Sign language came in useful at party

Louloubell1980

It was lovely all your kind comments on my last comment where my bsl came in handy when a Deaf gentleman came in the supermarket and i could chat to him for half an hour in British sign language. I used to care for Deafblind people with complex needs for many years. A few days later a blind gentleman came in the shop and he was grateful i could guide him where he wanted to go. But one of the most rewarding moments was when i used to have ice skating lessons as a teenager and just when I was about to leave my skating teacher rushed over saying a birthday party of 17 Deaf children had arrived for a party with no interpreter. He begged me to help. It was really rewarding seeing the children's excited faces as I translated what the teacher was saying and helped them whizz round the ice. Both the children and parents were signing "Thank you so much " at the end of the lesson and they were eager to come back again soon.

Louloubell1980

Ive had epilepsy since I was little and found it challenging learning about all the seizures i have and why i was having up to 5 a day. I was moved when my eldest daughter wrote her book epilepsy book for kids which raises money for epilepsy charities. We fundraise and donated epilepsy information packs to primary schools. After that i wrote my book Jo's hidden secrets which raises money for charities close to my heart. That book is aimed at teenagers. Since they were published its been so rewarding to have donated 807 epilepsy information packs to schools and libraries and NHS and charities and to family's who needed them.Raising epilepsy awareness and hidden disabilities awareness is so important to me as i have 10 different health conditions but none are visable. It was an honour to go to the mental health awards on Thursday. Im so grateful to be part of Scope.

MW123

@Louloubell1980

This is so inspiring! Your kindness and willingness to help is truly heart warming. Thank you for sharing these beautiful moments.

Louloubell1980

Thanks so much for your kind comment. Raising epilepsy awareness and hidden disabilities awareness is so important to me. Ive faced stigma in lots of ways from losing jobs, or people assume im drunk when really im having a seizure (ive never had alcohol as ive been on lots of medicines since i was 7) or someone judging why im using a disabled toilet when im not using a wheelchair. (Id been incontinent during a seizure and needed space to fresher up). So it made me determined to raise hidden disabilities awareness and have raised £18000 for charities close to my heart. Next Month im doing an eating disorder speech in London raising awareness of eating disorders and how my book Jo's hidden secrets covers 12 different topics from my epilepsy to my eating disorder and living in a past difficult relationship (im in a better place now thanks to many charities support including scope) and fundraising in different ways to donate mental health packs to high schools. Raising hidden disabilities awareness is so important to me.