Has your child ever felt like they don’t fit in anywhere? Or like no-one understands what things feel like?

Maybe they feel like they’re the only person in the world who looks, moves or thinks like they do.

Cathy Reay, disabled writer, journalist, and single mum to two disabled children, wants your child to know that they are not alone. They belong in the world exactly as they are.

This is the message of Cathy’s new book, ‘How to be disabled and proud (or at least kinda sorta okay with it)’. Described as a “powerful call to action for both disabled and non-disabled children”, the book aims to encourage readers to advocate for a more accessible world and to inspire them to embrace their disabled identity. Written for children aged nine and up, it’s also an essential guide to growing up disabled. From navigating school life, finding disabled community and building confidence, to facing challenges like bullying and discrimination and learning how to value and celebrate yourself, just as you are.

In this episode, we're delighted to welcome Cathy to talk about her new book - and listen out at the end for some moments that made you proud of your disabled child.

Transcript: https://contact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-episode-2-transcript.pdf

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We're relaunching our podcast with something a little different to what we’ve done before.

In this rebooted series of our podcast, we’ll be featuring more interviews and guest contributions, and on the whole exploring the issues we know families care about in a little more depth.

Our first episode is all about helping your disabled child make the move to secondary school. We speak to Caroline Klage, brain injury solicitor and parent to three neurodiverse children, who shares her strategies and top tips for preparing for the move.

We also hear from Bridie from our helpline team, who explains what national offer day is in England and Wales and what options you have when you've been offered a school place.

Download a transcript of this podcast: https://contact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Transcript-helping-your-disabled-child-move-onto-secondary-school.pdf

Host: Harriet Squirrel

Producers: Michele Cefai, RJ Dale, Tom Bobbin

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Fledglings shop sells clothing, products and equipment to help children and adults with all kinds of disability, condition or area of difficulty. And our new tube feeding range of clothes is no different.

In this episode, Contact's Head of Commerce Lisa talks to our Wales Information and Networking Coordinator, Mandy, about products to help your child.

You can also watch this conversation on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/j72GXr8KLwY

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listening Ear is our 1-1 telephone appointment service, where you can talk with one of our family support advisers for a listening ear, reassurance and practical and emotional support.

But what topics can you talk about and how long for? How did the service come about, and what do parents think of it? And most importantly, how can you book an appointment?

In this episode, we speak to Noreen, an adviser on the Listening Ear line, who tells us all of this and more.

You can find out more about Listening Ear on our website at www.contact.org.uk/listeningear

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School transport is an integral part of a child's education. If a child can't get to school or has a stressful experience getting to school, they are not able to learn and take part in the school day like other children.

That's why we're campaigning to Close the Loophole in school transport law for over 16s. In this podcast, we talk to Contact's Head of Campaigns Una Summerson about what the loophole means, how we're trying to change it, and how you can get involved.

Find our more at contact.org.uk/close-the-loophole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.