Hello comrades, and welcome to what we hope will be another interesting yet exciting blog and later a vlog. I will start this blog by telling you about my journey to my current position as business partner in Ethical Clarity and how my daughter Margot runs through me like a positive thread to make me into the positive person that I am.
I always knew I wanted to work. We’re all on this earth to do positive things, and I’ve always wanted to be a role model for Margot.
I have accomplished many things within my 37 years, like with many young people with unique abilities I’ve done voluntary work to get valuable experience. My first experience was in my college in administration, I’ve written reports for Henshaw’s, and I’ve had a week’s work experience at mum’s old work where I worked on the telephones along with members of paid staff. I also had training with a national charity, though this ended in an extremely upsetting event.
As you’re aware, I have a stammer, and if situations arise where I am very stressed or tired, then I have to slow down. The member of staff training me was also fully aware of my stammer. On this day, she kept saying that I needed to talk fluently as their callers wouldn’t like it. Stammering is the fear of stammering.
I kept saying to her that I have to slow down and talk more breathy. I’m feeling anxious, and its better than stammering out of control. The member of staff didn’t take any notice. To compose myself, I asked to be taken to the toilet. After going to the toilet, I was trying to find my way out, I got disorientated and fell in the disabled shower. I shouted to them that I’d fallen, though all the woman did was take me back upstairs. I could feel pain and bruises on my legs and a sore on my arm. After having the session from hell, the same woman took me outside and left me in the middle of the street on my own where my dad eventually found me. It really upset my parents.
This was a very upsetting time, one of my aunties particularly took it hard because she believed that if a large charity organisation could treat me so badly, then how would commercial companies treat me? I've always been of the mentality that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I then went to an organisation called possibilities; a company that supposedly helps disabled people find work through specialist coaching by disability employment specialists provided by the job centre.
The woman who I worked with was far from sympathetic or understanding towards my situation of my speech and kept saying I needed to be more fluent. She kept on, and for several days after I felt very down and quiet. I told mum eventually and we sought advice from the citizens advice, and the man who we saw said you could always tell the DWP that you can’t work with them, though something inside drove me on.
I then got my mojo back and it came to me that both negative experiences were not my fault but theirs, they were ignorant and feeble minded. Its them with the problems, not me. If people don’t like how I talk, then that’s up to them.
My aunty heard about a charity called Speed of Sight. This is a charity run by Sir Mike Newman and John Galloway. Mike is totally blind and has the world’s speed record for driving. He set up speed of sight to give people with disabilities an experience to drive a race car or off road buggy on a race track. Each buggy is named after one of Mikes previous guide dogs. I’ve been on a driving experience, and you have a professional racing driving instructor sat beside you, you have a helmet on and you have a walkie talky where the driver is giving you instructions on where to go and-or “Foot off the gas!” It’s an epic experience.
I started doing pass a pound packs which we sent to businesses so they could donate a pound in spreading the word as to what speed of sight does and to spread positive awareness. I did enjoy it, though it was on a voluntary basis. It was good for gaining positive experience, though I didn’t earn my own money. In April 2018, I heard these male voices adjacent to the speed of sight office.
Curiosity got the better of me and I asked John, “Who’s that?” He said, “That’s Neil and Frank from Clarity Employment for Blind People.”. Naturally my BAHAs aided ears pricked up when he said employment blind people, and I then ran out of the office and hit Frank accidentally on the legs with my cane as I was running for him. I explained who I was, and that I’ve always been looking for a job. I perceive myself as a good role model for Margot my young daughter. I then met up with Frank again who told me that telephone sales were involved. I told him I had a stammer, and he mistakenly thought I would not be-able to do it because of my stammer, though like most people in society, education and learning bye experience showed him.
In applying this to how I parent Margot, we often talk about my challenges. She even thinks I can’t do things because I’m blind, like she thought I couldn’t order my first order on the MacDonalds app, she kept wanting to help me, though I was fine doing it mostly myself. In babyhood, we’d go out with support workers/friends/family, and when I was walking in the kitchen, I’d count how many steps from the living room into the kitchen, so I’d get her used to numbers. In applying this to a work ethic, I must be motivated, dedicated, persistent and resilient, indeed, this is true of life generally.
If obstacles present themselves, there is always an alternative to achieving a same goal as others. We may go round obstacles differently to most people, though if we can achieve the same goal, then it’s all worth it. Likewise. I found baby led weening for Margot, (Putting Margot in her highchair, making food up for her and allowing herself to feed herself the food) was a game changer for me.
There are always solutions to any problem if we look deep within ourselves. We hope you’ve enjoyed this interesting blog.
Have a great afternoon all.