“I want to ensure that other People with lived experience are valued and rightly compensated for their unique and valuable insights. So often many assume my input would be voluntary, but I try hard to advocate and educate potential partners of the importance of remuneration. It acknowledges the time, effort, and expertise contributed by people with lived experience. For me, this recognition not only ensures that I can continue to pay for the ongoing expenses but because I feel more valued,  I want to contribute more!”

Emma Gee.

I was adamant about still having some control over my new home. I refused to listen to therapists’ recommendations that I purchase an electric scooter to replace the rusty manual silver car that I no longer could drive, or modify my bathroom and install rails around my new home. In my state of denial I continued to stubbornly believe that putting in ugly disabled equipment was a waste of money and unnecessary when I was on my way to a 100 per cent recovery. Accepting any modifications to my home symbolised permanency and disability confinement, and suppressed any chance of hope. Those around me would assume I was no longer improving. I don’t think my therapists understood my state of mind, and often took my refusals personally. Of course their suggestions were right and in fact did seed the ideas. For example, after a while of getting around in cabs and trams and depending on lifts, I decided that a funky- looking scooter would improve my independence.