Charlotte Taith Fawr y Dyn Bach

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-I'm James Lusted.

-I'm 24 and I have Diastrophic

-Dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism.

-I live at home with my parents

-and brother Phil.

-Phil has the same condition as me.

-I don't allow my disability

-to hold me back.

-In fact, I hate the word disabled.

-In this series, I'll travel Wales

-to meet other disabled people...

-..to experience life

-through their eyes.

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-I've come for a haircut.

-I'm preparing for the series.

-I want to meet disabled people...

-..all over Wales.

-I hope the series

-will give me a new challenge.

-Sometimes,

-we take who we are for granted.

-I'm sure it'll change

-my attitude towards my own life.

-Ta-ra. Thanks a lot.

-My hair is sorted.

-I'll begin my research

-by contacting the first contributor.

-I'm in the process of

-sending Charlie Doherty a message.

-She has a radio programme on Mon FM.

-I'm told she has cerebral palsy.

-I'm sending her a message, and I

-hope to receive a positive response.

-My name is Charlotte.

-I live in Holyhead.

-I'm 23.

-Are you getting up?

-Charlotte moved into

-her own flat three months ago.

-She enjoys the independence.

-Once it's in your mouth,

-I'll switch it on, OK?

-Like that now.

-What the hell's happened here?

-What the hell's happened here?

-

-Bed hair!

-Really bad bed hair.

-Shall I put the hairspray or...?

-The hairspray.

-I wake up around 8.00am.

-There are six people

-who look after me.

-Done.

-Done.

-

-Whatever I want to do for the day...

-..if I want to go out, I go out,

-if I don't, I don't go.

-Sometimes I don't get up

-until 3.30pm!

-She loves a cup of tea

-in the morning.

-Who doesn't love

-a cup of tea in the morning?!

-The flat

-was specially adapted for her.

-A device enables Charlotte to

-control everything from her chair.

-It's called Possum,

-and she'd be lost without it.

-It's a system of controls.

-It speaks to me.

-I can do things for myself...

-..without help.

-"Reset, bed head up."

-That's how my machine works.

-Like me, drama and acting

-is one of Charlotte's main hobbies.

-She's a member of the Amlwch

-Showstoppers drama company.

-She's attending rehearsals for their

-latest show, Trouble In Pantoland.

-Whee!

-Hiya.

-There are a lot of preparations.

-We've been rehearsing

-for the show for three months.

-Being an actress with disabilities

-has its problems.

-It takes a long time for me

-to learn the script.

-It's not easy.

-It takes four strong people

-to carry me onto the stage.

-There's no ramp.

-Hey, guys!

-Acting helps me

-for about two hours...

-..then I'm back

-to being Charlotte again.

-Oh, wicked queen of Pantoland, Snow

-White is the fairest in the land.

-Charlotte loves

-performing to an audience.

-She has her own programme

-on Mon FM community radio station.

-She prepares the interviews

-and chooses songs for the show.

-How much is left?

-How much is left?

-

-About 20 minutes.

-Justin Bieber.

-I like Mon FM...

-..because I want

-to be as independent as possible.

-I think that...

-..independence is good for me.

-Elin Fflur, Y Moniars.

-Elin Fflur, Y Moniars.

-

-OK.

-Charlotte replied

-to my Facebook message...

-..and invited me on her radio show.

-I'm not normally a shy person,

-but I'm a bit nervous today.

-I don't know what Charlie Mint,

-as she calls herself, will ask me.

-But I can't complain

-about the interview.

-I'll be asking Charlotte about

-her life later in this programme.

-Welcome to Mon FM.

-I'm interviewing James Lusted today.

-Hello, James!

-Hello, Charlotte. How are you?

-Hello, Charlotte. How are you?

-

-Fine, thanks!

-Thanks for inviting me on your show.

-Would you like more independence,

-and not have to rely on Mam and Dad?

-I think I'm fairly independent.

-I have a car.

-I go out on my own

-to shop, and things.

-I hope in the future I'll have

-a house and family of my own.

-I live on my own.

-It's really hard...

-..because there's

-someone with me 24 hours a day.

-I'd like to be more independent.

-I'm Charlie Mint. The next song is

-Emeli Sande and Read All About It.

-It was a busy programme.

-There were many people

-in the studio.

-I prefer chatting to people

-one-to-one.

-I'd like to spend

-the day with James.

