A woman with a neurological disorder has created a new board game to educate players about disability awareness.
Able2UK reported that Toyah Wordsworth was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia at the age of 13. Having first-hand experience on the obstacles and difficulties living with a disability can bring, she devised the Removing Barriers game to show what it can be like living with a health condition.
Able2UK said Toya, from Doncaster, told the BBC: “I hope it generally makes people more aware.”
The news story on the Able2UK website said Toyah had a number of issues to contend with while growing up, from navigating herself around school, trying to find suitable transport and putting up with “poor attitudes”.
Her mum, Mandy Wordsworth recalled: “It was the first time they’d had to deal with anyone disabled at her school.
“So it was all a learning curve for the school as well. They had to have lifts put in. I think they were worried they were doing things wrong.”
But Mandy added that the barriers did not end when Toyah reached adulthood.
“We went to get her nails done, but didn’t mention she was in a wheelchair,” Mandy said.
“When we got into the shop, they took one look and said they were busy.”
Toyah’s personal assistant, Sarah Aris, highlighted the lack of support available for disabled people in the community.
“Things could run a lot more smoothly if there was the support there from the public,” she said.
“There’s no help, nobody moves, that’s the sort of thing that Toyah’s wanting to try and put out there.”
Toyah hopes her game will make people more aware of how disabilities can impact an individual’s life and change their perspective to make society more inclusive and accepting.
“‘I just wish that people would treat everyone the same,” she said.
“I’m hoping that people are more understanding after playing the game.”