James Andrew Taith Fawr y Dyn Bach

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-I'm James Lusted.

-I'm 26 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.

-Today, I'm visiting Menter Fachwen

-in Cwm-y-glo, Gwynedd.

-The enterprise

-offers work and training...

-..to people

-with learning disabilities.

-I'm meeting one of the workers,

-James Andrew.

-A team of people with

-learning disabilities work here.

-They design and build

-wooden items for the garden.

-Hi. Are you James?

-Hi. Are you James?

-

-Yes.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Fine, thanks.

-Good. What's going on here?

-I'm making a bird table.

-OK.

-I'm taking off the rough edges,

-so people don't get splinters.

-We have to use this now.

-We have to take care of safety,

-so we need goggles.

-Do you have goggles for me?

-Do you have goggles for me?

-

-Yes. I'll get them now.

-Thanks.

-Like me, James Andrew had a hard

-time at school because of bullying.

-But he has overcome the bad times,

-with help from Menter Fachwen.

-I've been here since 2000.

-I had to learn woodwork,

-or work in a cafe.

-I wasn't comfortable

-working in a cafe.

-So I chose woodwork.

-I build picnic tables, bird tables,

-bird boxes, bug boxes...

-..all kinds of things.

-Sometimes, people make requests.

-We make longer picnic tables

-for people in wheelchairs.

-Arwyn Williams

-works closely with James.

-He has seen James develop a lot

-since starting work.

-James came here 14 years ago,

-when he was 16 years old.

-He was shy.

-He only did a few simple things

-with ordinary hand tools.

-But he's come along excellently.

-He does a lot of work on his own,

-without any help.

-His confidence has grown.

-His confidence has grown.

-

-It has.

-He often comes to me and says,

-"I've had a good idea."

-He'll bring a sketch,

-which we try to develop.

-We work out

-how it could be produced and sold.

-So you sell items.

-So you sell items.

-

-Yes. They go very well.

-If an item is bought,

-it boosts James's confidence.

-It does. He's proud, thinking,

-"It was my idea and I made it."

-It's quite simple.

-This is the last stage.

-OK.

-We want to make more now.

-Thanks to Menter Fachwen...

-..James has developed

-his work and social skills.

-He had problems

-trusting people in the past.

-I didn't do anything,

-before Menter Fachwen.

-I was very nervous.

-I felt isolated.

-I had no friends at all, but with

-Menter, I've made loads of friends.

-I'm very happy now...

-..with the woodwork

-and with the people who help me.

-I'm very grateful

-to Menter Fachwen.

-I have no idea

-what I'd do now, without them.

-James's confidence

-has grown so much...

-..that he invites children

-with disabilities to the workshop...

-..for work experience.

-Children from Ysgol Pendalar

-come here.

-I teach them woodwork.

-They enjoy it too.

-They're the same as I was,

-feeling isolated and very shy.

-I encourage them to grow

-and be more confident...

-..as Menter did with me.

-As well as the workshop,

-there's a display area outdoors.

-James wanted to show me

-something very special.

-This is the children's train.

-This is the children's train.

-

-Excellent!

-Did you design it?

-I made that from scratch.

-I made that from scratch.

-

-Wow.

-I had the idea

-when I went to Chester.

-In the station,

-I saw a planter, a train planter.

-I thought it would be

-a good idea to make one.

-I suggested it to Arwyn.

-He was happy for me to make one.

-Have you sold any?

-Have you sold any?

-

-We've sold two.

-This is the third.

-I hope it will go,

-so I can make a new one.

-How long did it take you

-to construct it?

-At first, it took a week.

-I had to make templates

-for the next one.

-Now, everything is ready.

-It only takes three days.

-It looks marvellous.

-I'm proud of what I've accomplished

-with Menter.

-Great.

-Menter Fachwen's first site,

-Caffi Padarn...

-..is near Llyn Padarn in Llanberis.

-I'm meeting Gareth Roberts

-to learn more about the enterprise.

-Menter Fachwen was founded in 1988

-by four local girls.

-They wanted to start something.

-This small cottage

-in Cwm Derwen came on the market.

-This is where it all began.

-It's a marvellous cafe now.

-It has the best view in Wales.

-It has the best view in Wales.

-

-Yes!

-What exactly is Menter Fachwen?

-What exactly is Menter Fachwen?

-

-We're a charity.

-We come under the heading

-of community enterprises.

-Our aim

-is to realize people's potential...

-..whoever they are,

-or whatever their abilities.

-We have several sites

-around Llyn Padarn.

-There are three cafes.

-The gardening site

-is by the old station in Cwm-y-glo.

-The woodwork site is there too.

-It's a great place

-to offer people equal opportunities.

-I've seen how Menter Fachwen

-can change people's lives...

