Shownotes - Episode 22
Growing up with a disabled sibling shapes you in ways the outside world rarely sees, as it has for Nicola Wills.
Nicola is the sister of Graeme, whose heartfelt story we first heard in episode 5 with mother Pam, and she joins us as a newly appointed patron of Diverse Abilities to share how growing up with him has transformed her world.
We hear how Graeme’s presence gave her courage, direction and a very specific way of measuring people’s true character, and why both he and his support worker Emma Wray earn a spot in her heart as ‘guardian angels’.
This episode covers:
Sibling experience growing up around disability
Resilience through love and loss
Using your platform for good
Power of dedicated care professionals
Our highlights from this episode…
“People say, ‘It must have been so hard,’ but I don’t actually know any different – that was just my normal.” – 3:55 – Nicola Wills
“We used to do the Graeme test… it was a real test of someone when they met him – their true character comes out and you can’t hide it.” – 7:05 – Nicola Wills
“People thought he wouldn’t have the capacity to be cheeky and naughty – but he absolutely knew what he liked and what he didn’t, and he was hilarious with it.” – 8:50 – Nicola Wills
“I felt like I had double the amount of talent because Graeme didn’t have it – how dare I not go after my dreams when he never had those opportunities?” – 14:35 – Nicola Wills
“Without question, he is my guardian angel, supporting me through the times when I’ve been on my knees and felt like my heart was breaking.” – 17:10 – Nicola Wills
“We’re the first women who can be, do and have it all – be mums, earn online, be fully financially independent. This is the era of the empowered woman.” – 27:00 – Nicola Wills
“Becoming a patron of Diverse Abilities has been on my vision board since I was 21 – it’s the one anchor that keeps me grounded in who I really am.” – 18:45 – Nicola Wills
“I was furious that people were paying more than a five-star luxury hotel for a ‘disability hotel’ that was falling apart – I want families to feel like VIPs, not an afterthought.” – 31:55 – Nicola Wills
“There’s not enough words, not enough money – Emma is an angel on this earth, and we’ll forever be grateful for everything she did for our family.” – 34:35 – Nicola Wills
Links & references
Nicola Wills
https://www.instagram.com/nicola_wills/
Clare Rochford
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/
Join the Diverse Abilities Team
https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers
Diverse Abilities
https://diverseabilities.org.uk/