From the editors

Welcome to the 50th issue of DPPi. We hope that you will enjoy reading this bumper, gold celebratory issue.

Gold celebration features

Following our gold theme, we are delighted to feature a personal experience from gold medal winning athlete Tanni Grey Thompson. She writes honestly and frankly about her experience of disability and parenthood. Her down-to-earth style and humour make her description of life as the parent of an energetic toddler very readable.

Disabled mother, researcher and writer, Michele Wates has been collecting information about disabled parents and housing for some time. In this journal she draws together and guest-edits a special feature, which looks at some of the issues that face many disabled parents when they try to find accessible housing that is suitable for their parenting needs. She includes revealing quotes and personal experiences of several parents, information about useful resources, and research about housing in the UK.

Messages of support

Colleagues and friends have sent many messages expressing their support and congratulations on reaching our 50th issue. We thank you all for your encouragement and feature here a selection of messages, which help to paint a picture of some the issues that have confronted disabled parents over the years.

The start of DPPi journal

Mukti Jain Campion, founder and original editor of DPPi, writes about the need for a journal and her reasons for starting it.

When, back in 1993, I picked up a copy of DPPi for the first time I had to look twice! As a disabled parent, it was difficult for me to believe that, at last, I had found a publication for parents who also happened to be disabled.

With other disabled parents, I was keen to see Mukti's vision carried forward and became DPPi's editor in 1998. I felt that my experience as a midwife and disabled parent would enable me to continue building important bridges between parents and professionals.

The cover of DPPi No.1 featured a ground-breaking conference for disabled parents and their supporters. Since then, DPPi has continued to raise awareness and build bridges. However, as pointed out in several messages of support, there is still much more to be achieved in raising the profile of disabled parents, both in the UK and across the world.

Christine Winwood, Honorary Editor

Next: From the editors: Mukti Jain Campion, Editor DPPi 1993-98