In 2016, 13-year-old Liam Virgo suddenly lost his ability to walk and talk. He was later diagnosed with severe Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and became bedridden, unable even to tolerate sitting in a wheelchair. Ten years on, at 23, he’s travelling, advocating for the FND community, and still working out what “adulthood” means when so much of his teenage years were spent in a hospital bed rather than at school with friends.
In this deeply personal piece for Disability Horizons, Liam reflects on the rocky transition from children’s to adult care services, the six wheelchairs and multiple posture chairs that have marked his rehabilitation, and why he no longer believes independence means “doing everything yourself.” He explains how mobility aids and a supportive community gave him back freedom and choice rather than taking them away, and how connecting with the wider disabled community helped him build a new sense of identity after feeling isolated for years.
His message to other young disabled people finding their own path into adulthood: you’re allowed to take your own route, at your own pace — and needing support doesn’t take away your independence.
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