We need to raise awareness of the detrimental impact of likening someone born with Talipes as having feet that supposedly resemble a piece of sports equipment, implying our feet are shaped ‘like a golf club’. It is unacceptable to use terminology like ‘Clubfoot’ or ‘Clubbed feet’ as the default term to refer to someone’s medical condition in the 21st century. Organisations such as the NHS and Steps Charity need to consider the damage it has on the patient’s mental health by using this offensive terminology. Those that use the word Clubfoot need to replace it with the appropriate medical term, Talipes Equinovarus. It is essential to represent medical conditions in a non-discriminatory manner and avoid ableist language. Information surrounding Talipes, such as on the NHS website and Steps website, needs to be updated. Not only should the terminology be modified but there needs to be a more inclusive depiction of the condition. It is not a one size fits all, there are different severities of the condition and therefore different treatments required and different experiences lived. 

Several organisations state ‘the main treatment’ of Talipes is the Ponseti method (such as the NHS and Steps) and ‘the treatment for clubfoot is minimally invasive’ (Steps), however, this is not fully representative of the condition… I was diagnosed with Bilateral Talipes at birth and over the years I have had numerous invasive operations throughout my childhood, including the UMEX System, as well as requiring a wheelchair. The condition itself and the aftermath of the operations have left me with severe pain, limping, restricted mobility, difficulty with walking and arthritis. I am aware that over time treatments change, however, by companies failing to acknowledge the reality a lot of people face, it leaves a lot of people feeling isolated. 

There are many generalisations about how the condition impacts the person in their childhood and adulthood. There are assertions such as people born with Talipes ‘will learn to walk at the usual age, enjoy physical activities and be able to wear regular footwear after treatment’ (NHS), however, this is an inaccurate depiction of Talipes. For those of us who have had invasive operations, it is the complete opposite. I did not learn to walk at the usual age. I did not, and still cannot, enjoy physical activities such as walking, running, sport etc. I was not able to wear regular footwear after treatment (due to the shape of my feet even after surgeries, needing to wear medical boots, my left foot being two sizes smaller than my right foot and having to wear rigid splints inside my shoes). Even now, in my twenties, finding footwear to fit my feet is extremely difficult. It is frustrating to read overviews online and to see phrases like ‘early treatment should correct it’ (NHS). These assumptions are harmful and often inaccurate. Treatment can correct the position of the foot to a certain extent, but it does not end there… it is a lifelong condition that is managed throughout childhood and adulthood.  

Ultimately, people like me are left feeling isolated with a lack of support and acknowledgment of what we have faced, currently face and how it will impact our future. Talipes is a disabling condition. We need to recognise the physical and mental impact it has on the person’s life. I am a firm believer that my difference is my strength, it has made me the person I am today (something my many scars represent), however, I do not think society and its organisations should be highlighting our difference in a way that degrades us. 

Please sign this petition to help spark a change in how language is used to represent medical conditions/disabilities and to raise awareness of the diverse scale of Talipes.