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'You don't have to be alone if you have a disability'

BBC Amy and James sit on a yellow sofa in front of a wooden table. Amy is on the left and has a light blue shirt on and is wearing glasses with a purple frame. Her brown hair is tied back and she's leaning towards James. He has a pink t-shirt on and has a shaved beard. His arms are crossed on the table.BBC
Amy (left) and James (right) want to show others that disabilities should not hold them back from finding love

A Jersey couple with learning disabilities want to inspire others with similar conditions to find love.

James and Amy are both supported by the care and support charity for adults with learning disabilities Les Amis and are preparing to celebrate their fifth anniversary in February.

The charity helped them meet and supports them with their independent living.

The couple met in 2019 and connected during lockdown before moving in together.

James stands at the bar with a glass in his hand with a white straw coming out of it. Amy is behind the bad and they're both laughing. Slightly blured in the foreground are some drinks shakers and measurers.
James and Amy met in 2019 and sometimes meet at The Square bar where Amy works

Amy said: “We talk to each other about our problems and everything else”.

“Love will come along, it doesn’t matter if you have a learning disability or not, as long as you’re happy.”

James said he likes going to parties with Amy and going away together.

“You don’t have to be alone, you can have friends and be together with people you love even if you have a disability,” he said.

Amy works at The Square bar in St Helier with general manager Rogerio da Silva, who has provided support for Amy at work.

Rogerio looks at the camers with the bar in the background. He is wearing a dark blue shirt and has glasses on with a dark frame. His black hair covers some of his forehead.
Rogerio da Silva has made slight adjustments to help Amy while she works at The Square

He said it has been “amazing” to see the relationship grow and creating a “diverse and safe environment” at work is very important.

“Three years ago, I was diagnosed with ADHD and what people don't realise is we are no different than everybody else as we all have our own challenges so we just need to understand and accept there's nothing wrong,” Mr da Silva added.

He hopes to show other employers “minor tweaks” to the workplace could help people like Amy and himself thrive.

Rogerio is on the left, Amy is in the middle, and James is on the right. They're all looking and smiling at the camera. Behind them is the bar.
Rogerio, Amy, and James hope to change the way some people think about people with disabilities

Yenni Kusumo from Les Amis charity has also been a part of James and Amy’s love story and has seen their relationship develop.

Ms Kusumo said: “We hope that giving an insight into the lived experiences of people with learning disabilities will further breakdown stigma.”

Les Amis offers a social club which is free to its residents and service users.

Last year it held 87 events through the club including bowling, bingo, and water-therapy sessions.

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