This Learning Disability Week’s theme of “Do you see me?” is challenging the barriers and isolation people with a learning disability can feel within society. This is an experience all too prevalent within the lives of the people we support. It is something we take very seriously at Thera and we always provide support in whatever ways we can.
Will has always been passionate about sports and seeing a way to help Will develop his passions, his support staff contacted Thera’s communications team. They asked for the team’s support in helping Will to produce a weekly sportscast, where Will can give updates on the weeks sporting results and events.
Using his own equipment, Will has successfully filmed over forty episodes so far, where he discusses Premier League Football, Rugby, Cricket, and Formula 1. The videos are uploaded to Thera East Anglia’s Facebook page and are a celebrated staple!
Recently, Will discussed his ambitions to move into paid work in the field on Peterborough Community Radio.
My senior support worker Emma knows Kev the radio host and she had reached out and asked him if it was a story he’d be interested in covering. They were very enthusiastic about speaking with me and I was made up about it.
Peterborough Community Radio agreed to upload his weekly sportscast to their online radio service PCR XTRA following the interview. Will’s interview is also going to be featured on BBC Radio, on one of the host’s cover shows. Will was very happy with these results!
I’ve been so excited all week and then it went really well. I was asked about how long I’ve been doing it for and the different sports that I cover. It was a great experience.
With Thera’s support, Will has pursued his passions, gained relevant work experience, and integrated further into the community. Will is a shining example of what people with a learning disability are able to achieve.