Sometimes social media can be a wonderful place to be, together we can celebrate and we can support one another. But at times it can feel like a place of oppression, ignorance and sometimes damn right hatefulness. Whilst I have to accept that everyone is entitled to an opinion I also have the right to disagree with it.

So I decided to share some of the “wonderful” comments I have received and my responses, enjoy….

“Why are you always moaning about something? “

This is a comment I have received regarding my advocacy for children with disabilities and the governments lack of consideration of them in the schools recovery plan. 

Well let me just start by saying I am not moaning, there is a difference between standing up for your rights and moaning. When my child and others like him are being ignored by a government that is supposed to represent them I will speak up. When a government tells you that “every child matters” yet treats mine like a second class citizen I will speak up. Believe me when I tell you I wish all I had to worry about was the football score (Come on England), but my sons physical and mental health matter.

“We deserve our freedom” 

Oh it’s freedom you want,  yet yesterday our government passed a bill that robs us of our right to protest, but its ok because you can go dance the night away in a nightclub. Honestly please work out what freedom actually means before you celebrate it. 

“It’s not our fault you have a disabled child”

First up my child is not a fault he is a gorgeous amazing young man that overcomes so much. It’s no ones fault he has these disabilities just as you wouldn’t blame someone who has cancer or other illnesses, fault is not the issue. 

What is the issue is the discrimination he has to face due to people who believe he is faulty. The ignorant, the misinformed and mostly the selfish who only care about themselves and a current government who sees no value in those not earning in the top 10%.

“The NHS has to cope it gets enough money” 

I cannot believe this comment, the NHS is one of the most underfunded organisations in our country yet one if not the most valuable. The fact that the NHS is struggling is not due to the dedication and hard work of those that work within it but the systemic underfunding and disrespect and desire to privatise by those in power. Our NHS is full of wonderful people our Drs and Nurses, NHS professionals should be held high in respect not treated like casualties of war. 

“Maybe you should just send him away like they used too”.

How to reply to this one without swearing is hard, personally I know where I would like to send the commenter. Yet I’ve decided that someone who comments like this deserves pity not anger. I am so sorry your life is so pitiful that you cannot see the joy in mine. I pity that you haven’t found a love like I have for my son, that you cannot know the joy your life can be filled with.

Daniel is a blessing in my life that I am so thankful for. I will continue to advocate, shout, scream for as long as I need to get him what he deserves. I will exhaust myself if needed to give him a life that is happy and content and I will love on him with every breath I have. 

Children, adults with disabilities are not a burden to society they are human beings just like everyone else but they face discrimination and ignorance daily. This is where the issue lies in those that don’t or who choose not to value all people. 

As for social media I will continue to use it, I refuse to let a few take away from the overall good that I take from the connections I make on line but if you do choose to comment like this on my posts I will challenge. No one and I mean no one has the right to disvalue my son and believe me if you try you will meet mama bear in all her ferociousness.