Hannah: Often the kids that I go to school with, I'm usually the only one, and maybe
even the first one who's had a disability, so they're not really sure how to react. It's
almost like their brains sort of freeze because they look at the wheelchair when they first
meet me pretty much, and only the chair - they don't sort of think that maybe I can be the
same.
Elly-May: When I was younger I used to be more self-conscious around people because,
you know, I have a limp, or I was wearing a cast, or a leg splint, or something, and people are going, what's that?
Ben: Because of my speech it makes it very difficult to introduce myself, and people
in nightlife and pubs and clubs - they see me and look at me and then their first instinct
is to treat me like a normal person. Then when they get in deep conversation that then goes.
Cain: You know, having cerebral palsy or having a disability - when you're a teenager you
think it's the worst possible thing that, you know, the disability is multiplied in
your mind by many thousands of times because you're a teenager. It's like having a pimple
that, you know, it must be the size of Mount Everest that everybody is looking at.
George: When I was younger dating was difficult because I was a very shy person, and I did
not know how to approach girls, and to ask them out - or just to have a normal conversation.
Andrew: The amount of women that said to me, you are like a brother to me.
Jayme: I was always the friend, or the sister.
Julius: People's opinions about, not just our marriage, but marriage in general for
disabled people - in those days, it was like, it was a taboo thing to do, where you date.
They never thought we could live on our own, and when there was mention of children, they
were horrified.
Andrew: I was just so ready to give up hope, and then I met my wife. When I got married
that was the best day of my life because there is always someone out there for everybody.
Jo: Dating I think is challenging for everybody. You're kind of on show to the other person,
and you're going, oh do they like me, what are they thinking, or I shouldn't have said
that.
Jayme: You got to put your heart out. Everyone's hearts get broken, not just a disabled person's
heart, not just a person with cerebral palsy. If they want to understand you they'll learn
to understand you.
Cain: When I met my wife - we actually met at a party, a friend's party. I guess I was
quite taken by her straight away, and actually asked the friend whose party we were at, you
know, whether she had a boyfriend, and, you know, what was going on there? And I remember
that my friend said to me: "Cain, she's friends with everyone, she's not really your
type". And I was crushed. But, as it turned out a little while later, she actually called
me, so everything worked out from there onwards.
David: I'm a pretty good bloke and look after myself -- pumping the weights. I got
so much confidence from that, I think that I can probably get a pretty good sort if I
just find the right one.
Elly-May: I don't know if I can really blame any dating problems on my cerebral palsy.
I'd say it would be other things that would be my downfall.