0:00:07 > 0:00:12# My heart skip, skip, skip, skip, skips, skips a beat... #
0:00:14 > 0:00:18'When I was younger, my one wish was to be a singer.'
0:00:18 > 0:00:23Back then I didn't know I'd be an X Factor runner-up,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26I'd be selling records, or I'd be doing my own UK tour.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33'For me, the biggest hurdle was finding the confidence to get up and sing
0:00:33 > 0:00:38'in front of so many people, but many children face much larger challenges.'
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Every year, 27,000 children in the UK
0:00:43 > 0:00:46are born with or develop a disability.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49This can range from cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52autism or any other conditions that can affect or delay
0:00:52 > 0:00:55the child's development. For those families that are given
0:00:55 > 0:00:59such diagnoses, it can feel like facing a brick wall.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03'Emily's mum Michelle thought she was a late developer
0:01:03 > 0:01:08'when at 18 months Emily wasn't able to sit up by herself or stand.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12'Then the consultant delivered the diagnosis.'
0:01:14 > 0:01:16He just said cerebral palsy
0:01:16 > 0:01:19and just carried on with the conversation. I couldn't believe it,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22I just couldn't hear anything else other than that word.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Emily has a twin brother Louie
0:01:26 > 0:01:30and as they grew up, the difference between the two of them grew stark.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36When Emily was five, she started school.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39She couldn't walk independently, she couldn't dress herself,
0:01:39 > 0:01:44she couldn't feed herself, she couldn't wash herself, so she didn't
0:01:44 > 0:01:46have any independence whatsoever.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Near where I grew up is an amazing charity called Brainwave, that I'm
0:01:53 > 0:01:57a patron of, that specialises in helping children like Emily.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01For nearly 30 years, Brainwave has helped families deliver
0:02:01 > 0:02:04individual home-based therapies to help children with
0:02:04 > 0:02:08a range of disabilities to achieve their potential.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13'Harry suffers from hearing loss and a form of epilepsy called
0:02:13 > 0:02:16'infantile spasms and hasn't been developing as he should.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19'At one year old he couldn't sit up or reach to be picked up.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21'He just seemed very distant.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'Then Harry's mum and dad Donna and Steve discovered Brainwave.'
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Are you going to reach up, big reach, big reach, this hand too!
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Well done!
0:02:34 > 0:02:38'The Brainwave programme is based on the principle of neuroplasticity,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41'where functional parts of the damaged brain can be taught to build
0:02:41 > 0:02:45'new connections to compensate for an injury or impairment.'
0:02:45 > 0:02:50Here we are obviously activating his stomach muscles.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52'The programme is delivered by therapists from a range
0:02:52 > 0:02:54'of backgrounds.'
0:02:54 > 0:02:57So by working slowly on the ball from side to side...
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Lindsay and Liz design a personalised set of exercises for Harry
0:03:01 > 0:03:03for Donna to take away and do at home.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Even just for a few seconds is
0:03:05 > 0:03:09better than nothing cos he's at least feeling it through his hand.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'Donna and Harry first came to the centre four months ago
0:03:12 > 0:03:15'and have been working on their programme ever since.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17'They are back today for a reassessment.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20'Donna has already noticed a difference.'
0:03:20 > 0:03:23'When Harry first came to Brainwave
0:03:23 > 0:03:26'he wasn't able to sit by himself at all.'
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Since starting the Brainwave programme
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and doing the physio on a daily basis, he can now sit up
0:03:32 > 0:03:35unaided for perhaps 15 minutes sometimes.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Good boy!
0:03:37 > 0:03:41He's got his toy.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47'Emily's been going to Brainwave since she was five years old.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51'She's now ten and the programme has had a remarkable effect.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59'Her exercises have changed over the years, and currently focus
0:03:59 > 0:04:03'on improving her balance, coordination and range of movement.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07'The hard work has paid off, Emily is now dressing herself,
0:04:07 > 0:04:11'walking to school and playing games with Louis.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:15- Goal!- I know!
0:04:15 > 0:04:19'Her mum Michelle hasn't watched her old videos for five years.'
