Susan Boyle performing in Britain's Got Talent 2009: Photograph: Ken McKay/Rex Features
Unfortunately, many people don’t seem to understand what a learning disability is – and that includes the producers of Britain’s Got Talent
As someone with a learning disability, it’s been great to see Susan Boyle getting so far on a talent show. You rarely see people with a learning disability in the media, and in the last few weeks Boyle has rarely been out of it.
But, like anyone who is put in the media spotlight, she has found it hard to deal with her new fame and growing media attention.
The main problem is that the general public don’t understand what a learning disability is and how it affects a person’s life. And that includes the producers of Britain’s Got Talent.
Learning disability is an “invisible” disability; people don’t understand it because they can’t see it. A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops, and in Boyle’s case was a result of being starved of oxygen at birth. Having a learning disability does not mean you have mental health problems or dyslexia.
As someone with a learning disability I find it harder to communicate and learn new things. I might need support making sure I’ve understood something correctly and help when I’m in new situations. This support has enabled me to get a job at Mencap and have a successful career – an opportunity that so few people like me are given.
Some people have suggested that people who have a learning disability, such as Susan Boyle, should be stopped from going on Britain’s Got Talent. This would mean denying 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK the chance to take part and have the same opportunities as everyone else. This makes no sense and is discriminatory.
What is clear is that the Britain’s Got Talent team at ITV need to provide support for all their contestants based on their individual needs. You only have to compare 10-year-old Hollie’s inability to cope on stage with Shazeem’s confident performances, to see that the needs and abilities of each individual are different – irrespective of age and talent.
Clearly the fact that Susan Boyle has a learning disability means that she needs more support – and she is obviously in need of a break before she takes her career forward.
But we must not forget why we all fell in love with Boyle in the first place. She is a very talented singer, and when compared to some of our other superstars – who throw a wobbly because their changing room flowers are the wrong colour – Susan’s behaviour has been far from “eccentric”.
Susan Boyle has the potential to be an international superstar – she just needs the right support to get there.
• Ciara Evans is a spokeswoman for Mencap
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