Being accepted

My brother Anthony has Down’s syndrome and he’s also autistic. He has no ligaments in his legs so he uses a wheelchair.  Anthony lives at home with me and my Mum.

He’s in his mid-twenties now, but when Anthony was at school he started going to Warmley Wheelers and it’s something that he’s always enjoyed.

More recently my boyfriend and I have started going with him on Saturdays. I was immediately really impressed with the staff there. They were so nice, and they made us feel accepted. Anthony sometimes grabs people so I mentioned this to Sue, one of the staff members, as she was helping Anthony on to his bike. Sue wasn’t fazed at all. She just seemed to know the right way to support him.

At Christmas, the staff decorated the wheelchair platform bike with tinsel and lights especially for Anthony. I think he may have been the only person using that particular bike that day, so I was really impressed with the time and effort they put in. Each session only lasts an hour, but to Anthony it’s a big thing. He really enjoyed that visit.

It’s hard to find activities that Anthony will enjoy. He’s frightened of loud noises so he can’t go anywhere that’s crowded. Going to Warmley Wheelers is one of a very small number of activities that he enjoys. It gets him out in the fresh air and enables him to feel a sense of freedom. Anthony is non-verbal, but his smile when he’s on the bike says it all. It gives him happiness!

It’s so rare for me and Anthony to go to a place where we feel like people are totally understanding. At Warmley Wheelers we feel comfortable and very accepted. Whatever our needs might be, they are more than happy to cater to them. I just think they’re fantastic.

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