A chance to share

In the jargon it’s known as “peer to peer”, the chance to share experiences with like-minded people. Sunil Peck reports on a new web venture

A web forum has been set up to enable young disabled people to socialise over issues they feel uncomfortable about discussing with parents and non-disabled peers.

The forum, Meeting Point, is for disabled people between the ages of 10 and 18 and has been set up by Scope in response to an increasing number of calls to its helpline from young people who say they feel isolated, different and misunderstood.

One user, Jhon (yes, that really is how he spells his name) Bateman who is 14, likes Meeting Point because it’s a “free and fast way of talking to other disabled young people”.

According to Jhon, the fact that the forum is hosted by a big charity has not limited the sorts of things people have been talking about. And, homework permitting, he can log on as often or as little as he likes, he says.

“You can meet new people and talk about anything in the same way you talk to your friends.”

But why would a young disabled person be more interested in Meeting Point than chatting with friends in school or using Facebook and other forums?

“It’s still quite new so there aren’t as many threads as I think there will be in the future,” Jhon says. But Meeting Point is special because everyone using it is young and disabled, so you know you’re talking to people in similar situations to you. With other websites you’d have to find those people first. Even if you’re ill because of your disability, you’d still be able to talk to people.”

Jhon has seen a range of posts, some lighthearted and others on more serious issues, including problems in school arising from users’ disabilities. “Apart from the ability to talk to other young disabled people, I like the fact that I’m talking to people I don’t know in real life and can say things I might not say otherwise.”

Jhon is excited about the prospect of more young disabled people register­ing to use the forum and bringing new topics to discuss. “There are going to be big differences between me and a 10- or 18-year-old, but when we get more members, we’ll get more 14-year-old members, and we’ll all have similar experiences as young disabled people.”

Anyone in England or Wales can register, but Scope will only authorise membership after an adult has given consent.

The forum is moderated, so anything offensive or that flouts posting rules will be deleted.

• See: scope.org.uk/meeting-point