On Monday 13th of March in assembly, the school invited some visitors from a local charity, The Basingstoke and District Disability Forum, who are devoted to helping children of all ages with disabilities.

Helping the children of Hook Junior School to understand mental and physical disabilities, they showed us how many children cope with their disabilities and their everyday struggles.

The visitors showed us some videos of real life examples of how disabled children don’t want to be treated differently to any other person: don’t patronise them, ignore them or whisper about them behind their back.

In addition, the charity introduced a competition, open to every child; imagine an 8 year old girl called Sophie who is just about to start the school. She has Down-syndrome and is worried about fitting into our school. Our job is to write a letter to tell her how we’re going to help her out in her time at Hook Junior School.

Written by Head Girl Sophie P and Head Boy Jamie W.

The Basingstoke and District Disability Forum

The Basingstoke and District Disability Forum was set up to promote inclusion and opportunities for people with disabilities through the provision of information and bringing people together. The Forum brings together all people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers in the Basingstoke area as well as any organisations, government departments, businesses and individuals interested in disability and inclusion.

Our aims

• Improve the involvement and representation of disabled people, their families and carers
• Improve partnership working between the charity community and voluntary sector and all agencies involved in disability
• Promote greater awareness of disability within the Basingstoke and Deane community