Finding your confidence: exploring identity and acceptance
This webinar explores confidence, identity, and self-acceptance for people with visible differences through personal stories and expert insights.
An honest, supportive conversation about responding to unwanted comments and questions about your visible difference. Attendees heard directly from people with lived experience, gained practical coping strategies, and questions where answered at the end.
Meet the panel
Gillian spent 17 years without a diagnosis before learning she had Parry-Romberg Syndrome, a condition that caused the left side of her face to gradually change in appearance from the age of twelve. During this time she has faced hurtful comments and had to come to terms with her changing appearance. Through that experience, she developed coping strategies and she now embraces her difference, and firmly believes she is far more than her appearance.
Gary was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy at 18, causing him to feel like a stranger in his own skin. The stares, avoidance, and intrusive questions he faced chipped away at his confidence and took a serious toll on his mental health. 20 years later, he chose to open up about his challenges and shared his story. In doing so he connected with others, which helped him grow stronger and brought him to where he is today as a leadership wellbeing speaker
Questions asked by the community
Please use the link below to view answers to all the questions submitted by the visible difference community before and during the webinar.