HARVEY Price has joined a talented crew of myth busters planning to smash taboos, challenge misconceptions and boost representation for people with learning disabilities.
Harvey, son of model Katie Price and ex-footballer Dwight Yorke, is one of 18 'Myth Busters' championing people with learning disabilities as part of learning disability charity Mencap’s latest campaign – launching today.
“Harvey is feeling happy and handsome,” says the 19-year-old college student in Mencap’s campaign video, which he stars in with mum Katie.
“Harvey can do lots of things!’
MAKING CHANGE
It’s human nature to want to see people that look like you on telly, in films, on magazine front covers, catwalks and playing sell-out gigs around the world.
But for the 1.5 million people living with a learning disability, representation can be virtually nil.
Mencap and its 18 Myth Busters are planning to change that though.
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Harvey is joined by some big names from the worlds of fashion, sport and TV, like Gucci model Ellie Goldstein, Line Of Duty actor Tommy Jessop and CBeebies presenter George Webster – who became the first ever children’s TV presenter with Down’s syndrome.
Campaigner Heidi Crowter got involved because, she says: “I love being a voice for those who can’t speak.”
Andrew Self, star of BBC's The Greatest Dancer, is planning to lead by example: “I show what people with a learning disability can do.”
And together they’re tackling some major misunderstandings and myths around learning disabilities.
“One myth is that people with Down's syndrome are always happy, but that’s not really the truth, is it?” says George.
“My teachers said that I wouldn’t get a job,” says Aisha Edwards, an usher at the Old Vic theatre in London. “I did prove them wrong.”
“People like me can run a business,” adds Welsh baker and Special Olympian Michael Beynon, while Jenn, mum to Alastair Smith, a skater and raver says “non verbal doesn’t necessarily mean non understanding.”
Self-confessed joker Nigel Smith says it’s important for people to “understand the difference between care and support [for people with a learning disability].
"I love being independent. Supporting me means teaching me to do things myself, not just doing them for me.
"It helps me live my life.”
Ellie meanwhile continues to demand more from so-called traditional ‘beauty’ standards.
“When they find out that I am a model, they are surprised by that," she says.
"They can see now that I am confident and I’m inspiration to them.”
SHOCKING STATS
Mencap and the Myth Busters are committed to making change, and more representation is sorely needed.
According to a recent Mencap survey, two thirds of people in the UK can’t correctly identify a learning disability as a reduced intellectual ability – 40 per cent of people think it’s dyslexia and 28 per cent think it’s related to a mental health issue.
Meanwhile two in five Brits (42 per cent) haven't seen someone with a learning disability in the media in the past year, with a third (33 per cent) saying they’d feel more comfortable talking to someone with a learning disability if they saw them in the media more often.
And as the Myth Busters show, it’s not like we’re short on talent.
Photographer India Whiley-Morton – daughter of radio DJ and Mencap ambassador Jo Whiley – grew up with her Auntie Frances who has a learning disability.
“She is the life and soul of my family,” says India, who’s spent her whole life helping out at the nightclub her Grandma runs for people with a learning disability, “dancing with the people and generally being very involved in the community.”
India captured all 18 Myth Busters on camera and the photos are fantastic, full of fun, joy and confidence.
Give It Back
THE Sun’s Give It Back campaign – backed by model Ellie Goldstein – has won 10,000 extra respite places for families of disabled youngsters.
The Sun has campaigned for Government to give back the annual funding cut from hundreds of thousands of families of disabled kids, which last year rose to a shameful £573million.
An extra £30million will be given to councils for the 10,000 additional respite places from April.
There’s Ellie, arms in the air, her hair flying and with a huge grin on her face; football coach Sas shows off the star shapes she’s had shaved into her head (“I want to show people that people with learning disabilities are all stars ”); Michael is in the kitchen in a cloud of flour as he gets baking, and activist Brendan Chivasa is making himself heard with a megaphone.
“Working with the Myth Busters was amazing, because there was a lot of dancing and singing,” says India.
“It was just so incredible to hear everyone’s unique story.
“They’re some of the most exciting, vibrant, loud, sweet, tender, brilliant people I’ve ever met.”
Edel Harris, chief executive of Mencap, said: “Each and every one of these Myth Busters are amazing and I can’t thank them enough for joining the Mencap family.
“To have this diverse group of unique, talented, interesting, energetic, and fun people on board to help us shatter misconceptions, reduce stigma and campaign for societal change and greater inclusion of people with a learning disability is a real pleasure and privilege.
“We want the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives and I’m delighted the Myth Busters are helping us to make this a reality.”
Marathon runner and Myth Buster Freddie Latham says it best: “People with a learning disability can teach the world about living life to the fullest, everybody has different abilities, and we are not all good at everything, but we all have our good bits.”
MEET THE MYTH BUSTERS
Harvey Price
Harvey Price’s mum Katie was told he'd never walk or talk, yet Harvey has defied the odds and has recently started at a residential college in Cheltenham.
Harvey loves painting pictures of frogs and has a passion for train announcements.
Andrew Self
Andrew is a dancer whose audition on BBC's The Greatest Dancer, brought Cheryl to tears.
