Michelle lives in Lambeth and has been supported by Disability Action Services Lambeth (DASL)—a user-led organisation—which has been a lifeline for her family. Here, she shares how DASL has helped her navigate support services, and what she loves about her vibrant local community.
I’m a divorced mother, with children with special education needs, and I myself have invisible disabilities. That’s been a very big challenge for me. Communication especially has always been hard, when it comes to accessing services.
If you could change one thing about how London includes and supports disabled/neurodivergent people, what would it be?
That services should be open and support vulnerable groups. Sometimes we go back to a service with the same issue, over and over. They can think we’re demanding, but that’s not true.
It’s because things aren’t clear to us, and at the same time we’re not being supported, so we keep coming back on the same issue.
And it does take too long – it takes far too long, it’s time consuming, and that causes more distress.
A lifeline – Disability Action Services Lambeth
I first came into contact with DASL when I needed assistance. They’ve really helped me reach the services I need – doctors, things to do with my children, housing issues. There’s a whole range of support that I need, and they’ve never let me down.
Working with DASL has made me more informed, and increased my confidence in self advocacy - to ask for what I need and to actually share my experiences.
Organisations like DASL and their staff help make sure every issue is resolved, even if it takes a long time.
A changing city
I grew up in the borough of Lambeth, and I’m really settled here. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years.
Someone else may see things differently, but I think it's more receptive and there are less issues like inappropriate behaviour. There have been lots of improvements. And there’s better integration of people.
But unfortunately rent has gone up. So it’s changed in a bad way and in a good way.
Brixton is a vibrant place – and for London it’s a place we should put on the map. It’s diverse, people are happy, things are happening – it brings people together. The market has changed a lot over the years, and there’s so much to do now. There’s a bookshop, so many types of cuisine, it’s really good.
My favourite places are community spaces, like the Brixton House, Brixton Library and the Black Cultural Archives. Community spaces, places where I can increase my knowledge, and interact with people outside your home. It improves my wellbeing. There has been a whole uplift.
