Writers Write What They Always Wanted To Read, Don’t You Know!

When Fibi Ward was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year, she knew nothing about the condition. She found that a lot had been written about the medical aspects, but there was very little information available about the emotional side of it- and nothing aimed at children or teenagers like herself.

So she decided to write her own book, which she describes as “the book that I would have liked to have read when I was diagnosed.” She hopes that others will find it useful. The book has a very appropriate title, No Added Sugar, and contains advice as well as accounts of Fibi’s own experiences with Type 1 diabetes, the type that develops in people whose bodies can’t produce insulin.

Fibi Ward reminds me very much of myself. I was born with my disability, and have always loved reading books. Growing up, I always wanted to read books about people with disabilities, preferably fictional books that would present disabled characters positively. However, unfortunately, twenty-something years ago, such books were very hard to find. There were autobiographies of inspirational disabled people, like My Left Foot, which remains one of my favourites of all time, but there was very little fiction for children. I did, however, once discover a short story about a girl with Cerebral Palsy in a collection of short stories about school playgrounds. It was called, of all things, Same Difference. It was one of a kind in its time, though, so it stayed in my head and, years later, became the title of my blog!

Today, I like to think of myself as a writer. Most of my writing is about disability. Just like Fibi Ward, I write to raise awareness of the issues faced by people with disabilities, while sharing real experiences in a hopefully lighthearted way.  I also hope that my writing will change mainstream attitudes to disability for the better. Most of all, through my writing, I like to raise awareness of the many positive things that disabled people do, the intelligence that we have, and our talents. I mostly write poetry, which, as regular readers will know, I have recently started to share at Same Difference. Just like Fibi Ward, I write what I always wanted to read. It was not available to me, but I hope that by writing it and making it available to others, I will be able to create characters and situations that disabled people like myself will be able to identify with. I hope to be able to show disabled people and their families and friends that their feelings and worries are shared by others like themselves, but, most of all, that, inside, they are just like everyone else.

That’s why I’m impressed by Fibi Ward. No Added Sugar: Growing Up With Type 1 Diabetes is available now from all good bookshops. If you know a young person with Type 1 diabetes, I’d like to ask you to buy them this book. I’m speaking from personal experience when I say I’m sure they would love to read it.