Raising awareness, breaking down barriers and dealing with the difficulties of being disabled, but refusing to be downtrodden, are all the sorts of issues Lisa Tyte and Rob Dunger are determined to tackle, as Nub News community reporter found out when she learnt about DIScoverABILITY in Felixstowe.

One of DIScoverABILITY's main aims is to break down stereotypes through their work, explained Spotlight in Felixstowe's Lisa and Felixstowe Radio presenter Rob..

One such stereotype is the associations around hidden disabilities.

"We are very focused on invisible conditions and disabilities," said Lisa: "That's something that comes up a lot with people who get in contact."

Lisa shared her own experiences with society's assumptions of disability and the need for education. She said: "I use a wheelchair, which I like to call my freedom machine. I can walk a little bit but it's extremely painful and my balance is absolutely naff.

"When I get out of my car, I hold onto the car and I waddle around to get into my wheelchair. Sometimes people look on and think 'you're a fraud if you can walk, you shouldn't be in a wheelchair.'

"It's about educating society in any way we can to try and make life easier for people with disabilities.

"I've parked in blue badge spaces and had an angry car parking attendant knock on my window and have a go at me for parking there and writing out a ticket. So I say, 'I'm really pleased you're here, can you help me get my wheelchair out the car?'

"It's trying to encourage society to think before they act and not to be judgmental."

It is also important for them that they offer education and guidance to those who do not have disabilities in a non-judgmental way.

Rob said: "If there is someone pushing a wheelchair, they are not the ears of the person who is in the wheelchair. Speak to the person in the wheelchair and you don't need to shout.

"I'm not criticising those people because I do it myself. It's just about educating. They're not doing it wrong because to do it wrong, you'd have to know what is right. They've just not been guided the right way."

As for other stereotypes, they want people to recognise that disability is on a spectrum and highlight the vibrancy of disabled people.

Lisa said: "One of our DIScoverABILITY buddies, he's a brilliant photographer but he's also severely visually impaired.

"Leo, for example, his cerebral palsy causes extreme involuntary muscle movements and his speech is affected but he runs his own very successful business. I work and the amount of people who see me in the street and say 'you obviously don't work.' Yes I do work but I just have to do it sitting on my bum.

"It's highlighting the positivity and the vibrancy of people who do live with different conditions and saying 'we're not a bunch of miserable people, moping in the corner.'

"We're just like everybody else trying to live a normal life, a usual life as well as we possibly can."

Another key focus of DIScoverABILITY is mental health and offering support to people who need it.

Rob said: "This year has screwed up so many things. We want to pick up those good things that are flying around because people are talking about it."

One of the 'good things' is the helping hand that DIScoverABILITY offers in helping people deal with the ups and downs of life.

Lisa said: "We do very much focus on mental health because, with physical health, it's all intertwined. Mental health is vitally important and part of DIScoverABILITY is to show that we're there for people and the rollercoaster of life.

"You enjoy the views from the top but you know it could come down.

"With our DIScoverABILITY buddies, no one can stop that rollercoaster, but we can sit in that rollercoaster cart with you. It's about holding onto your hand and keeping you in if it gets scary and just being there while you're going through it.

"We have a laugh together; we have fun together but we're also there when the rollercoaster goes down."

Another stereotype they want to break down is the 'it's not that bad' mentality some may have towards others with mental health.

Lisa said: "Somebody saying something like that, it's encouraging you to hide it and to push it down; that's not healthy. Actually being able to talk openly and having that safe space to talk openly, that is better rather than somebody trying to invalidate the experience you're going through.

"That's what we're proud to offer, to be a pair of ears."

*Read all about how DIScoverABILITY came about and the secret of Lisa and Rob's relationship and background, tomorrow only on Nub News...

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