In September last year, it was announced that Birmingham City Council had gone bankrupt and that there were going to be cuts.

In February this year, I was asked by Joe if I minded doing an interview for the Guardian newspaper, and I said that I didn’t mind. I asked if I could have the interview on zoom just in case I couldn’t hear, as I would be able to use the subtitles. It turned out okay, Jess’s voice was fine for me to understand I always worry about talking to new people in case I can’t hear their voice.

On Monday the article got published in the Guardian and I was really excited and proud. I was sending everyone I know the link. I was at the caravan in Wales and although it wasn’t a workday, I was checking my work emails to see if it been published. I was so excited I couldn’t stop checking my messages.

I saw a message from Ginny. I was thinking is this a spam, is it right, is it serious and asked mom to check. Even said to Ginny is this serious I was in so much shock, Good Morning Britain wanted to interview me the next day Tuesday, mom felt well enough to travel, so we packed really quick and came home early. Halfway home from the caravan we had the disappointing news that Good Morning Britian cancelled.

I was feeling really stressed and disappointed about this even though I was still proud of the newspaper article.

On Tuesday morning Ginny let me know that 5 radio and 5 news, wanted to interview me, I had a telephone call first and they said they would phone me back to see if they wanted to the live interview, but they said no. I was so disappointed again, but Ginny was so supportive of me, asking if I wanted carry on. She knows how much I can’t cope with change, but I wanted to carry on to be a voice for CASBA. Then finally all the stress was worth it – the BBC wanted me you can’t get bigger than the BBC and it was the national news.

I’m extra proud of myself because of my learning disability. As I said, I find change really difficulty, and there has been a lot of change happening. I coped with everything well and was able to talk to the BBC and get my voice heard for everyone I work with.

I know how hard life is with a disability and how much harder we have to fight, especially parents with children with special needs making sure they have the right education and support – it is a constant battle!

I wanted to be a voice not just for the citizens I support on our parents project and Link group but for all the citizens at CASBA, and people with disabilities and families everywhere in Birmingham.

As I said, I think the council have been really useless with money and not thinking about how they have been spending it, while we are left struggling with the cost of living.

We, the disabled community, are invisible, but the council needs see how much they are affecting us.

I want to thank Joe and Ginny for all their help, and support. Joe got everything started by contacting the Guardian journalist and Ginny the rest of the journey. CASBA is an inclusive place and I can’t thank them enough for all the opportunities they have given to me and for all the kind words CASBA staff, trustees and the citizens have given to me.

Jennifer Brown