-..by giving people opportunities.

-Their confidence keeps on growing.

-Then their character

-and enthusiasm comes out.

-It's a pleasure to see people

-develop and enjoy themselves.

-It's clear that Menter Fachwen

-had a positive effect on James.

-I wanted to learn what he was like

-before working with them.

-I'm going to Felinheli

-to talk to his mother.

-What was James like as a child?

-James was a very happy child...

-..until he started school.

-But problems began

-when he couldn't do the work.

-He went to school in the morning.

-When he came home,

-he didn't have much to say.

-He was downhearted.

-I could see it in his face.

-I asked what was wrong.

-He said, "Nothing."

-He went to his room

-and shut the door.

-Nothing more.

-Was the work too difficult,

-or was it the children?

-The bullying started too.

-And when he had homework...

-..he couldn't do it.

-He was assessed a year and a half

-before starting secondary school.

-That was when they said

-he had special needs.

-But there was no name for it.

-Just learning disability.

-Just learning disability.

-

-Yes.

-Was he slightly behind

-the other children?

-Yes, five or six years behind.

-Did you receive enough support

-from the school?

-They said they did, but I didn't

-feel James had enough support.

-He was in a smaller group.

-James needed one-to-one attention.

-He didn't get it.

-They said there was nothing wrong

-with James, but there was.

-James was left behind.

-Was it hard for him to make friends?

-Was it hard for him to make friends?

-

-Yes, very hard.

-Because James was different,

-he didn't have many friends at all.

-Does he talk about schooldays now?

-Does he talk about schooldays now?

-

-Not at all.

-He wants to forget them.

-He wants to forget them.

-

-Yes, he wants to forget them.

-It was a very sad time here.

-James's father

-worked away from home.

-So everything fell on me

-to keep things going.

-I tried my best for him.

-Should disabled people

-go to mainstream schools...

-..or is it sometimes a mistake?

-It's not a mistake,

-but in James's day, it was.

-It wasn't right for James.

-It might be right

-for another person.

-But at that time, no.

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-James Andrew and the Finger On

-The Pulse group are meeting today.

-They're an advocacy group

-who advise public organizations...

-..on explaining things clearly

-to people with special needs.

-After a discussion, they report back

-with their suggestions.

-I've prepared this for you.

-I've prepared this for you.

-

-Thanks, James.

-They're discussing a pamphlet

-produced by the police.

-The new pamphlet explains to people

-with learning disabilities...

-..what would happen

-if they were arrested.

-We talk

-about the leaflets we've received...

-..and what we feel

-about the subject.

-If it's easy or difficult

-to understand.

-This one is about prison food.

-Do you believe that picture should

-be changed, to make it clearer?

-Yes, more clear.

-The pictures

-don't match the writing.

-If some of us

-don't understand the pictures...

-..they should be clearer for people.

-It looks like a takeaway pizza.

-Would you believe

-we should change that?

-What do you think about changing it?

-To what?

-Porridge.

-LAUGHTER

-Wow.

-Do they get porridge

-when they're arrested?

-Yes.

-That's one suggestion.

-I've heard they buy fish and chips

-when they're arrested.

-They go for the prisoners.

-They go for the prisoners.

-

-Do they?

-Yes.

-I didn't know that.

-You can see the police

-going in the fish and chip shop.

-I haven't seen any in Penygroes.

-The group have come to know each

-other well and respect each other.

-They've learnt a lot of new skills.

-They gain confidence and take

-different roles within the group.

-We get a lot out of the group.

-Individuals have their say...

-..and they speak on behalf

-of other self-advocacy groups.

-Do you feel confident to go

-on your own, or do you want company?

-I'm confident on my own.

-Can you go on a narrow road

-on your own...

-..without someone to help?

-Yes.

-James Andrew chaired the meeting.

-James has taken part

-by gathering information...

-..from all the self-advocacy groups.

-He collected the work together.

-Then, as chair,

-he shared the information...

-..which would then

-be passed on to the police.

-It's important.

-I find out

-what other people think...

-..what their worries are,

-and hear their opinions.

-I'm glad to hear what needs to be

-changed now, not when it's too late.

-James's advocacy work

-shows how far he has come...

-..since the difficult time

-at school.

-The family

-remembers those days only too well.

-His mother could see at the time

-that something worried him.

-I tried talking to James, saying,

-"Tell Mam if you're worried."

-He said, "No, I don't want to."

-In the end,

-I found out about the bully.

-He told James,

-"You're good for nothing.

-"Who are you? Nobody."

-How were the other children

-in school with you?

-It's difficult for me to say.

-Some of them were friends.

-Some of them weren't.

-They picked on me a lot.

-They could change.

-James's relationship

-with his sister is very close.

