Many teenagers want more privacy, their own space and as much independence from family as possible. These questions might be worth thinking about:

• Can you get to your bedroom independently? If not, what would make this possible?
• How easy is access between your bedroom and bathroom? Can it be improved?
• Do you have a quiet space that is well set up for you where you do your homework? If not, what change could there be?
• Where do you meet your friends at home? Is it private? Is there space for chatting, computer games, playing music?

In the children’s section, the page Your Home looks at other questions as well. They won’t all be relevant for you but they may set you thinking about:

• Anything that does not work well for you now
• What might become a problem
• What might work better for you.

If you let your parents know, they may be willing to look at what options might be possible. Some changes may be simple, others may need advice from an occupational therapist (OT). These can take a long time and need a lot of careful discussion.

Another big topic to think about, including:

• your sexual identity
• who you would like to meet
• how you might do that
• what sort of relationship you would like.

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Many young women who have SMA have questions about practical ways of managing periods and options for wheelchair users. We asked members of the SMA Community and medical professionals for their suggestions.

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All teenagers have a lot of changes and stresses to negotiate. Your SMA and the impact it has on you means you have a lot more than most. It’s good to talk and get support.

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Most young people feel more self-conscious as they get older and go through puberty. They often do not like other people seeing their bodies. Having personal care from another person is probably a necessary part of your life due to your SMA. This can make this an even more challenging time for you.

Some young people continue to feel comfortable with parents and friends providing their personal care. In time, this may be from their partners. Others prefer their care from Personal Assistants (PAs) and to keep things on a more ‘professional’ basis. However, practically it is not always possible to find good reliable PAs.

You can read more about Employing PAs in the tab on the Adults Financial and PA Support page.