July 12: Seen, Heard and Included. Why Representation Matters for Disabled Children
how society shapes the way children and young people see themselves, each other and the world they live in
When we talk about inclusion, our minds often go straight to physical accessibility. We think about ramps, adapted classrooms, accessible playgrounds and the practical changes that help disabled children take part in everyday life. These things are essential, but true inclusion goes much further than physical access.
It also means helping children see themselves reflected in the stories they read, the programmes they watch, the people they admire and the communities they are part of.
For many disabled children, that representation is still surprisingly rare. When they don't see people like themselves living ordinary, fulfilling lives, it can quietly influence how they view their own place in the world and what they believe is possible for their future.
Today's blog explores why representation matters, how it can shape confidence and mental wellbeing, and why ensuring every child feels seen is just as important as ensuring every child can be included.
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🔔 coming up on The Work Edit:
Rats, carrots and sport!
coming up on Cultural Calendar Club
12 Months of live, inspiring, entertaining talks events, made financially accessible for all organisations
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International Self Care Day: Self‑Care is not negotiable.
Friday 24 July 2026
12:00 13:00
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In this 60‑minute webinar, we’ll dismantle the myth that self‑care is a luxury or an indulgence. Once again, we’ve been sold short-term, capitalist quick fixes—like scented candles and bubble baths—as if they could patch over much deeper, systemic problems.
Real self‑care is far less glamorous and far more powerful. It’s about boundaries. About rest. About tuning into our natural rhythms and creating the space to truly know ourselves.
We often frame self‑care as something we do for others—role‑modelling healthier behaviours, being better colleagues, parents, partners. And yes, that matters. But the deeper truth is this: we don’t need to earn rest or justify our wellbeing. We need to normalise self-love without attaching it to usefulness.
Self‑care is a political act. It's about reclaiming what we all deserve—without guilt—and refusing to burn out while trying to fix the very systems that make it so hard to care for ourselves in the first place. Because access to self-care isn’t equal, and recognising that is part of the work.