The empathy is on the other foot. The voters know that from an elected representative who has suffered the birth, life and death of a severely disabled firstborn son, they can expect a more compassionate, humble, insightful human being. He will be more in tune with their needs and respond accordingly. The fact that Ivan's life has been celebrated and his death mourned in Britain underlines the more enlightened attitude towards disability in that country. Here, politicians who have had a disabled family member have not disclosed the fact, or else they have resigned because things have been so difficult at home. We are waiting for a politician with experience of this issue to champion our cause. This is because it seems that only those who are touched personally by disability give a damn. Maybe that is why we lag about thirty years behind Britain in service delivery in this sector.