If you are disabled or have a long-term illness, you won’t be charged VAT on products designed or adapted for your own personal or domestic use. You are not in competition with your non-disabled peers, nor a hypothetical healthy version of yourself. There is no timeline. It is not a race. The destination changes and is none the worse for it. Ruth Fairclough: ‘You can ask for help occasionally – it isn’t a sign of weakness.’ Photograph: www.roalddahl.com Frances Ryan in the 1990s: ‘You have more potential than you can dream of.’ Photograph: Courtesy of Frances Ryan

Pink Wheelchair in a Bag | Wheelchairs - Fenetic Wellbeing Pink Wheelchair in a Bag | Wheelchairs - Fenetic Wellbeing

PS: Stop wearing bodycon dresses. Buy dungarees. You look great in dungarees. Victoria Ekanoye, actor

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There are no limits to what you can do. Sure, you can’t be an elite marathon runner, or even an average one. But there is a big world out there and it is yours to explore. You will have a career you love, and spend each day with passion and purpose. Just because you don’t see anyone in the media that looks like you growing up doesn’t mean you don’t belong there. What makes this collection so special is that all these people know what they are talking about. In those darkest moments, I was surrounded by well-meaning able-bodied adults telling me that everything would change once I was older, and I used to look at them and think: what the hell do you know?

Pink Wheelchair in a Bag | Wheelchairs | Fenetic Wellbeing Pink Wheelchair in a Bag | Wheelchairs | Fenetic Wellbeing

Great adaptability of the seat: it can be moved to three different height options, 410, 435 and 460 mm. This is not always an easy way to be, but you are not drawn to easy pleasures. And yet you find joy in humble, bright things. Sunshine. The sound of the gulls. The moon at midnight. Don’t lose these things, even if no one else appreciates them – keep saving them up in your heart because one day you will weave them into stories. The most radiant and rebellious thing you can do is to fall in love with your body. And you will. You will appreciate all of your femininity, physical strength and unexpected grace. But it will take work. If you’re feeling low or sad, talk to someone. It’s so important that you share your feelings with someone you trust; you never know, they may be able to give you advice that will make life feel a little better. If being a teenager is hard for everyone, being a disabled teenager can feel like a slog. No longer protected by the relative simplicity of childhood, you are confronted with the realities of your disabled body and, perhaps harder still to fathom, your place in a profoundly ableist society. There is nothing I can tell you about how – or who – to be because you never listen to anyone. Not really.Its aluminum structure ensures a high quality and great durability over time. Its armrests are easily removable and height adjustable as are the hangers, which are adaptable for abduction. It comes in a comfortable and compact size to make it easy to move without any limitations.

Lightweight folding pink wheelchair - Elite Care Direct

Don’t be fooled into thinking lightweight design and stylish looks add up to fragility. The Candi is made from high performance lightweight aluminium, which means it is incredibly rugged. It’s capable on a variety of terrains and will soak up the bumps and jolts. Hard-wearing solid tyres come as standard, so there’s no need to worry about punctures or having to pump them up before you set off on a journey. These are not new things – you’re already aware of them – but sometimes you hide them because of what other people might think. Stop it. Those are the qualities that make you you. Be proud of them, because they make you stand out from the crowd. Memories of my own teenage years are still strong enough, 10 years on, to cause panic to rise like a wave in my chest. One of the things I most vividly remember is fear. Fear that I wouldn’t achieve anything, fear that I would always be lonely. Fear, most of all, that things would never get better. You’re expecting me to tell you something deep and profound but, honestly, just keep on doing you. Most importantly, keep on telling jokes because one day you will make a living from them. If you are not entitled to VAT Exemption please close this box and select the price that includes VAT. If you are unsure whether you are entitled or not please read our VAT Exemption Terms & Conditions.

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Things will be calmer, but not yet. There are so many adventures you need to go on first. Your determination will be your greatest asset. It will get you in and out of trouble. It will get you to exactly where you need to be. One day you will step through a door and discover you have been fighting the wrong fight. All of the years you spent refusing to be defined by your disability were only because you had been told that being disabled wasn’t beautiful or alluring, or desirable. You will learn this is a lie and that being part of the disabled community is the most wonderful, glorious thing ever. Getting the world to understand this is the real fight. You have much work to do.

Pink Wheelchair Caster Wheels WOW from AluSpin Pink Wheelchair Caster Wheels WOW from AluSpin

The body of the wheelchair is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, high performance powder coating. And in case a disabled teenager is reading this, let me add my voice to the chorus: just hold out, better days are nearly here. Don’t let anyone restrict you, doubt or patronise you. Low expectations are not a natural side-effect of disability. You have more potential than you can dream of. There will be bumps along the way, at least one particularly big one. But don’t worry. Health is not linear, it ebbs and wanes and you will ride every wave. It is OK to cry. You will laugh too. Lots. You will drink wine in gardens with friends you love. You will speak in front of vast crowds and beam over the radio. You will tour cities with bright lights and see art, plays, and music. Now that you’ve started secondary school, I know your feelings of being “different” are stronger than ever. You think you’re “the weird one” and are starting to feel a sense of acceptance that this is just the way things are.You will thrive at university. It will be a little scary to be the first generation in your family to study for a degree, and you will often be the only disabled person in the room. But that’s OK. You will fight fiercely to keep your independence, but perhaps you can ask for help occasionally – it isn’t a sign of weakness. Some people actually like helping you and get a sense of fulfilment from it, especially your family; be kind to them, as they only want to support you. If I could give you one teeny piece of advice, though, I’d say, never apologise. Naturally, you will do things that you should say sorry for, but I mean the bigger stuff: never apologise for being you. You’re loud, you’re annoying, you’re goofy, you’re disabled and (spoiler alert) you’re gay.