When I was seven I was removed from my special school for a few hours a day to be taught to read and write by my mother; and after a year and a half, I had learnt enough to spell out everything I wanted to write and say, using my eyes to choose letters on an alphabet board held in front of me. While recovering from a serious illness aged 10, I felt God had given me some extra time so I could try and make a difference for children like me in education.

In 2018 my memoir, Eye Can Write, was published and I founded my charity, Teach Us Too, envisaging an education system where all children are taught to read and write regardless of their label or disability. For my campaigning I received a Diana Legacy Award. With my charity I present to trainee teachers, teachers and other professionals, and parents; challenging assumptions and sponsoring training in literacy instruction for complex learners. Making sure the voices of special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) pupils are central to policies and decisions is my passion. I am also part of FLARE (Friendship, Learning, Achieve, Reach and Empower), the Department for Education’s national young SEND advisory group, and the Disabled Children’s Partnership young advisory group.