Currently a member of Matthew Bourne's Cygnet School, Andrew is a dance assistant with Tailfeather Dance and is also a hairdressing assistant.
Catch some of his best moves on his social media channels.
Daniel Wakeford
Daniel is a singer-songwriter from Brighton who starred on Channel 4’s series The UnDateables.
He describes himself as a ‘rock-popstar with autism’.
His band is called the Daniel Wakeford Experience.
He’s releasing a new album in 2022 and would love to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest one day.
Ellie Goldstein
Model Ellie made history in 2020 by being the first person with Down's Syndrome to represent fashion megabrand Gucci.
She was also awarded Glamour Magazine's 'Gamechanging Model of the Year' Award, after appearing on their front cover – another first.
She loves being on camera, dressing up, going out to Nandos and her new baby nephew, Blake.
George Webster
Actor, dancer and CBeebies presenter George is passionate about disability representation on stage and screen.
He’s studying for a performing arts degree alongside working with national theatre group Separate Doors, and Yorkshire Dance.
You’ll also find him doing ParkRun.
He said: "I want to show that we are just people; we feel the full spectrum of emotions just like everyone else."
Heidi Crowter
Heidi Carter (nee Crowter) made history in 2021 by being the first person with Down's syndrome to spearhead a national campaign to try and change the law surrounding the abortion of babies with Down's Syndrome.
Heidi married her partner James in 2020 and they live independently, with support, in Coventry.
Jessica Jane Applegate
Paralympic swimmer Jessica Jane is a world record holder and multi gold medallist.
She’s also been invited to trial for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which after a decade of campaigning, have finally allowed female athletes with a learning disability to compete in the S14 classification – it was previously open to males only.
Sarah Gordy
Sarah has starred in everything from The A Word and Call The Midwife, to Upstairs Downstairs and Peak Practice.
The telly star is also a professional model and dancer, and is appearing as co-lead in Ralph & Katie o screens later this year.
Tommy Jessop
Tommy is a multi-award-winning British actor but you’ll probably know him as Terry Boyle in BBC’s Line Of Duty.
He was selected for the prestigious BAFTA Elevate programme and was the first actor with Down's Syndrome to be cast in the lead role of the touring production of Hamlet.
Aisha Edwards
Aisha proved her school wrong when, working with Mencap's employment team, she landed her first job at the Old Vic Theatre as an usher – which she loves.
Alastair Smith
Teenager Alastair adores gigs, people watching and kayaking and surfing.
He’s happiest on the beach and runs a creative print-making and t-shirt printing shop called Smiling and Waving.
Jenn, Alastair's mum, said: "Alastair is a typical eighteen-year-old. He likes to be spoken to in an age-appropriate way, though sometimes he gets spoken to as if he’s in pre-school.
"He likes going to gigs and festivals with his mates and dancing around.
"He likes triking and surfing and skating and people-watching.
"People are often surprised at what he gets up to and how much he gets up to, but our response to that is that we figure all 18-year-olds are rather busy…"
Brendan Chivasa
Brendan is an activist, karaoke legend, Arsenal fanatic and lives on his own in Supported Accommodation.
He’s passionate about sharing his experiences, achieving equality and breaking down stigma towards people with a learning disability.
He said: "I want people to know I’m always happy. I never give up at all. I always try my best to do what I need to do."
Freddie Latham
Runner Freddie not only completes marathons with his dad, who he calls Grumpy Nick, but also volunteers at a farm and lives in supported living accommodation in West London.
Michael Beynon
When Michael was born, his mum was told he’d likely spend a lot of his life in a wheelchair, but the baker (of Coalpit Welsh Cakes) and Special Olympian defied the odds.
In 2021 became the first man in Wales with Down Syndrome to run the London marathon.
Nigel Smith
Nigel is a people person – he’s super sociable and fun, likes magic and joking around and lives in a houseshare with his best mates.
Nigel recently finished cancer treatment. He said: "I also want to see more people like me on TV; that would be brilliant."
Sas Granville
Football coach Sas teaches young people to play football and helps them gain confidence on and off the pitch.
She also volunteers at a Mencap charity shop and for another local learning disability charity, Superstar Arts, where she makes and sells artwork.
She also advocates proudly for LGBTQ+ rights.
She said: “The thing I’m most proud of in my life is being a Myth Buster and being in Cosmo magazine recently talking about my life and dating [with a learning disability].”
Sophie Potter
Sophie is a former nursery assistant and waitress and loves going for a dance with her sister, especially in sparkly outfits.
She particularly enjoys sipping pina coladas on a sun lounger, preferably with a straw and an umbrella in it.
Sophie said: "I hate being called cute [because I have Down’s Syndrome]. I am gorgeous and sexy and fun. Not cute."
Tara Halvi
Tara is a swimmer, horse-rider, trampoline fan and gymnast – as well as an artist.
She creates designs for ARTXV, the first NFT collective for neurodivergent artists, which her sister founded to showcase the diversity and creativity that exists in the community.
For more information on The Myth Busters, visit: mencap.org.uk/mythbusters.
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