs to change. Thank you for writing about this, it’s essential that we have more awareness of the struggles special needs children go through for what should be a basic right available to anyone. I have signed the petition. #blogcrush
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What a powerful post. I’ve signed and shared the petition. #BlogCrush
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Thank you. Every signature helps and every time the petition is shared more people might care. I appreciate it.x
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