A soap storyline is shining a spotlight on the realities of living with a spinal cord injury.
Coronation Street character Tyrone Dobbs, played by Alan Halsall, sustained the life-changing injury in a hit-and-run on the show earlier this year.
The storyline has been developed with input from the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) to ensure an accurate and sensitive portrayal.
In tonight's episode (24 Nov), mum Cassie films him at a physio session at which he is almost able to walk, the first time since the hit and run car accident.
Alan, who is from Walkden, said: "The show’s brilliant at doing the research.
"The thing is with a spinal injury, though, is that they’re different for every single person."
A specialist nurse, Carol Adcock, from the SIA worked with the writers from the point of Tyrone’s diagnosis, offering clinical insight and guidance.
Ms Adcock, from Liverpool, said: "Spinal cord injuries affect thousands of people in the UK alone.
"It is indiscriminate and can happen to anyone.
"Disabled people were historically often portrayed in the media as inspirational heroes or victims.
"Not everyone is aware of how spinal cord injury can impact a person physically, psychologically, and in their relationships and everyday life.
"As one of the UK’s longest-running and most-watched soaps, Coronation Street has a unique platform to influence public attitudes and policy conversations."
The storyline focuses on injuries that do not always result in visible disability.
Carol explained that some individuals regain the ability to walk but continue to experience hidden effects, including bladder and bowel dysfunction and sexual difficulties.
She said: "This group of individuals may look like they are not disabled but still experience urinary and faecal incontinence as well as sexual dysfunction.
"Topics that society often shies away from talking about.
"This is often described as having a hidden disability."
Coronation Street also chose to explore the impact on Tyrone’s family, particularly his partner Fiz, played by Jenny McAlpine.
Both actors met with SIA vice president Martin Hibbert, a Manchester Arena bombing survivor, and his wife Gabby to better understand the personal and emotional realities of life after a spinal cord injury.
READ MORE:
- Important advice for Bolton's unpaid carers this winter
- Review: Christmas Carol at Octagon is a great story well told
- 'It rivals anything the UK’s biggest cities has to offer'-official opening of hub
Alan said: "Even just trying to negotiate getting round the set in the wheelchair has been a real eye-opener for me, so to hear Martin’s own stories about how his life has changed has been really helpful and also humbling."
Jenny said: “For Fiz trying to juggle family life and caring for Tyrone is really difficult. It was invaluable for us to meet them both and hear Gabby’s side of their story, for them their lives changed in an instant in so many ways and that is what Fiz is having to deal with whilst looking after Tyrone.”
Carol believes greater visibility leads to change.
She said: "Raising awareness often results in increased understanding and empathy, which is greatly needed."
Share