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Guest blog: The disabilities you don't see, but we live with everyday

Published 6 October 2025

In this blog post, our Expert by Experience, Freddie Botha, talks about his hidden disabilities and how he is using his lived experience to encourage other young people in Hertfordshire to have their voices heard, during the SEND Takeover 2025.

About me

Hi! My name’s Freddie Botha, I’m 20 years old, and I’m part of the Voices of Hertfordshire team as an Expert by Experience. When I was 15, I had a heart transplant because of heart failure, and I’ve been diagnosed with Becker muscular dystrophy, which affects my muscles. Because of everything I’ve been through physically, I’ve also faced some big mental health challenges too. As an Expert by Experience, I use everything I’ve learned from my journey to help improve services for children and young people whether that’s in health, school, social care, or other areas. Most importantly, my job is to be a voice for others who might not always get heard.

I want to raise awareness about hidden disabilities, because people don’t always consider them in the same way as disabilities that are more visible to the eye. These less obvious conditions like autism, anxiety, ADHD, or chronic illness can often be overlooked or misunderstood, even though they have a big impact on day to day life. I believe that all disabilities are important and should always be recognised and taken seriously whether they are visible or not. But the only way we can truly raise awareness is by hearing directly from those with lived experience. That’s why we’re encouraging as many children and young people as possible to get involved by sharing their opinions, experiences, and creative content in our SEND takeover. Your voice has the power to change the way people think and help create a more understanding and inclusive world for everyone.

SEND Takeover 2025

On Wednesday 3rd December 2025, from 9am to 5pm, the Voices of Hertfordshire team will be hosting an exciting event called SEND Takeover 2025. This is a chance for all children and young people across Hertfordshire, with or without SEND, to share what they think, feel, and experience in schools, hospitals, and other settings. It’s a day for young voices to be heard, loud and clear. 

Get involved!

This event is all about YOU and your experiences, your voice, your creativity.

On Wednesday 3 December, you can share your content using #SENDtakeover2025 across social media. Here are some ideas of what you can post:

✍️Artwork that expresses your experience of living with a hidden disability
✍️Poems or short stories about your journey
✍️Videos talking about your day to day life
✍️Reflections on what helps, what doesn’t, and what people need to know
✍️Advocacy pieces about the changes you’d like to see

Even though the theme is hidden disabilities, we want to hear from all children and young people with SEND as your voice matters, and no one is excluded. Whether you have a visible or non-visible disability, this is your chance to share your truth.

Download the Voices of Hertfordshire SEND Takeover Toolkit for schools and agenices (pdf 588kb) for more information and details of how to get involved. 

You can submit your content in advance or post it live on the day using #SENDtakeover2025.

On the day

The event is also split into 2 live sessions on Instagram where you’ll have the chance to hear from and ask questions to professionals:

  • From 10am to 11am, directors and local councillors will be answering questions from young people with SEND.
  • From 2pm to 3pm, health professionals and county councillors will go live to answer your questions.

Schools and other settings are encouraged to join in to both sessions as it has been timed to fit around breaks or lunchtimes, so more of you can get involved.

Photo of Expert by Experience, Freddie

Freddie Botha
HCC Expert by Experience