0:04:21 > 0:04:25The way her legs are moving there and the way they move now.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27It's just incredible - the difference.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33She's come through a lot.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I feel really proud,
0:04:42 > 0:04:48and everyone in my family feels really proud of me,
0:04:48 > 0:04:54and we all feel we are over the moon
0:04:54 > 0:04:59with what Brainwave has done for me.
0:04:59 > 0:05:05It's just amazing.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14The Brainwave programme is for children up to the age of 12,
0:05:14 > 0:05:16but the charity forms a long-term commitment to them.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19As the children grow and approach new challenges,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22many of the families continue to be supported by Brainwave
0:05:22 > 0:05:25throughout their teenage years and beyond.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32'22 years ago, Natalie was born with cerebral palsy.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35'When she was diagnosed at 18 months old,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38'doctors gave her mother Sally a very bleak outlook.'
0:05:39 > 0:05:42We were told not to expect her to walk, talk or sit up,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45that we had a major problem on our hands,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48that she'd never be normal, and basically,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51go home make her as comfortable as possible
0:05:51 > 0:05:54and consider having more babies.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58'When Natalie was two and a half years old
0:05:58 > 0:06:00'her parents found out about Brainwave.'
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Up...and down.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08'Natalie was put on a tailored programme of daily exercises
0:06:08 > 0:06:10'which covered physical and cognitive skills
0:06:10 > 0:06:14'to improve her strength, mobility and learning capacity.'
0:06:14 > 0:06:17They worked and they worked very, very quickly.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20The progression from then was to get her standing and to encourage her
0:06:20 > 0:06:23to take her first step, and we never really believed
0:06:23 > 0:06:25she'd be capable of doing that.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27- Walk to Daddy.- Good girl!
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And again. Good girl!
0:06:30 > 0:06:33'With a lot of encouragement from her parents,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36'Natalie continued to make dramatic improvements.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44'She's now 22. I've come to meet her and find out how she's doing now.'
0:06:44 > 0:06:45- Natalie.- Hello, Olly.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50It's lovely to meet you. I'm so intrigued to hear your story.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Could you explain the difference Brainwave made to your life?
0:06:54 > 0:07:02They've just completely turned my life around and made me independent.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07- I've just completed my first year of university.- Wow, that's amazing!
0:07:07 > 0:07:12Yes. I'm doing animation, a BA honours animation.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19'Natalie is studying at the University of Preston,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22'staying in halls of residence, and living the life of any 22-year-old.'
0:07:23 > 0:07:26- We should go to the beach.- Yeah.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Have you brought your camera with you?
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- Are you being good?- Yes. - Are you sure?
0:07:32 > 0:07:36- Yes.- You're not going out?- Well... - You're working hard?- Yes.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44She got a 2:1 for her first year.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46I'm going to cry now, sorry.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49It's such a huge achievement for her
0:07:49 > 0:07:53and it's the result of many, many years of hard work, but we can
0:07:53 > 0:07:57look back confidently now and say that we tried everything for Natty.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03We tried to enable her to fulfil her potential, and she has.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Brainwave work with children with all sorts of disabilities,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11autism and developmental delay.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Their programme, combined with hard work and determination,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18can have an incredible effect on a young person's life,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20quite simply transforming it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23But to help more children, Brainwave needs your help.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Please go to the website, bbc.co.uk/lifeline,
0:08:27 > 0:08:28where you can donate.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30If you can't do that,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33you haven't got the internet, then please call this number...
0:08:33 > 0:08:360800 011 011.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40And if you can't get through, please, please keep trying,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Brainwave needs your help.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Or if you'd like to post a donation, please make your cheque
0:08:46 > 0:08:49payable to Brainwave and send it to...
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Remember, if you're a UK taxpayer,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56the charity can collect Gift Aid on your donation, worth another 25%.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Just send in a note to say you want your donation to be subject
0:09:00 > 0:09:03to Gift Aid, and include the date, your full name and address.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Thank you.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:09:10 > 0:09:12E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk