Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds will investigate why about 40 percent of children in the care system in England and Wales have a registered disability.

This is a marked increase compared to the rest of the population, which is eight percent, and Simmonds wants to learn why this is the case.

To uncover the truth behind these statistics, Simmonds meets families who have adopted disabled children and those who felt unable to raise a disabled child.

The documentary will feature personal stories and highlight the hard work of social service teams all over the UK. 

Simmonds will look at both the social and institutional barriers, including the unfounded stigma around parenting a disabled child and the consequences of an in-built systemic bias people with disabilities face from birth along with a lack of awareness. 

Ellie Simmonds commented: “I’m really looking forward to working with ITV on this film about the relationship between adoption and disability, which is so close to my heart and which needs much greater awareness.”