PRESS RELEASE: Does it wet the bed? author Aideen Blackborough supports campaign to raise UK awareness during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week (5-11 October 2015)

World Cerebral Palsy Day - 7^thOctober 2015
 
Author and diversity & equality trainer Aideen Blackborough is available for interviews and comment this week  

Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3^rdOctober 2015: There are 17 million people with Cerebral Palsy (CP). It is the most common physical disability in childhood. Every day more than 1,000 children are born with CP. Aideen Blackborough was born in the early 1980s in Ireland, she moved to England in her early childhood, and continues to live in Birmingham. Aideen has Cerebral Palsy.

"It is time to make a change. It is time to remind everyone that we are here. We are everywhere. We are writers, teachers, activists, best friends, politicians and parents." - World CP Day 2015http://bit.ly/1WBrQ21

Aideen Blackborough is a Mum, an equality and diversity trainer, and she's now a published author. Her memoir -Does it wet the bed?- is due for release as a paperback in November 2015. The eBook launched in style in September at a celebration hosted by Aideen in her home town of Birmingham, supported by friends, family, colleagues and journalists. Aideen's story is both inspiring and moving; her frank and honest memoir dispels the myths surrounding Cerebral Palsy, being a wheelchair user and a Mum with disabilities. As we approachWorld CP Day on Wednesday 7^thOctober 2015, Aideen is lending her support to build awareness for the 17 million people with CP around the world. She is an avid campaigner for equality and diversity not just in the workplace (via her own business, Flying Lady Training) but across all aspects of society, particularly in schools and universities.

LIVE TWITTER Q&A ON WORLD CP DAY - 7/10/15 AT 1-2PM

On World CP Day, this Wednesday, Aideen will be hosting a live Twitter conversation at 1pm - 2pm GMT, answering questions about Cerebral Palsy, her working and family life, her new book, her childhood, her experiences of the NHS and much more. You can follow Aideen athttps://twitter.com/Aideen23Henry#DoesItWetTheBed #WorldCPDay #WeAreHere #CPAW2015.

An extract of a syndicated interview with Aideen Blackborough (full interview available upon request)

Q: You obviously had a hugely supportive family that helped you achieve your ambitious life goals, what advice would you give to parents of children with Cerebral Palsy?

Aideen Blackborough: "I'd say just don't give up. My parents fought for me, even when told by professionals that I'd never achieve anything. They refused to allow my physical limitations to dictate what I was capable of and they absolutely believed that I should be given the same opportunities as any other child. So my advice to other parents would be to remember that you know your child better than anyone and with the right support and lots of determination (both yours and theirs), it's very possible for your child to thrive and live a fulfilling life."

Q: Do you think there should be more space for children with disabilities in mainstream education?

Aideen Blackborough: "Definitely. Gone are the days of segregation, disabled children need to be welcomed and accepted into mainstream education and given the opportunity to succeed - without having to fight for it. I'm pleased to say that there is a lot of evidence of this becoming the norm at last."

Q: Do you think children or adults are more accepting of people with disabilities? Is it a learned behaviour/response?

Aideen Blackborough: "Children are much more accepting, definitely! They aren't afraid to ask questions and as long as those questions are answered honestly, I think children can accept disability and are much more interested in how fast my wheelchair can go! I think it is a learned behaviour and there are many adults who would learn so much for both reading my book and my Disability Equality Training!"

Q: What differences do you think there would be if you were a child growing up now, under ‘austerity'?

Aideen Blackborough: "I dread to think, as with so many cuts, I'm sure my parents would have to fight even harder for the support that I received. I had several medical interventions as a child to try and make life easier and I hear now of parents trying to raise money to take their children abroad for such help, so I think life would have been even harder."

You can read more about Aideen's life, her book, and the challenges she has adeptly overcome, and watch a short excerpt of an interview with her here:http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/brave-disabled-mum-writes-memoir-9944852

Notes to editors

Press contact:helenlewis@literallypr.com/ +(44) 07904801669

To request a copy of the book for review, or to interview Aideen, please contacthelenlewis@literallypr.com. You can download images from the book, the Birmingham book launch, press information and a full press pack here:http://bit.ly/1FMuehW.

