This young disabled man dreamed of having a job – the system had other ideas
- Published15 October 2024
Rachel Price
BBC video journalist
“I want to contribute to society. I dream of living with friends in supported living, not far from St James’ Park, and getting a job.”
That was the message from Elliot Caswell, a 19-year-old die-hard Newcastle United fan with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, when I first met him on a flight in 2019.
I could see his determination as he was assisted by staff along the aisle – flying independently for the first time, so he could go skiing.
It was clear he had cerebral palsy, something that was important to me as my younger sister, who also had cerebral palsy, had only passed away a couple of months before, aged 23. Elliot and I struck up a conversation, and it turned out he and my sister had played together as kids.
Being a camerawoman and journalist, I asked if I could follow him as he made the transition into adulthood. Navigating the system as he did so turned out to be far more challenging than Elliot had hoped.