Adding the perspectives of service users captures more ideas and interpretations than otherwise may be made or sought from research, as in the childhood lesson outlined in the song by Harry Chapin 1977 – “Flowers are red, green leaves are green, there’s no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been seen”
The moral of the story relates to everyone, not just children’s education, in that because things are seen one way doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be looked at or seen differently.
Hopefully with different perspectives comes a more colourful and inclusive world!

It’s nice to know that I am contributing to something that will help drive change and improve things by adding a lay persons perspective.

It is good to ‘ground’ the academics and to help them consider the reality of what they would like to research and its real-world usefulness, not just academically interesting.

(picture) John’s Dog Bella and unnamed mouse – all have a valid viewpoint. We embrace diversity.