SYNDICATED ARTICLE

Please see the below article available for syndication. For images, or to discuss re-production of this article, please do get in touch - happy to work with you on this or a bespoke piece to publicise World CP Day.

Aideen Blackborough has Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy doesn't ‘have' her...

My cerebral palsy was the result of a lack of oxygen at birth but I wasn't diagnosed until I was almost three. My parents knew that my development was unusually slow but the medical profession told them that I was "just a lazy baby". The eventual diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy signaled the beginning of my parents' battle to ensure that I would be afforded with the same opportunities as any other child.

My parents fought against the local authorities for my mainstream education and always promoted a "can-do" attitude. Mum used to say, "It's your legs that don't work, not your brain!" My parents' attitude made it seem like nothing was off limits and anything was possible. As a young child, I always knew that my disability wasn't going to hold me back and that if I wanted to do something, I'd find a way to overcome my physical limitations.

I excelled at school and went on to be awarded a 2:1 Honours Business Management degree from Oxford Brookes University. But I soon realised that my physical limitations weren't the only obstacles that I'd have to overcome in my adult life. As I began my search for employment, it became apparent that many employers were reluctant to take on disabled employees. After what I thought was a fantastic interview, one employer told me that he couldn't possibly offer me the position because his clients wouldn't be able to understand my speech! I wasn't prepared to let it go so I swiftly informed him that there were many ways to communicate and that by dismissing me, he had sadly lost a great asset to his team. It didn't change his mind but it sure helped me to pick myself up and continue my search.

I eventually secured a role with a small charity, helping other disabled people to find employment. Although a complete coincidence, it gave me the perfect opportunity to try and change employers' perceptions of disabled people and also to help my clients to secure the opportunities that they deserved. It was hugely rewarding but it was extremely evident that despite the Equality Act of 2010, discrimination and misunderstanding of disabled people and what we were capable of was an enormous barrier to us fulfilling our full potential.

On a personal level, there were other hurdles to overcome. I'd always hoped that I'd meet someone to settle down with and perhaps even one day, start a family. But I worried about finding someone who would be accepting of my disability, who would love me and my four wheels! I decided to try online dating and much to my complete surprise, it paid off. Within a few weeks, I met Dean and we hit it off immediately. After just ten months of dating, we were planning our wedding. After a truly wonderful, fairytale day, my thoughts turned towards another dream. Becoming a mum.

I'll never forget the day that my pregnancy was confirmed. The doctor beamed as he said, "Congratulations, you're five weeks pregnant." As I emerged from his office, I approached the receptionist to set up an appointment with the midwife. As I told her that I was pregnant, her face fell as she said, "Oh dear..."

She clearly didn't think a disabled person like me was capable of being a parent.

So many people misunderstand disability; underestimating the capabilities of disabled people and make so many unfounded assumptions. That's what inspired me to write, "Does it wet the bed?" - I want to dispel the myths that still surround disabled people and show that we are capable of so much more than many people realise.

"Does it wet the bed?" is now available on the Kindle Store - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0142S5884. The paperback copy will be released in November 2015.

About the Author

Aideen grew up in Birmingham, in a Catholic family, with two older sisters and a younger brother, all raised by loving Irish parents. Her childhood was idyllic and full of opportunities but when it came to attending primary school Aideen realised just how many of these opportunities had been fought for - tooth and nail - by her parents. Her Cerebral Palsy meant a mainstream education didn't come easily but her parents' conviction and her natural academic ability led her through primary and secondary school in mainstream education and finally into a gown and mortar board at her University graduation.

After graduating, and following a few false starts, Aideen met her future husband, established herself as an equality trainer, walked down the aisle and saw two pink lines materialise declaring the start of a new chapter in her life - as a mother.

Aideen Blackborough is an experienced and qualified trainer, with both personal and professional experience of equality and diversity issues. Aideen has a unique perspective on disability and equality issues, which she is able to incorporate into training. With many experiences to share and a lively sense of humour, the training offered by her Flying Lady Training consultancy is both engaging and ‘real'.

Format:eBook & Paperback

Available on Amazon & all good book shops

Price:£5.99 (eBook) £6.99 (paperback)

Release Dates:

eBook - 31 August 2015

Paperback - 01 November 2015

Category:Memoir
 
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