I’m Joanne and I  grew up in London  many of you may not be aware but there is a side of me that you wouldn't even know existed if you were to take one look at me you would think that I was a normal person 

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BUT I was born with right side Hemiplegia which means my right side has muscle paralysis and weakness and is more commonly known as Cerebral Palsy 

                            Living with a disability is not easy

 
When I was born the doctors told my parents that id never walk,  talk or live a normal life

When I was a new born baby I was completely unaware that I was disabled I had to stay in the intensive care unit for about 10 days all's my mum had was a picture of me beside her when all the other mums on the ward had their babies next to them

Doctors told my parents that I would never walk , talk or live a normal life but my parents were determined to prove the doctors and medical staff wrong,  during my early years I was prescribed phenobarbitone because I used to suffer from fits

I spend the first two and a half - three years bum shuffling across the floor my mum used to say that I looked like a crab 

I had countless physio appointments and casts fitted to my leg to strengthen my leg as my right leg was slightly shorter than my left

I didn't start walking until I was coming up to 3 years old and being different started to become apparent I was walking differently to other kids and I could sense that people were just looking at me
I was self conscious and I used to dread summer because I couldn't wear the clothes that other little girls wore because I had to wear supportive shoes which at the age I was were unfashionable and I used to have to wear a splint to help me walk better

School life was a challenge I used to get bullied and used to spend play times on my own because no one wanted to play with me

I can recall this one time I was in school and we were having a lesson  I was sitting next to this girl ( who at the time thought was my friend) every opportunity she had she would pinch me under the table so the teacher wouldn't see , I couldn't retaliate even if I wanted to because my disability also affects my hand and I don't have the strength or the grip and I was too timid and shy to say anything in fear of being a snitch

When i came home from school and got out of my uniform I was covered in bruises down my leg were she'd been pinching me

My dad lost it and went to the girls house to have words with her parents and the school was informed who were supportive

Fast forward to the start of my career

I left college at 18 after studying health and social care and went into the world of work I found it a huge  challenge and very overwhelming

I started working as a home-carer visiting the elderly in their own homes and providing care duties which included personal care,  medication reminders , shopping ,washing , cooking,  cleaning etc

I have been through my fair share of caring companies
I have done everything from domiciliary care , care homes,  live in care always working for an employer

In 2018 I made the decision to go self employed I was still working as a carer but the difference was I could choose my own hours pay and clients and I've never looked back

I'm still caring on a self employed basis but I also wanted to find a way to help other people living with a disability feel empowered and show that living with a disability doesn't have to put a halt on your life

My disability is classed as invisible because to look at me you would never think that I was living with a disability most people mistakenly think that I have a stroke I wanted to change that and that's when Joanne Whittaker- Empowering people with disabilities  was born which has given me a purpose to make a change and show that disabled people are just like anyone else and can achieve anything they desire despite their limitations

I'm always available  so if you need someone to talk to please get in touch I know what it's like to feel different in society and not feel accepted,  I've been there and know it's not a walk in the park you can ask me anything I'm open and honest about everything and  I want everyone living with a disability to feel empowered to be able to achieve anything ​