Amy Clarke
"Soap operas have been a huge part of our TV schedules for years, and one of the biggest is Coronation Street. It's also the oldest TV soap - it's just turned 65 years old!
"Like all soaps, Coronation Street has covered a wide range of different stories. It's amazing how many things can happen to a few folk on a street up North!
"But for me it's always a good to see a soap challenge misconceptions and reflect real life by having characters with a disability appear. Whether they are played by actors who live with a disability or actors who don't, its important for disability to be featured. Soaps are supposed to show people's lives and disability is part of life.
"Happy Birthday, Coronation Street - keep up the representation for the next 65 years too!"
Here are a few characters with a disability who we've watched on screen over the years:
Down syndrome
Alex Warner
Alex Warner is a character played by a friend of Mencap, actor Liam Bairstow. He's a young man with
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, also known as Down's syndrome, is a type of disability. People with Down syndrome may find it hard to learn new things and may need support. They may have more problems with their health too.
, and is the nephew of Cathy Matthews, a friend of Roy Cropper. He lived on Coronation Street at number 12 but then moved into an assisted living place. He works at Roy's Rolls café and you see him in there from time to time, though he's not had as many storylines as he used to. I thought he was great; such an upbeat person and I'd like to see more of him!
Deafness
Aled Winter-Brown
Aled is the profoundly deaf son of Gemma and Chesney, and is played by a deaf actor, Joseph Wood. I think it's good when children with a disability are represented on the TV as it can give other deaf children someone they can see themselves in on screen. When I was growing up I never saw anyone like me on a programme. If I had done I would have felt more like I was part of society - we all have a story to tell!
Freda Burgess
Freda is another character who is deaf, and played the niece of Ernest Bishop, Emily Bishop’s husband. Freda arrived on Coronation Street to look after Emily. Later on she helped Gemma and Chesney with their son Aled. The actress who played Freda is called Ali Briggs, and she won the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) People Of The Year award for the "best portrayal of the lives and viewpoints of disabled people on television".
Charlie
Freda also introduced another deaf character, Charlie. She was a British Sign Language tutor and is played by a deaf actor called Vilma Jackson. She only appeared in 4 episodes which is why I don't think they gave her a last name!
She helped Chesney communicate with his son Aled when he was struggling with BSL. Again it was good to see another actor with a disability in a role like this, I don't think it needs to be in every case, but I do think it gives an extra level to the representation.
Cerebral Palsy
Bobby Crawford
Bobby was the nephew of Carla Connor, and he lived with cerebral palsy, He was the son of Rob Donovan who killed Tina Macintyre years earlier. Bobby stayed with Carla for a few years on the Street, getting involved Involved is being included in something or taking part in something. in his community A community is the people and places in an area. and had a few storylines like when he asked Lauren out, and also spent time working as a sales-clerk. He was a nice person, I thought. The actor who played Bobby is called Jack Carroll, and he originally appeared on Britain's got Talent in 2013, doing stand-up comedy when he was just 14 years old!
Ehlers–Danlos syndrome
Izzy Armstrong
Izzy is played by Cherylee Houston, who has been on Coronation Street since 2010 and works as a machinist in the underwear factory, Underworld.
Izzy uses a wheelchair because of a condition called Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. It's a rare genetic condition that can affect someone's joints and how they move. Izzy is a really fiery character, but she gets on well with most of the Street, and has a child called Jake. I really like her, she's outgoing and confident.
Motor Neurone Disease
Paul Foreman
Paul Foreman was a builder, played by Peter Ash. When he first appeared he didn't have a disability, but he was later diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, which is a life shortening illness. The show had already hinted at Paul's illness in the weeks before because he was shown struggling to recover from injuries he got in a road accident. After the diagnosis A diagnosis is when a medical professional like a doctor has said you have a certain illness or condition. , he got married to Billy Mayhew the vicar. Paul sadly lost his life to the condition in the end, and everyone was heartbroken. I found him a very interesting character and I learned about managing the condition through the show.
By Mencap
Colin Young