Making Friends, Having Fun: Young Disabled People Highlight the Barriers

Current legislation and policy initiatives of relevance to disabled children and their families are underpinned by international human rights conventions. For example, the Children Act (1989) promotes the human rights highlighted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1988), while Valuing People (2001) aims to pave the way to the fulfilment of the obligations enshrined in the Human Rights Act (1998). In spite of this, disabled young people and their families commonly report leading lives characterised by stigma, isolation and exclusion. Focusing on the experience of one young man who is generally perceived as having little to offer the world, this article explores the impact that the exclusion and discrimination faced by young disabled people have on opportunities for forming relationships and building friendships. It is suggested that the key to providing meaningful change in the lives of young disabled people lies in listening to their experiences, paying close attention to the messages they give, and finally taking care to prioritise respectful relationship in all service settings.