Comedian Rosie Jones on living with cerebral palsy

Rosie Jones blasts Boris Johnson's speech on Question Time

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

“I just assumed that when I got older, if I was lucky, I’d get a job in a shop and live with my mum and dad,” Rosie confessed. She believed her parents would drive her to work every day, and that was the extent of her vision for the future. “I never saw a disabled person achieving greatness,” she stated. “And I feel that if I’d seen [disabled] characters in books or on the television, it would have allowed me to dream bigger.”

When Rosie was a little girl, she wanted to write a children’s book, and she finds it “unbelievable” that she has achieved that “dream”.

“I think the book is the thing I’m most proud of,” she told Fabulous magazine in December 2021.

“When I was four years old I said I wanted to write children’s books, so the fact that I’ve achieved that dream is unbelievable.

“The main character Edie is an 11-year-old girl who’s amazing, ambitious, stubborn, funny, loves sausage rolls and Marvel movies – and has cerebral palsy, like me.”

The 32-year-old has also flexed her writing skills for panel shows, including The Last Leg.

And, now, Rosie is a regular fixture on TV programmes, such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, QI, and Hypothetical.

Her TV appearances, however, has led to “ableist abuse”, but she deals with the negativity by believing in herself.

“I like who I am, I’m proud of what I’m doing and I believe what I say to be true,” she said. “For every abuser, there’s 10, 20 or 30 supporters.”

Cerebral palsy

The NHS says cerebral palsy is “the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination”.

The health body adds: “It’s caused by a problem with the brain that develops before, during or soon after birth.”

The signs of cerebral palsy typically become noticeable during the first two to three years of a child’s life.

Signs include delays in reaching developmental milestones, such as not sitting by eight months, or not walking by 18 months.

Little ones may seem “too stiff or too floppy”, they might exhibit “fidgety, jerky, or clumsy movements”.

There can be “random, uncontrolled movements” and the telling sign of “walking on tiptoes”.

Cerebral palsy can lead to a number of problems, including difficulty swallowing, vision issues, and speaking issues.

What causes cerebral palsy?

The NHS states: “Cerebral palsy can happen if a baby’s brain does not develop normally while they’re in the womb, or is damaged during or soon after birth.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rosie Jones (@josierones)

Cause of cerebral palsy can include:

  • Bleeding in the baby’s brain or reduced blood and oxygen supply to their brain
  • An infection caught by the mother during pregnancy
  • The brain temporarily not getting enough oxygen (asphyxiation) during a difficult birth
  • Meningitis
  • A serious head injury.

Rosie Jones is on Channel 4’s Friday Night Live, October 21 at 9pm.

The Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones (£6.99, Hodder Children’s Books) is out now.

Source: Read Full Article