Inspirational Young People With Muscular Dystrophy: Sam and Zoe

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by Wendy Henderson |

In this video from Muscular Dystrophy UK, two teenagers share what it’s like living with the disease and some of the frustrations they experience on a day-to-day basis.

MORE: How service dogs can benefit people with neuromuscular disorders.

Fourteen-year-old Sam from Cheltenham and 13-year-old Zoe from Bristol explain that one of their main bugbears is that people often only see the wheelchair and not the person in it. The two talk about how they feel left out of social events when friends assume they won’t be able to attend because the venue isn’t accessible, often not even asking them beforehand if they want to go or if they can think of any practical solutions.

Sam explains that he’s had to miss out on two overseas trips with school because his teacher felt he wouldn’t be able to participate or would create too much work, rather than come up with a plan to include him. He now feels as though he’s a nuisance and unwanted.

MORE: How to talk to your child about their neuromuscular disease.

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