Hello from Dartford

AdamBoucher

Hello my name is Adam and I live in Dartford. I have Cerebral palsy but towards the minor end of the spectrum as it just means that my hamstrings are too tight which means I have to use a wheelchair. However I have recently been suffering from other symptoms caused by the isolation and discrimination I face in the area I live. 

Currently and for the past 20 years have had no social life, no friends and due to the culture it’s extremely difficult to change that. Finding suitable activities that are of interest to me for wheelchair users is not easy as a lot of the stuff is designed for those with mental or extreme disabilities so am caught in no man’s land. Then there is finding them as not exactly well advertised. If anyone can help that would be great.

MeMyI

HI Adam, 

Im sorry to hear things are not great for you at the moment and that you are feeling somewhat socially isolated. Hopefully being on here will help you to find some good advice and tips on what may help. I hope you find the help & support you need. I'm sorry I cannot help as I'm not from your area, but just wanted to post and say hello and to wish you a lovely day  

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @AdamBoucher

Welcome to the community! I hope you are well today?

I'm sorry to hear that things have been so difficult the past few years. I hope the community can be a place where you make friends and can find support I am going to tag @Richard_Scope who is our Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead and @Abdi_Scope From the CP network. They have online meetings / get togethers your may like to join in with  

For activities in person, I would reach out to your local council to ask about activities that are on. Or even see if there are any posted on local Facebook pages. 

Richard_Scope

Hello again @AdamBoucher, I hope you are doing okay.

As my colleague, @Hannah_Scope has said you are most welcome to join the CP Network monthly Zoom meetings. All you need to do is register. The next meeting is Wednesday the 20th of September at 6 pm.

AdamBoucher

Unfortunately I am rarely home from from work in time as have to work slightly out of my area due to the lack of access and discrimination I face in the area where I live.

Richard_Scope

Okay, I understand. The group is there whenever you do have time. What kind of events would be of interest to you?

AdamBoucher

I enjoy sports, theology, science fiction, outdoor activities such as rock climbing, caving abseiling ect. Currently all of my activities are solo activities such as reading and computers.

 I was heavily involved as a scout leader in the past as an assistant leader at one group and a leader at two others but was forced out due to discrimination and other leaders not wanting to follow a leader in a wheelchair. Have been heavily involved in the church in the past but the same issues as all they could see was the chair.

not too sure what I want as have spent pretty much the last 20+ years in almost solitary confinement due to the attitude of people where I live. I need to a be challenged, I need to be made to think. This is a problem in two areas as few in my area like to challenged they all prefer the quick and easy way which is of no interest to me and secondly there is the cultural belief that if you are physically disabled you are also mentally disabled. It’s pretty much a one size fits all attitude which cannot be further from the truth. 

So need to get the brain working and the blood pumping however pretty much everything where I live revolves around alcohol and I am t-total. Because a, I need to drive to get anywhere as public transport is a joke where I live in as is wheelchair access and secondly my dad was an alcoholic and he never accepted me because of my disability.

Richard_Scope

I have found the Northumberland Heath Science Fiction Society that you might be interested in and Meetup Dartford, which lists groups and events in the Dartford area.