-So that he can get

-to understand my disability.

-Charlotte is going to a Slimming

-World weigh-in in Canolfan Byron.

-Hiya!

-I come every week to be weighed.

-All the others get weighed

-in Slimming World.

-They can step on the scales.

-I get weighed in a hoist

-because I can't walk.

-I don't like being weighed

-in the hoist.

-I don't want to be different

-from the rest. I'm off the chair.

-Stop.

-Right.

-59.7.

-Even though she doesn't

-like being weighed separately...

-..Charlotte

-admitted there were advantages!

-Have you ever considered

-lying about your weight?

-Stop on that question! Stop!

-You have to put something down.

-Does the Slimming World lady

-know you're lying?

-Yeah, she knows.

-After the weigh-in...

-..Charlotte goes home for tea

-before the Slimming World meeting.

-Is it teatime yet?

-Yes.

-Mealtimes can be difficult

-for Charlotte.

-The cerebral palsy

-has affected her stomach.

-I eat like a child.

-I feel ill if I eat too much.

-Keeping an eye on her weight is more

-important to someone like Charlotte.

-She's in a chair

-and can't move around.

-What time is Slimming World?

-Seven.

-The flat is too small for exercises.

-I'm not living in a mansion!

-It's time to meet the Slimming World

-crew to check Charlotte's weight.

-Charlie, we haven't had your card.

-Did you go through the laptop?

-No.

-We don't know what you've done!

-Charlotte has forgotten

-her weight chart book.

-There's no way to discover how much

-she's lost. Mmm. Good trick!

-What was it?

-She hasn't got the book,

-so we just have to write it down.

-Even though she's lost a bit

-of weight, she gets impatient.

-Paula, the leader,

-gives her a pep talk.

-It's hard because

-the scales are all wrong.

-It's hard.

-But you've already lost some weight.

-No matter how long it'll take,

-you will do it.

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-I'm on my way to meet

-Charlotte on Anglesey.

-It'll be interesting...

-..to chat about her life.

-I want to know how her family

-copes with her condition.

-In another five minutes...

-..we'll be there.

-I think this is it.

-Hiya, Charlotte. Are you OK?

-Come into the kitchen.

-Come into the kitchen.

-

-Thanks.

-This is a nice house.

-When did you move in?

-Three months ago.

-Was it a good decision?

-Yes.

-You can have time to yourself.

-I don't get any time to myself.

-I have a carer who comes

-every day to look after me.

-What is your condition?

-Cerebral palsy.

-My body gets spasm attacks.

-Charlotte was born

-three months prematurely.

-Cerebral palsy has affected

-her sight, legs, arms and back.

-Like me, she's had a great deal

-of physio over the years.

-Ready? One, two, three, four,

-five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

-Very good, very good.

-How was your childhood?

-Really frustrating.

-I couldn't do anything on my own.

-Have you got a brother or sister?

-Have you got a brother or sister?

-

-One sister.

-She didn't like it

-because I had all the attention.

-Frankie and Charlotte playing...

-..on the 10th of June, 1991.

-It's been difficult

-for Frankie over the years.

-Not having her to be

-involved in Charlotte's care...

-..90% of the care

-that I gave Charlotte...

-..I had to because of her condition.

-Frankie saw it as me giving

-all my attention to Charlotte.

-Anybody who came to the house,

-it was always for Charlotte.

-I didn't realize

-what would happen in the future.

-And it was really, really difficult.

-Oh! I dropped her!

-It was so complicated...

-..that Charlotte's mother made the

-difficult decision to foster her.

-She hoped it would improve

-everyone's lives.

-It's a topic that Charlotte

-still finds difficult to discuss.

-When were you fostered?

-When I was four years old.

-How does that make you feel?

-Sad.

-Sad.

-Do you maintain a good relationship

-with your foster parents?

-Yes.

-She started having respite

-one weekend every month.

-We tried different families.

-There was one family

-who were really, really good.

-They were there for the long haul.

-She started going there

-once a month.

-That was good because by then I was

-a single parent with two children.

-I started getting tired

-and unable to cope.

-Social Services agreed

-that Charlotte could go there...

-..during the week, and

-that she'd come home every weekend.

-It was great,

-it gave me the respite...

-..and time to spend with Frankie,

-which was really important.

-How is your relationship

-with your mother?

-Not very good.

-Not very good.

-

-Do you see Mam every day?

