Tess protests to keep access to nature

When I got wind of a new development proposed for the farm next door to our Suffolk supported living service, I was immediately concerned with how the proposed development would affect the three women we support at the service.

Alice, Tess and Alison all use wheelchairs, so having a private road leading to the nearby fields is a wheelchair friendly way that they can safely get into the countryside from their home. The owner of the farm has applied to open a farm shop, and is also looking at holding events and camping –  including caravans. With the farm shop alone, they anticipate 30-50 cars a day coming down this narrow, private, single track road – currently we rarely see any cars!  Once someone is coming, there is nowhere to give way and the impact this will have on Tess, Alice and Alison being able to use the lane to get out and about will be huge.

When I found out about the meeting to discuss the plans, I took Tess and Alice to the lane, where they could see the fields, and I asked them if they liked it there. Tess was squealing to show how much she loves it, Alice loved the wind in her hair. As they communicate largely non-verbally, we explore the different ways they can express themselves – communication is everything.

No one had asked them about the new plans, so I supported Tess to attend the Parish Council meeting so she could have her voice heard.  Her personality is so infectious, we call her Lady Tee, she loves going in front of people, and has recently been getting involved with FitzRoy’s Nationwide – a forum for people we support to have their say – and she has loved it.

We communicated what she wanted to say on a placard. When we went to the meeting, I introduced Tess to the other attendees and explained that I worked for her. She held up her placard, which said, “Have you thought about my friends and I? We use wheelchairs! Be considerate. Tess, Alison, Alice,” and silence descended on the room. I didn’t have to say anything. Everyone immediately understood something they hadn’t thought about previously.

Tess and her friends are all in their thirties, they have known each other since school, and lived together here for eight years. They are part of the community and it was so important their voice was heard, and the impact of the development on their quality of life and their safety, was taken into consideration. They are already so limited in where they could go, everyone could see how dangerous it would be for them to be travelling down a single lane private road in their wheelchair, if there was going to be lots of traffic, especially as there are no laybys or passing areas.

It was very powerful, everyone could see how it would really impact on people we’re supporting. If Tess wasn’t there, they would have gone ahead with the development, but the landowner told us that he understood our concerns and would take those into consideration. It was amazing to see many villagers present in the meeting, rallying behind Lady Tee once she had presented her case. Amazing support from an amazing community!

At FitzRoy, we say we are brave, we see the person, but it is not always easy, sometimes you have to prepare to fight. Supporting Tess to go to this meeting meant she could be an advocate in her own right, playing a vital role in the community.

Egnes

Supported Living Deputy Manager, Suffolk