Young, Disabled: Lockdown and My Future

Young,
Disabled:
Lockdown and
My Future
Stories from life in Covid 19

We wanted to hear from 16-25 year olds about their
experiences of lockdown in the Covid 19 pandemic. We
did some research and found that nothing was being
done nationally or locally for the younger generation,
so created an opportunity for young people to get their
voices heard.
They could do this through a short story, video, poem,
picture or poster.
We also asked them to discuss their hopes for the
future and what support they might need to make that
happen
They are the future!
WCIL User Engagement Team

WELCOME
In this magazine you will find very
different accounts of young peoples
experiences during lockdown.
We gained a lot from reading /
watching the stories / videos that
were shared with us, and we are sure
you will too.
Young, Disabled: Lockdown and My Future

Esperanza's Story

Abbie's Story
What has life been like for you during lockdown?
Life in lockdown has been unlike anything I have experienced in
my life so far. It’s been challenging at times, frustrating,
disappointing, and boring, but it has also been fun and good
times as well.
Before lockdown I was balancing college life and tennis training
on and off court, planning a year of
international travel on the tour and was so positive and looking
forward to everything. Then like everyone life changed overnight
with lockdown, college, gym and tennis courts closed and
restrictions on seeing family and having the feeling of isolation,
and my international tour in shreds. I had been selected to
represent GB at the world Team Cup, which is such an honour and
cancelled like the rest, which was so disappointing.
My initial thoughts were great ‘no college’ how great is that, no
alarm, no homework, YES!! But then when I realised exactly what
this all meant, I realised it was not a good thing at all, with so
many people dying and being so ill, life and this virus was getting
really serious.

My college went online, so many hours of Zoom lessons. This for me was
quite challenging, as I have learning difficulties and so I get extra support
in my classes, which of course all stopped and it was now mum and dad
that were helping me.
The lack of exercise and no tennis was a real issue for me, so as a family
we decided to go to the local park every day, they walk 5k and I pushed
7-10k . With no gym the LTA updated my home program and helped
support me through having Zoom gym sessions, which I have really
enjoyed, and it was good to see others in our tennis squad. But all of a
sudden I had loads of free time, and I am not good when I have nothing to
do and felt a bit lost.
I think the hardest part has not being able to see my family and having a
hug, as we are such a close family and they support me in everything and
only seeing them on a screen was hard, especially when my Papa got ill.
We all quickly adapted to seeing each other virtually but it is just not the
same.
But for all the negatives there are positives as my sister came home from
uni after 3 years away in London, which was great to have her home. So
got to spend more time with her and mum and dad as a whole family
again, which has
been great. Instead of going out we had virtual parties and quizzes,
having fun in a different way.

What does life after lockdown look like for you? Has it changed
how you see your future?
So as lockdown is easing my first year at college has finished and I am back
on court training again, which is just great as I am learning every day. There
was a weird atmosphere when we all started back as everyone seemed
relieved to be back, out the house, and seeing other people again was great.
But at the same time very conscious to follow the new rules and guidelines
and some people seemed quite nervous about it all.
I love being active again and I am so much happier. However there is so much
uncertainty at the moment and that can be demotivating and a worry. As not
sure if I’m returning to college in September or not, the tennis tour is on hold
with no start date, which is so frustrating.
Unfortunately due to the economic mess the country is
in I have lost 2 sponsors, which are so vitally important to my training and
progression in my sport and will massively impact my future.
I am hoping that as horrific as this pandemic has been for the country and for
families that have lost loved ones that as a world we realise that what we do
can have big impact on others and that life can is so precious, but so fragile
and that we have to make the most of everything and remember that when
the worst happens we adapt, learn and move forward.

What support might you need after lockdown to achieve your
future goals?
My goals are to remain fit, health and to be in the best possible shape I can
be in for when the tour restarts. But I am worried about funding for the
future and know I will need support with obtaining it.
I know that when college does start again I need to be more honest with
my lecturers as to the support I need if we continue to work from home, so
that I can pass my course with a high grade to help secure a good future.
Being home and feeling isolated has made me realise that I need to learn to
communicate better with people, which I may need a bit of help with. I am
so looking forward to the time I can give my friend and family a hug and
for the feeling of normality again.
Long Term I dream of being the best wheelchair tennis player that I can be.
But to be happy in my life and know that I am loved and supported by my
family is most important.

