To have fun International Wheelchair Day (1st March 2024), we spoke to Ella Mae Warren, 24, head of Whizz Kidz‘s campaigning group. Ella tells us about her frustrations over inaccessible elements of the countryside, her deep and devoted relationship along with her help canine and talking on the House of Lords, advising the federal government. Ella now feels empowered to navigate the world with braveness and dedication. Here’s her story…
“My wheelchair is my freedom and independence. Without it, I’m remoted,” says Ella, who was paralysed from the waist down at 16 after a sudden sickness. “I keep in mind life earlier than and after. I’ve two elements to my life: the half the place I may walk and the half the place I could not. My wheelchair means I will be a part of my new life.”
Ella grew up close to the Malvern Hills and spent most weekends exploring its craggy, well-worn paths. Since her accident, she has solely been again thrice.
“The hills are fully inaccessible to me for probably the most half. One day, I obtained sick of not having the ability to see my favorite view, so I crawled up the hill. My dad adopted, dragging my chair behind him. I did not make it to the very high as a result of I used to be so exhausted — and coated in grass stains,” she tells us from her flat in Hampshire. “Access to the countryside remains to be a battle even with an honest wheelchair.”
Stiles are considered one of Ella’s greatest obstacles. “When I went to the New Forest, the one approach I may access the trail was by crawling beneath the canine gate whereas another person lifted my wheelchair for me. You’d walk for miles and be confronted with a random stile. If they’d canine gates, I used to be capable of crawl by means of them. Some wheelchair customers climb over the gates, however I’ve obtained no steadiness so could not try this. People are frightened about ruining the countryside with paths, however paths are wanted.”
Even when Ella does discover an accessible route, unhealthy climate usually halts her plans. “When the canal floods, it brings up particles onto the towpath. Sticks and weeds get caught in my wheelchair caster, making the walk unattainable.”
Ella lives alone along with her help canine, a Cocker Spaniel referred to as Moose. After struggling to get a triple-trained canine by means of a charity, Ella determined to coach one herself. “The ready lists are ridiculous. Charities weren’t going to discover a canine that meets all of my wants.”
Moose was born in August 2020 and rapidly realized the right way to assist. “I’m additionally autistic. Some of my meltdowns are distressing, however since I’ve had Moose, they’ve modified. I’m acutely aware of how a lot I may misery him. In a approach, he helps me management my meltdown,” she tells us, simply as Moose jumps up on her lap, flashing his brown and white fur on the digital camera.
Ella educated Moose to have three foremost tasks: he’s a medical alert canine (blood stress and coronary heart price detection), an autism assist canine, and a mobility assist canine. “When I’m nervous, I generally scratch my neck. Moose is educated to identify that and will get me to cease. He holds my fingers so I can not do it. Moose additionally gives Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). When I’m careworn, he sits on my chest and calms me down.” Ella may by no means have imagined the optimistic distinction he’d make to her life.
However, proudly owning an assistance dog is just not at all times simple. “I do really feel responsible for proudly owning an help canine as a result of I can not give him the life I’d be capable to if I may walk. I do get reminded very often that he has an exquisite life and he is in all probability extra supported than different dogs. Most dogs do not have their very own bedroom and he additionally has his personal fridge and freezer. He is spoiled rotten.”
Ella joined the board at Whizz Kidz when she was 19 and has gone on to talk on the House of Lords, helped the charity obtain nominations for Disability Power 100, and was on the 2020 record of Britain’s 100 Most Influential. She frequently offers the federal government recommendation, and lately suggested ministers on the Disability Action Plan. “I’ve labored my approach up, which feels very unusual to say. Whizz Kidz has performed a lot work — I usually overlook how a lot we’re doing.”
Her present tasks embrace serving to supermarkets enhance in-store accessibility and working a bus cross marketing campaign to vary the best way passes work within the UK for disabled individuals.
Along with balancing her campaigning work (which she does as a volunteer), Ella additionally works full-time in HR and research Human Resources Management at Northampton University.
Her subsequent aim? To participate within the London Marathon in April. “Last 12 months, Moose helped me elevate money by sporting a parrot hat. He walked across the workplace carrying a QR code with a basket and raised a great deal of money for Whizz Kidz. Maybe I’ll have to do this once more.”
