Tom Thacker

Tom is an adult with learning difficulties and Aspergers. He has worked hard on independence and last year moved into his own flat. In the day he works for Mencap as a cleaner at a Special Needs Centre in West London. He is very fit, playing football once a week, going to the gym every Tuesday, playing tennis on Thursdays, swimming on Wednesdays and power walking on Monday afternoons. He is also a keen canoeist. He regularly runs a stall for learning Disability week, this year covering bullying, and on Fridays he helps run a social enterprise cafe in Ealing. He has worked as volunteer cleaning communal areas in old people's homes. He was voted a representative for independent living on the Ealing Learning Disability Partnership Board, which sits every week and then he reports back to the community. Through hard work and determination Tom has immersed himself fully into the community.