A Co Fermanagh woman’s drive to create a safe space for adults with disabilities to socialise has provided hundreds of local people with a welcome boost since it began four years ago.
Inspirational Shelley Cowan, who was bedbound with a rare muscle condition for 12 years before making a miraculous recovery, set up Just Us in Enniskillen in 2019 to provide functions for local people with disabilities.
The group hosted its Easter party in the Enniskillen Hotel this week, with a packed room enjoying live music from Co Tyrone band Bitz n Pieces.
READ MORE: NI woman confined to bed for 12 years making most of life after miraculous recovery
“We started it once a month on a Friday evening to give adults with a disability a social inclusive environment so they could let their hair down,” Shelley told Belfast Live.
“It is just a brilliant environment to feel the confidence of being together. It’s absolutely amazing the friendships that are in this group.”
Just Us founder Shelley says her own personal journey has driven her on to provide a social space for those with disabilities to go out and enjoy themselves, something which she says didn’t exist locally beforehand.
“It’s been a long journey, it’s 25 years this year. I was bedbound for 12 years and wheelchair bound for 12 years,” Shelley says.
“Once I got into the wheelchair I was just trying to get as much independence back as I could.
“I probably did far too much more than what it was safe to do, I did indoor skydiving, I was putting myself into everything.
“I have a voice, which a lot of people don't have. A lot of adults with disabilities can't tell people what's needed in society and I just feel there's such a gap for us.
“We are just normal people and we just want to get out there and be independent. Unfortunately in society not all places are safe and inclusive.
“I just knew there was such a gap to give people an opportunity to enjoy life like everyone else, to get dressed up and party like everyone else.”
The group's chairperson, Margaret Rooney, hailed Shelley and all the volunteers who go out of their way to ensure all of those involved are made to feel welcome.
"We're all part of it but at the end of the day everybody has such respect and admiration for Shelley," Margaret says.
"She would be the driving force now behind it all. To give them a purpose, to give them a meaning to get up and out and about and mix.
"My daughter has met so many people here that she would never have met only through starting the group."
Shelley added that she herself was surprised by the impact that Just Us has had on so many people in Co Fermanagh.
"I didn't think music had the ability to do this," she says. "I knew music was a release to people, but I didn't realise that it did so much, everybody is just coming out of their shell. It's unreal."
Video by Harry Bateman
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