Tom Summers is sharing his story to highlight more awareness is needed to support people with hidden disabilities which can be difficult to acknowledge as they aren't always apparent.
Tom, 34, has mild learning disabilities and only got a diagnosis when he was around seven or eight years old. He lives in an extra care scheme in Blackhorse Court, in Bristol, where there are individual flats with support on hand for our residents.
Even though some disabilities are minor, he feels they should still be recognised, and people should be given the support they deserve while anybody facing the challenge of living with a hidden disability should be valued.
Tom said: “I think I did have learning disabilities from early childhood because I struggled mixing with people even though I received the diagnosis a lot later. I’m still like it a bit now but I live on my own so it’s sometimes difficult.
“I live with lots of people like me with learning disabilities so that’s brilliant and everyone is lovely. I don’t think I would have coped if I was in a general needs home, but there was a time where I wanted to try it, but I knew it wasn’t suitable for me.”
LiveWest is committed to being fair and inclusive, supporting diversity and providing inclusion for all of its customers.
Tom appreciates LiveWest doing their bit to support disabilities and believes businesses could do more to make their workplace an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Tom said: “With me, you wouldn’t actually think looking at me that I have a disability, so people don’t understand because it’s more of a hidden disability.
“This is why I find it hard in the workplace and what puts me down is I don’t want to be put somewhere where people don’t understand it. As where I live, I get along with everyone so if I was put in a workplace with more diverse people, it would help me.
“There should be a company which supports where they could find people with disabilities a suitable job that they feel good doing and are respected doing because I enjoy working. There are lots of people out there like me, but I don’t really have anyone when it comes to work, I just think people get put off the work environment like I did.
“It shouldn’t be acceptable to mistreat someone in the workplace because of a disability so people should get on and be friendly and do their job.”
Tom enjoys where he lives and feels the benefit of having people from a variety of backgrounds and needs because it makes him feel included.
Tom is grateful to the colleagues at the scheme as he has varicose veins which puts him at a higher risk of bleeding when injured so he is thankful to a Support Worker at the scheme who saved his life after suffering an injury which caused him to bleed heavily.
Tom said: “I rang an ambulance and the paramedic said they would be five hours but there was a lot of blood coming out. So, I rang Becky downstairs, and she came up straight away I couldn’t believe how much she helped me, and she managed to reduce the bleeding and make it much better. She was great for calming me and getting towels to treat it and she’s the best staff we’ve had.”