Living with Tourette’s, Autism, ADHD, and OCD, Bea knows first-hand how important it is to have accessible opportunities and facilities that enable everyone to stay active in ways that work for them.
Bea loves to swim and at The Pods, in Scunthorpe, they have specialist equipment that helps make this safe, enjoyable and a more independent experience. From the accessible changing spaces to the pool lift that provides users with a simple way to enter and exit the water, The Pods offers an inclusive environment where people of all abilities can feel comfortable giving swimming a go.
As an advocate for adaptive sport, Bea Wood is raising awareness of these opportunities available to disabled people and empowering them to keep active in ways that work for them.
She says: "My diagnoses are part of who I am, but I refuse to let them limit what I can achieve. In 2022, a seizure left me unconscious and unable to walk. That moment changed everything, but instead of stopping me, it ignited a drive to prove to myself that I can still push boundaries, break barriers, and stay active in the sports I love.
"As a transgender woman, some competitive pathways in sport aren’t currently accessible to me, but that hasn’t stopped my involvement or my passion. Instead, it’s encouraged me to focus on the spaces where I can compete, contribute, and thrive.
"I play at local level, stay active across multiple disciplines, and make the most of every opportunity available."
My journey shows that sport isn’t only about podiums, it’s about community, visibility, and proving what’s possible when you refuse to be sidelined.
Her powerful video shows:
Accessible and adaptive facilities can make a meaningful difference. When spaces are thoughtfully designed to meet a range of needs, they can support confidence, independence, participation and performance helping more people enjoy being active on their own terms.
Bea said: "My reality is that I have no choice but to use the changing spaces and the hoist. I wanted to share this video to create awareness of people like me that are in real need of these changing spaces and why it is important to be respectful not to use them if it is not necessary.
"I also wanted to educate others on why I use the hoist and the ways in which it makes me feel when being stared at.
"It’s amazing that The Pods offers such incredible inclusion for the disabled community and I want other disabled people to be aware of what amazing facilities are available to them to stay active."
She adds: "My goal is to show what’s possible, inspire others to try new things, and make adaptive sport more visible and accessible."
