Interview: Your Story
Sharon and David Fry have two children, David, 27, and Lisa, 22. David has a learning disability and is employed by United Response. Sharon and David told us:
"David has had to overcome many obstacles and challenges during his life. He attended a special needs school in Hammersmith due to his learning disability. As David was a very active and outgoing child we tried to find ways for him to socialise outside school and the family. We introduced him to a boys' club and this was when David's communication issues became more apparent to us and we soon found out, to all our great disappointment, that children and adults did not understand his needs.
When David finished school we did have concerns about his future and, with the help and support of his school, we found a college course which helped identify his skills and abilities. At the end of the course, Rathbone Employment offered him a job at Fulham Football Club. As David is football mad this was perfect.
This was when we were introduced to United Response as they ran the cleaning contract for Fulham FC. After a while, David was offered a job by United Response at their Putney office. Everybody made him feel very welcome and he settled in quickly to this change, which he found strange and difficult at first. Since then David has learnt many new skills and his confidence has grown. He has given speeches at events – including one at the House of Commons, has taken part in producing a film about challenging discrimination, and has taken part in fundraising activities amongst many other achievements. He has been promoted several times and is now the Communications and Fundraising Assistant.
We are all very proud of him. He has turned out to be a well adjusted young man. He works very hard for all his achievements and to fit into society, despite his learning disabilities. He is always up for a challenge and we are always getting compliments from people telling us what a great person he is. David is a credit to himself and an inspiration to others like him and a great advertisement for United Response.
We would like to thank everyone within United Response who, over the years, have given David the support and encouragement to become the person he is today."