Sam Carlisle

Peter Beale and Lauren Branning in a waiting room in the hospital. The walls are light blue with a tree painted on one of them. Peter is standing cradling baby Jimmy and looking at him lovingly. Lauren is slumped on a sofa in the front of the image. She's staring down at the floor with a worried look.

On EastEnders, Baby Jimmy has been diagnosed with chorioretinal coloboma.

And in the latest episode, his parents Lauren and Peter, met with an Eye Care Liaison Officer.

But what are Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs)? 1/4

Pic shows Sam’s daughter Elvi doing her favourite thing, wheelchair skating. It is a sunny day in Battersea Park. Elvi’s dark brown hair is tied back and she is wearing a pink floral AC/DC t-shirt.

@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social thank you for having me on your show today, Shelagh. I can’t quite believe our SEND journey with Elvi will be over in days with families still having to go through hell for their children. 💜❤️ #EHCPs

Call for public inquiry into deaths after coroner rules suicide was ‘triggered’ by DWP The mother of a disabled woman who took her own life after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) wrongly stopped her benefits has called for a public inquiry into the years of deaths linked to…

The mother of a disabled woman who took her own life after the Department for Work and Pensions wrongly stopped her benefits has called for a public inquiry into the years of deaths linked to the department’s actions.
#DWP
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/call-for-pub...

Rail travel has become less accessible since pandemic and cost-of-living crises, researchers are told There are fewer staff at stations and ticket counters and increased ticket prices since the emergence of the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, disabled rail passengers have told researc…

Rail travel has become less accessible since pandemic and cost-of-living crises, researchers are told
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/rail-travel-...

Particularly the episodes about SEND. Eye-wateringly accurate.

Youthclubs | The Observer The lure of online misogynistic and violence is damaging vulnerable teens. A new group of youth centres is determined to turn the tide

In the wake of TV show Adolescence, let's stop wringing our hands about the threat of toxic masculinity and do something about it. Great to work with Maya Oppenheim of The Observer on this report on the role of focused youth work at OnSide youth charity's Youth Zones. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Empty spaces and unwanted freedom: When caring comes to an end - Special Needs Jungle Unwanted freedom when caring comes to an end. Catriona Moore writes of the aftermath of losing a child whose daily care structures everything

This is beautiful. Please read. www.specialneedsjungle.com/empty-spaces...

I need this book. 23 years of parenting my daughter and the trauma is laid on thicker year after year by authorities. Particularly bad at the moment as she transitions out of education to ... well, nothing.

I felt I failed my brother on day he died & hid my pain, says Traitors' star When The Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti talks about his little brother, James, his smile widens and his eyes light up. Then the tears come. He says: “James was my North Star, my world was SO mu…

I interviewed Alexander from The Traitors about his beautiful relationship with his brother & the funding raised by fans for @mencap.org.uk in James’s memory. Holidays can be tough for siblings, if you need support look at sibs.org.uk #SEND @thetraitors.bsky.social www.thesun.co.uk/health/34385...

Always excited to receive a commission from Saba. In this edition I visited Willow Dene School to see how their approach includes the whole family. ❤️💜

I love contributing to Community Living magazine. For this edition I visited a special needs college doing remarkable work with the siblings and grandparents of students.

I wonder if it’s because we’re both skaters that Teresa and I both seek adventure AND balance 🤔

Importantly??? 🤣

Elvi has a super-rare genetic condition. So our worldwide RCDP family is importantly to us. Marley from Texas is probably the most like Elvi of all the young people. So it’s been a delight to host Marley’s sister Delaney this week and for her to finally meet Elves. ❤️💜

A picture of a conference stage set up for a panel discussion, with the backs of audience members visible. Channel 4 News Sport Correspondent, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, is introducing the panel.

Really excited to be represented at the Disability Journalism Forum - and with our media lead @samcarlisle.bsky.social on the next panel. We're also sharing an SEND media toolkit for journalists disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/journalism-t... #DJF2025

Yet they keep telling us we can trust them to introduce assisted suicide

The government are at risk of making a formidable enemy - SEND parents Parents I have spoken to across the country are in shock and are terrified.

Parents are terrified the Government is going to slash rights for disabled children. My piece in Metro. metro.co.uk/2025/03/04/g...

Ministers plan major changes to Send education in England White paper being prepared as councils hope for relief from huge deficits in special educational needs budgets

The Government just picked the mother of all battles. #SEND www.theguardian.com/education/20...

That was my dad’s fave Morecambe & Wise joke, Jen and therefore mine too. ❤️

First wheels and wheelchairs spring skate. Perfect day ❤️💜a

I have this on my shelf, I’ve taken it on holiday and back and I think on a couple of work trips. But you have inspired me to actually read it, Ramandeep 🤣

Social care: First cross-party talks on reforms postponed The five largest parties in England were due to meet this week - but the BBC has learned the talks have been cancelled.

Oh for the love of God, if you can’t even agree a calendar date to discuss social care, you’re pretty unlikely to revolutionise it. Get your act together MPs. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

City law firm vows to hire more partners from poorer backgrounds

A City firm is bucking convention by aiming to have 20 per cent of its partnership from “lower socio-economic backgrounds” within the next four years

Excited about this. Self-promote away x

BlackRock Leaves Major Climate Group Amid Wall Street Exodus BlackRock Inc. is parting ways with one of the world’s biggest climate-investor groups after being targeted by Republican politicians for its efforts on global warming.

They’re not doing it on video with $900k watches, like Zuckerberg, but the way corporate US is running away from its climate commitments now Trump is in office is really significant.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Friday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...

A legacy of precise, practical skills Young people are learning heritage crafts at a charity inspired by a boy’s life and abilities. Sam Carlisle reports

At its launch party Evan Davis said "A good idea solves one problem, a great idea solves two. Sammy's Foundation solves two."
Sammy's mum has channelled her grief at his unjustified death into creating opportunities for other young disabled people. 💜 💔
communitylivingmagazine.com/a-legacy-of-...

Yes.

Wait until she learns that Cameron had sardines on toast every day in Number 10. She will lose her shit.

Busted on MOTD supporting Will’s team. Terrific match Brentford.