In this conversation, Stacey Bone shares her personal journey living with a unilateral cleft lip and palate, discussing the complexities of surgeries, the challenges faced during childhood, and the importance of mental health. She emphasises the need for advocacy and education to reduce bullying and promote understanding of visible differences. Stacey also highlights her work with charities and her personal photography project aimed at changing perceptions of individuals with clefts.

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Episode links:
https://www.staceybonephotography.co.uk
https://www.smiletrain.org.uk
http://www.changingfaces.org.uk

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
03:08 - Understanding Cleft Lip and Palate
05:58 - Surgical Interventions and Their Complexities
08:43 - Personal Experiences with Bullying and School Life
11:59 - Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms
17:19 - Advocacy and Raising Awareness
18:51 - Overcoming Humiliation and Building Confidence
19:29 - The Importance of Early Education on Differences
22:19 - Legal Protections and Social Acceptance
24:25 - Visible Differences in Media Representation
28:12 - The Dark Reality of Clefts Worldwide
33:07 - Changing Smiles: A Photography Project for Awareness
37:38 - Hope for the Future: Changing Perceptions

Social media:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifewithadifferencepodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@lifewithadifference
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-collinson/

Blog:
https://www.lifewithadifference.info/

Please get in touch if I can help in any way