The Stage

Honest and inspiring

Published Monday 30 November 2009 at 17:50

Never in a million years did I think that it would be in The Stage (page 24-25, November 19) that I would read such a moving and raw account of a mother’s feelings towards her child as the child tries to make sense of their disabilities. Thank you to Maria Friedman for her honesty in voicing what mothers like us are going through and to Chickenshed for teaching the world what inclusion really means.

I’m a parent of a ten-year-old with severe epilepsy and hemiplegia - a form of cerebral palsy caused by a stroke either in birth, childhood or prenatal - and due to the resulting emotional and behavioural difficulties, he is excluded from many activities families take for granted, including education and forming friendships. But yes, for him too, it is theatre that inspires and includes him. He can’t sit through a movie, but put him in a theatre or concert hall and it’s a different story. I am still searching for a ‘Chickenshed’ for my son, as in a place where he can build his self-esteem, but reading Maria’s story gives me hope. Perhaps theatre is the solution - a few years ago, I wrote a show with children like him in mind and named the lead character after my son. It’s still touring and has changed our lives.

Sheridan Humphreys

Trustee

HemiHelp - The National Charity for Children With Hemiplegia

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