In October I joined the Changing Faces campaigner programme to use my experiences of living with a visible difference, and the skills I’ve developed because of it, to help make a positive societal change for the visible difference community. As a primary school teacher, I have a particular interest in education and advocating for children with additional needs and their families, which was why I was very excited to be asked to speak at the Changing Faces workshop for parents.
During the workshop, I was asked to share my experiences of living with a visible difference as well as tips and advice on what may be helpful for parents and caregivers when supporting their own child.
The workshop offered not only practical strategies but also a sense of community, helping families feel less isolated and more empowered.
Drawing from both my personal journey and my background in education, I saw this as a meaningful way to continue advocating for children and families. As an educator, I hope to help build pupils’ self-worth, interest in the world around them and respect for all people. In the various school communities that I have been part of, I’ve naturally experienced curiosity from pupils about my appearance. I have always been prepared for staring and questions, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the number of thoughtful questions and comments from pupils as well. These experiences have shown me the power of education as a tool to develop understanding and acceptance of others.
The parent’s workshop itself was well-structured, supportive and practical. It offered a wealth of advice for parents navigating everyday situations—whether that’s medical appointments, school life, or social media. It was wonderful to see how Changing Faces provides not only useful strategies but also a sense of community, helping families feel less isolated and more empowered. I would encourage any family who support a child with a visible difference to attend!
Children with visible differences have to face a number of challenges, which can impact their physical, emotional and mental health. As a result, in all aspects of the session it was evident that a key message was ensuring that children felt confident knowing their voice in their own unique journey of living with a visible difference to help ensure positive outcomes for them.
Being part of the workshop reminded me how important it is to continue sharing, listening, and supporting one another in this community.
A starting point to help achieve this was encouraging participants to reflect on the power of language and being consistent and clear as a family on how to describe their child’s visible difference. Growing up, I was often labelled as having a deformity, which in turn created and established unhelpful thought patterns on how I viewed myself. It was encouraging to be part of a session that wanted to challenge and tackle unhelpful language to ensure children growing up today know that their visible difference is not a bad personality trait.
I also particularly enjoyed the practical tip of encouraging children to participate in the conversations at appointments (even if it is just asking the doctor their favourite colour!) to ensure they are part of the discussion and can develop their own confidence in understanding their visible difference.
I have been very fortunate to grow up surrounded by supportive communities who I have felt comfortable sharing my experiences of a visible difference with. At the same time, I have often wanted to hide away, and I never imagined that I’d one day speak publicly about my experiences. The support from my parents, sister, close friends and the support services at Changing Faces has played a huge part in helping me see my visible difference in a positive light.
When sharing my experiences, I wanted to be honest about the challenges I’ve faced both as a child and adult. But I also wanted to share the joys – from sport and travel to friendships and my career. My hope is that the families who attended came away knowing that while there are challenges, children with visible differences can absolutely lead happy, full lives.
After the session, the first thing I did was call my parents and sister. Taking part made me reflect on my younger years, when I often told them they didn’t understand what I was going through. In truth, they were carrying their own emotional weight—navigating life as the family of someone with a visible difference. Despite their own struggles, they always showed me unwavering love, patience, and support. I’m incredibly grateful to them.
Being part of the workshop reminded me how important it is to continue sharing, listening, and supporting one another in this community. I’m proud to have been part of a space that uplifts families and helps ensure that children with visible differences grow up feeling seen, understood, and empowered.
