My earliest memories start from when we lived in Berlin where my father was working with the army. We lived in a 4 storey house with a cellar with washing machines and a big walk-in attic room. I used to shuffle around on my bottom and bump, bump, bumped myself down the stairs! The house was next to the main road and one day we looked out of the kitchen window and wondered why all the traffic had stopped – Thomas our chocolate Labrador was standing in the middle of the 6 lanes!!
I have been driving an electric wheelchair since before my memories began. My older sister Alexandra also had Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and her first wheelchair was basically a wooden box on wheels with a joystick! I had my first ride sitting behind her and soon after was able to take control myself!
When I was three I had an operation to loosen the tendons in my groin – I remember a sharp scratch in my hand then waking up after surgery thinking “that didn’t hurt much!”… I had to sleep on my back for a few months with my legs strapped in a V splint but apparently never complained about it. Alexandra and I used to go for physio at the military hospital in Berlin and we also had a week of intensive physio in another hospital further away in Germany. We had appointments at the Hammersmith Hospital in London and neither of us liked these as the physios always stretched our legs and feet extra hard!
Before I started nursery school, voluntary helpers came to play and encourage me at home. I then went to a mainstream nursery with my own helper. I sometimes went on the bus to get there and I always enjoyed that. My main memory from there is the show that we did which I was very excited about doing, but when the audience was there apparently I just stared at everyone, and afterwards said “I didn’t know there would be so many people watching”!
When I was 4 we moved back to Camberley in Surrey and I started at my First School in a class of children with special needs, in a ‘unit’ alongside the rest of the main school. I was so happy every day at school; it was such a lovely atmosphere and the playground was brilliant – I used my red box wheelchair outside and whizzed around chatting to everyone. My teacher was doing her MA researching how children related to each other in school. She asked me who my friends were at playtime, and I named children who were not in my class. When she talked to other children in the school, she found that friendships crossed over the ‘unit’ and other classes. After this, all the special needs children were moved into the main school. In my class there were three or four other children with special needs, but we all shared a helper. A lot of the time I was able to be independent which helped me feel the same as all my able bodied friends! When I was a bit older I looked after the younger children with special needs at playtime; I think this was the beginning of me wanting to be a teacher when I was a grown up! This school was a wonderful example of successful integration.
I went to weekly hydrotherapy at Frimley Park Hospital which was great fun as well as going to the local pool on Saturday mornings. Being in the water was amazing as I could walk and stay underwater for ages. I used to have to be pulled up and reminded to breathe! I also had a physio who came to school to do my exercises during PE lessons. I didn’t enjoy this as much as I wasn’t part of the main activity. This feeling now helps me understand why children I work with sometimes don’t want to leave the class for reading support with me!
We had a group of army wives who all volunteered to come each week to help at home with different aspects of my exercise routine; I loved Mrs Smith who had Dewberry perfume! On Thursdays the special needs group from school all came to the Sandhurst stables for RDA – my pony was Angel; I created a special bond with her, and carried on riding her until I was 13! Through swimming and riding I achieved rosettes and badges.
The earliest clubs I went to were Rainbows and ballet. I went to Rainbows by myself in my electric wheelchair and loved all the different activities we did. My mother came with me to ballet and held me up for the floor exercises when I lifted my legs and pointed my toes, then for the moving dances I was pushed round and I waved my arms and legs to the music!
I would encourage all young children to take part in any activities and clubs that make exercises fun, and try out other clubs to help you to make friends. All my activities depended on fantastic teachers, volunteers and friendly families who understood the importance of supporting all children whatever their abilities. Now I feel it is really important for all children (and adults) to mix with those with additional needs to create a more supportive and inclusive world!
Lizzie Baily MBE 2025
I have been driving an electric wheelchair since before my memories began. My older sister Alexandra also had Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and her first wheelchair was basically a wooden box on wheels with a joystick! I had my first ride sitting behind her and soon after was able to take control myself!
When I was three I had an operation to loosen the tendons in my groin – I remember a sharp scratch in my hand then waking up after surgery thinking “that didn’t hurt much!”… I had to sleep on my back for a few months with my legs strapped in a V splint but apparently never complained about it. Alexandra and I used to go for physio at the military hospital in Berlin and we also had a week of intensive physio in another hospital further away in Germany. We had appointments at the Hammersmith Hospital in London and neither of us liked these as the physios always stretched our legs and feet extra hard!
Before I started nursery school, voluntary helpers came to play and encourage me at home. I then went to a mainstream nursery with my own helper. I sometimes went on the bus to get there and I always enjoyed that. My main memory from there is the show that we did which I was very excited about doing, but when the audience was there apparently I just stared at everyone, and afterwards said “I didn’t know there would be so many people watching”!
When I was 4 we moved back to Camberley in Surrey and I started at my First School in a class of children with special needs, in a ‘unit’ alongside the rest of the main school. I was so happy every day at school; it was such a lovely atmosphere and the playground was brilliant – I used my red box wheelchair outside and whizzed around chatting to everyone. My teacher was doing her MA researching how children related to each other in school. She asked me who my friends were at playtime, and I named children who were not in my class. When she talked to other children in the school, she found that friendships crossed over the ‘unit’ and other classes. After this, all the special needs children were moved into the main school. In my class there were three or four other children with special needs, but we all shared a helper. A lot of the time I was able to be independent which helped me feel the same as all my able bodied friends! When I was a bit older I looked after the younger children with special needs at playtime; I think this was the beginning of me wanting to be a teacher when I was a grown up! This school was a wonderful example of successful integration.
I went to weekly hydrotherapy at Frimley Park Hospital which was great fun as well as going to the local pool on Saturday mornings. Being in the water was amazing as I could walk and stay underwater for ages. I used to have to be pulled up and reminded to breathe! I also had a physio who came to school to do my exercises during PE lessons. I didn’t enjoy this as much as I wasn’t part of the main activity. This feeling now helps me understand why children I work with sometimes don’t want to leave the class for reading support with me!
We had a group of army wives who all volunteered to come each week to help at home with different aspects of my exercise routine; I loved Mrs Smith who had Dewberry perfume! On Thursdays the special needs group from school all came to the Sandhurst stables for RDA – my pony was Angel; I created a special bond with her, and carried on riding her until I was 13! Through swimming and riding I achieved rosettes and badges.
The earliest clubs I went to were Rainbows and ballet. I went to Rainbows by myself in my electric wheelchair and loved all the different activities we did. My mother came with me to ballet and held me up for the floor exercises when I lifted my legs and pointed my toes, then for the moving dances I was pushed round and I waved my arms and legs to the music!
I would encourage all young children to take part in any activities and clubs that make exercises fun, and try out other clubs to help you to make friends. All my activities depended on fantastic teachers, volunteers and friendly families who understood the importance of supporting all children whatever their abilities. Now I feel it is really important for all children (and adults) to mix with those with additional needs to create a more supportive and inclusive world!
Lizzie Baily MBE 2025
