Kathleen interviews a hero of hers, Ian Ackley, a survivor of abuse in football and an advocate for other survivors. Disclosed abuse survivor Ian Ackley describes not being believed when he first publicly disclosed his abuse in 1997, and how turned this devastating experience into a lifelong quest to support victims and survivors and raise awareness.
In the decades since his public disclosure, he has worked hard to recover from the trauma and just as hard to keep himself well. He has learned how to recognise himself as a multi-faceted person, who is not just a survivor, but also a father, partner, musician, carpenter and many others. And he has also learned how to respond when other professionals try to diminish his voice by labelling him as just a survivor.