Emily

“Don’t assume all disabilities are visual, sometimes they are acquired, or you are born with them”

I work at Flagstaff in the People and Culture team where I am one of the ambassadors for our disability awareness program. I love reading fantasy and
history and hanging with friends and playing video games.

I have cerebral palsy (CP), I didn’t know I had it until I was 15. The doctor looked at my shoes and diagnosed me with CP, I had never heard of it. I was
happy to have my demon labelled, it explained why I was so clumsy and always falling. I would describe CP as parts of my brain not connecting. It also
feels like I’m having growing pains. I also have epilepsy.

I was bullied when growing up, people didn’t understand. When I told them I had CP it shut them up.

While I would like a mainstream job my CP hasn’t stopped me from doing things. I’m now going out on my own and looking forward to it.

Invisible disabilities are like Harry Potter under his invisibility cloak.

You can’t see them but don’t assume they don’t exist.