My lockdown experience has been
spent with my family. It’s been
stressful at times, but I wouldn’t
have it any other way!
As things slowly, (carefully)
returns to the “new” normal my
hopes for the future is that we
continue to value the nhs and
other key workers who have
supported us throughout this
crisis.
But as human beings we carry on
being kind and supportive to one
another, not to much to ask is it!
Kieran Aged 21

Jack's Story
Hi my name is Jack 24, so a little about me I
have cerebral Palsy spastic Diplopic was
born at 26 weeks, weighing 1lbs 15 ounces. I
had quite an unusual to lockdown as it
started on the 16th of March. I work with
students with additional needs in the south of
England. Students seemed increasingly
anxious at the college, there was a sense of
not if but when we were closing.
I started my day and I believe that the situation was too much. I was anxious
and did not feel well. I went home (nothing Covid related as I just burnt out). I
got a call from my boss, Cerebral Palsy is on the list of high risk. At this moment
I get told I can't come back.
The new working day at home the beginning I personally feel for myself this is
great I can work, but I have more freedom to manage my body and energy until
lockdown. I just feel really tired. So, this was positive and COVID was
something we had to be sensible about wash your hands etc., but as long as I
was behind that front door, I felt safe.

I feel I used this time to reconnect with my family, we watched more films and just
spent more time together and this was amazing. Inevitably Lockdown life
expanded my waistline as lockdown culture seemed to be built around meals, as
there was a lack of conversation as we all felt we over spoke.
I was really beginning to miss other humans, wanted them to come in different
flavours. I had a few socially distanced meetings with my collages who very
nicely popped over to see me too and just break the feeling of social isolation,
because as humans we are social creatures.
I did notice that I would have a number of good days followed by lows, like a
sand dune constantly shifting in shape and height some days you could be sitting
on top others you could be sitting on the ground next to it.
What I have been doing? I have been working on a side project called
positivelycerebralpalsy on Instagram. I felt like I had time to invest in this project
and at a time of negativity, I thought I could share my story. I have recently in the
last week started walking as I need to lose some of that lockdown weight as I
prepare for a challenge a walk next Easter in the peak district and to feel better
about me.
I have learned to appreciate every day more and be more thankful, for example I
look at nature and I feel like the world has taken a deep breath and rest - the
world despite the situation looks healthier than it ever has. I enjoy car rides out to
mundane places.

Now the most interesting part of my lockdown story, that of my mum. Through the
power of Facebook she has been able to reconnect with her biological dad after
50 years. This has been a great experience for her and us as a family. This gets
you thinking the greater the emphasis we will place on human interaction. This
also coincided with my first ventures out. Everyone in my household was going out
and as a person shielding, I was beginning to lose. But as a person who is very
social and now being told to basically bolt the door up and don’t go out for safety
can change your thinking that the outside had now become such a scary.
I went to the pub on Sunday, the day I was excited to be out and to be
reintegrated into something normal. I had been lucky enough to go on picnics with
my work colleagues so this again makes me appreciate the simple things in life
and these days were the days that could be the boost I needed.
The best way I can describe it is peaks and troughs and while it has made me
more aware, I am excited with what the future I am now looking to build a website
to work in different reaches and spread further positivity. I want to travel more,
having missed out on Amsterdam and Camp Ameri where I should have been in
Pennsylvania at Summit camp working with young people with additional needs.
While this was sad to lose these experiences at the time, I now have something to
look forward to.
positivelycerebralpalsy

Evan's Story

THANK YOU
We would like to say a massive thank
you to all the young people who took
time to be part of this project.
Your stories were honest,
inspirational and heartfelt. We are
sure people will enjoy reading /
watching them as much as we did.
Young, Disabled: Lockdown and My Future