-Sharon was only 15 when James

-had the difficult times at school.

-She remembers

-seeing a great change in him.

-James lost a lot of weight.

-I saw that James...

-..didn't want to go to school.

-He wouldn't go out of the door.

-He screamed.

-It was sad to see him like that.

-One day, he had the accident.

-That was the final straw.

-I remember it very clearly.

-School had finished.

-The boy in front of me

-opened the door.

-He slammed the door on me.

-I tried to stop it with my hand.

-The glass shattered.

-I had to have stitches.

-This part of my arm

-was covered in blood.

-The teacher helped me...

-..and put a tea towel on it.

-In two minutes,

-it was covered in blood.

-Then the ambulance came.

-That was a big blow

-to my confidence.

-When I was 15,

-I had a tough time too.

-I thought my friends

-were my friends.

-Unfortunately, they weren't.

-All sorts of things happened.

-They called me names.

-A knife was thrown at me.

-One day,

-I was held up against a wall.

-Sometimes, it was so difficult,

-I didn't want to go to school.

-In the end, I stuck it out...

-..carried on

-and looked for new friends.

-Was it difficult

-for you to find new friends?

-Yes, at first.

-It was difficult.

-I didn't know

-who to believe and who not to.

-Like when you have stitches...

-..it reminds you of what happened.

-James was so unhappy at school...

-..his mother decided that the best

-option for him was home education.

-She knew I'd be taught.

-There were no bullies at all.

-I was happy with that.

-The name of the woman

-who taught me was Sheila.

-She taught me a lot of things.

-She taught me joined-up writing.

-I couldn't do that at all.

-She taught me to do that well

-and to spell correctly.

-I couldn't spell Caernarfon,

-Bangor or Llandudno.

-Now, I can.

-With the experiences

-your family had...

-..do you think schools, the

-Education Department or teachers...

-..should help children be aware

-that some people are different?

-What should they do?

-What should they do?

-

-Yes.

-They should include

-people who are different...

-..and not be afraid

-of people who are different.

-It's alright to be different.

-At the end of the day,

-not everyone is the same.

-One of James's main hobbies

-outside of work are trains.

-He has constructed

-a large track at home.

-This is my pride and joy.

-Wow!

-Did you build all this?

-Did you build all this?

-

-Yes.

-It's still growing.

-When did you start making it?

-When did you start making it?

-

-Years ago.

-I can light it up.

-Right!

-I'll put it on now.

-I'll put it on now.

-

-Yes!

-You've got lots of houses.

-Yes. I had a lot

-as Christmas gifts from my mother.

-I have one that makes a noise.

-TRAIN WHISTLE AND CHUFFING

-Great.

-What do you enjoy about them?

-Seeing them run well...

-..and seeing the job I've done,

-over a long time.

-You have time to yourself, to relax.

-I built them myself.

-I'm quite proud that I made them.

-As well as trains, James

-loves driving his father's tractor.

-Unfortunately,

-as well as a learning disability...

-..James has epileptic seizures.

-He'd love to learn to drive.

-But people with epilepsy...

-..can't drive without being

-seizure-free for a year.

-I help Dad

-clean the drive with the tractor.

-I take Mam's old car up and down

-the drive. That's all I can do.

-I'm quite happy doing that...

-..until I can learn.

-I want the all-clear

-from the doctor first.

-Once I get that...

-..I can start to drive.

-I hope you'll get good news soon.

-That's my hope, every year.

-But I know it takes time.

-I wouldn't want

-to have an accident...

-..if I was at the wheel.

-I understand what the problem is.

-Talking to James made me realize

-how much I take the car for granted.

-Independence is priceless.

-I couldn't do half what I do...

-..if I didn't have

-a specially-adapted car.

-It's still James's dream

-to learn to drive.

-He depends on lifts to go places.

-I'm going to pick him up

-so we can go for a game of golf.

-Hi, James. Are you ready

-for a game of golf?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-Off we go!

-Thanks.

-We'll start at number 1.

-Is it there?

-Oh!

-LAUGHTER

-Yes!

-LAUGHTER

-Someone owes you a pint now!

-Oh!

-Hang on!

-Yes!

-Two pints now!

-Two pints!

-Meeting James and his family

-has been very enjoyable...

-..although it brought back

-difficult memories for us both.

-Bullying spoils lives forever.

-But bullying children with

-disabilities is especially cruel.

-I was glad to see James's advocacy

-work and how confident he is now.

-LAUGHTER

-This course

-is tougher than it looks!

-I'd like to see advocacy

-in schools too...

-..so children can learn why

-some of us are a little different.

-But although we're different...

-..we have feelings

-like everyone else.

-We deserve the same respect

-and the same fair play.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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