National Storytelling Week, February 2026

By telling your story, you can claim voice and power. What could be more important if you’ve been denied that your whole life?

Ella's a fantastic advocate and a fantastic storyteller ... So I was like, "that's a skill, a really good teaching skill". Sapphire, Trainers with Experience

But there's more to it than that. If you have a learning disability, taking ownership of your story helps understand the support you might need, and gives you more power over how you’re supported. This is what being a Trainer with Experience is about: because no one knows you, and what you need, better than you do.

In this video, released for National Storytelling Week 2026, Ella shares her experiences of being bullied because of her learning disability and her sexuality. But she has claimed voice and power by telling her story – both through writing and illustrating her book, and by becoming a trainer in L’Arche.

Her video is a testimony to how, by speaking up and owning your story, you don’t just empower yourself. You can help build more inclusive communities for everyone.