-Yes, but I can't talk about

-anything.

-I can't open up.

-Do you find it hard to see Mam?

-Are you OK, Charlotte?

-Would you like a break?

-OK.

-I found it difficult to talk

-to Charlotte and her mother...

-..about something so personal.

-It's made me aware of the effect

-a disabled child has on a family...

-..and the difficult decisions

-that parents are forced to make.

-I'm grateful

-to have a supportive family.

-They have supported me

-through everything...

-..hospital surgery...

-..school, college...

-..living in Australia...

-..sports, badminton.

-Mam and Dad

-have worked incredibly hard...

-..to give me a brilliant life.

-I'm very grateful.

-I can't thank them enough.

-Sometimes,

-it's hard to say things like this.

-But I'm proud to be able to say...

-..that Mam and Dad

-are my Mam and Dad.

-They are the best parents

-in the world.

-I often turn to Mam

-to talk about what's on my mind.

-Filming with Charlotte

-has been quite hard.

-It's opened my eyes...

-..to the different

-experiences people have.

-Charlotte was fostered

-when she was a child.

-That made me think...

-..about what you and Dad

-went through when I was born.

-OK.

-We were very lucky because

-Taid and Nain could help us.

-Granddad Wilf and Nanny helped us.

-No-one considered any other option

-with either of you two.

-We wanted to raise you

-and do our best for you.

-It has been difficult, though.

-People live differently.

-When you haven't seen how they live,

-it's hard to understand.

-But you've seen

-that it's hard for some people.

-But there we are.

-Like any young girl,

-Charlotte likes a night out.

-Her sister Frankie

-and friend Corina...

-..are helping her

-get ready for a karaoke night.

-I've had a fake tan.

-And I've had my hair done.

-And I've had my hair done.

-

-Pretty!

-It's not long before the

-conversation turns to boyfriends.

-I've had loads

-when I was away in college.

-Tongue in!

-We used to watch DVDs all night

-and just chill out and chat.

-I'd like to get married...

-..and have children...

-..if I found the right person.

-Do you hope

-to find a boyfriend tonight?

-I'll try.

-Charlotte and Frankie are close now,

-but it wasn't always so easy.

-As a child, Frankie

-was quite envious of her sister.

-I didn't understand why Charlotte

-was getting so much attention.

-To me, she was normal.

-As I grew older, I understood why.

-When you're younger, early teens

-especially, people are really nasty.

-People were picking on me

-because of it.

-After a while,

-you just sort of get used to it.

-We used to fight something shocking.

-I mean really want to

-rip each other's hair out.

-She can be really nice

-and really caring.

-Family and friends

-mean a lot to Charlotte.

-But yes - she's very opinionated.

-If you do something wrong,

-she'll tell you about it.

-Charlotte wants her mother

-and foster family to hear her sing.

-Can I have a hug?

-You're beautiful, honeybuns!

-We got to know Charlotte as foster

-parents, when Charlotte was four.

-She still comes

-for tea on Thursdays.

-Like every child, Charlotte

-goes through different emotions.

-Thanks!

-Of course, she gets frustrated.

-But she copes.

-She sees how lucky she is.

-Cheers, everybody.

-Charlotte is quite a karaoke queen.

-I've decided to come to hear

-her sing and meet her family.

-Hiya, Charlotte. Are you OK?

-Are you having a good night?

-Yes, thanks.

-You look nice.

-You've put your hair up.

-Who are you with?

-My family and friends.

-I've met your mother.

-How are you doing, Val? Are you OK?

-This is Olwen.

-This is Olwen.

-

-Hi, Olwen. Are you OK?

-What are you drinking?

-What are you drinking?

-

-Sambuca.

-You've hit the hard stuff!

-Yes! Pass me my drink, please.

-Yes! Pass me my drink, please.

-

-No problem.

-Thanks, James.

-Dutch courage!

-A confidence booster!

-Elin Fflur from Anglesey is one

-of Charlotte's favourite singers.

-# There is something about you

-# That I can't explain

-# Something about you

-# That makes my heart beat

-# You are the strong arms

-# That silence my fears

-# Oh!

-# Oh!

-# Something about you #

-CHEERS

-The programme has been interesting

-and, at times, difficult to make.

-I've met a girl

-who's had difficult experiences...

-..as well as good experiences.

-Charlotte has a strong personality.

-I hope Charlotte's

-dreams come true.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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