Amy Anderson, a primary school teacher from Woodbridge, Suffolk, has spoken out about feeling “stuck in the middle” of the disabled community. Despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at two years old, Anderson is occasionally able to walk, leading some people to question whether she genuinely needs a wheelchair.
Anderson, 31, set up the “Not Disabled Enough” social media campaign in May to help raise awareness around the issue. Using Instagram, TikTok, and a blog, she shares her experiences and highlights the need for more awareness.
She commented: “Sometimes I feel like I’m not disabled enough to do stuff, but on the other hand, too disabled to do other things. I can’t be the only one feeling this way.” Census data published last year showed 9.8 million people in England reported having a long-term disability which limited their activities, while NHS data showed 665,000 people in England are registered wheelchair users.
In May, Anderson quit her job and rented out her house in Felixstowe so she could travel the world for a year. She applied for a working visa in Australia but was denied, so she aimed for New Zealand, where she faced similar issues. Despite this, she eventually got a job at a summer camp in the US working with young girls between seven and 11. Now, she hopes to travel to South Africa and Ireland.
“I want to raise awareness to say, ‘yes, I am managing but there’s a lot that’s going on behind the scenes.’ But also to show disabled people that we can do this, and I do feel a part of your community,” concluded Anderson
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