HELEN WHITEHEAD FOR THANET
Hello; I'm Helen, and I am a disability advocate, healthcare and education campaigner living in Thanet.
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I am a thirty seven year old education professional, and I am determined to make our society more democratic, more representative and more responsive to the needs of citizens. I became disabled due to Ehlers Danlos syndrome and spinal arthritis five years ago. Roughly twenty per cent of our society has a disability, and yet only one per cent of MP's are disabled and there are huge difficulties to surmount to become a public representative when disabled. We cannot hope for true representation of issues relating to disability with so few voices actually in local politics and Parliament with life experience of it.
My life changed utterly with the onset of my physical disability. Moving from a full time Deputy Head to having no security in either health or income broadened my world view rapidly; and I will change how our society currently treats those with disabilities in order to make life better for those who are voiceless now, and for those who will come after us. We are disabled by society, not by our bodies.
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I grew up in Broadstairs and Ramsgate, made my home in Cliftonville, have family in Birchington and am absolutely determined to make the changes we need to see here as I am now bringing up my son in the place that has been my home for nearly thirty years.
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I am passionate about education, the nationalisation of essential services, the separation of care from profit, and providing the underpinnings to ensure that people remain hopeful, healthy, and connected to political processes.
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