Meet Kirsty; Employment

Here, Kirsty tells us about her thoughts on entering the world of work.

Employment is one of the most important factors of a person’s life. Without it, we have no means of earning our own money. Of course, there are benefits for those who can’t work, but for some people, the feeling of gaining money without actually having done something to earn it feels somewhat selfish.

    I am now in my sixth year of high school, and we have begun thinking about what we will do with our lives once we leave. I certainly don’t want to be stuck at home watching daytime TV 24/7 (as nice as that sounds!), I would much rather be out doing a job I love, and gaining from it the money I need in order to live comfortably. However, I do realise that my journey into “the real world” will be far more treacherous than that of my peers.

         Firstly, there are so many more aspects to take into consideration; whereas most people my age are thinking solely about their qualifications, and whether they have done enough to get into college/university, I will have to focus on how accessible these places are and whether they can accommodate me, not just whether the course is suited to what I want to do once I graduate.

          I have to admit that I haven’t thought a lot about what I’m going to do once I leave education completely. I’m taking it one step at a time and my next goal from here is university. However, the world of employment to me still seems like uncharted waters.  I know what I want to do and I’m good at what I do, but, being disabled, these elements are the last thing that employers will consider. I almost feel like everyone else in my year has it easy. They have fewer worries when leaving school, and, even though some may be nervous about moving on from their comfort zone, I am apprehensive about whether I will be given the proper support I need, and whether my life will be a lot more difficult once I leave my comfort zone.

    I think what I am most worried about when entering the world of work is the fact that some employers may dismiss me because of my disability. I’ve been writing stories and poems since I was nine years old, so I’ve had years of practice and experience, however, I always fear that employers will patronise me – that’s my biggest fear. I hate being looked down upon, and I am scared that when I do get a job, I won’t be seen to be as capable as my co-workers.

       Since I started volunteering at Bobath I have had a glimpse of what the working environment is like. I feel very comfortable here as I have been given an opportunity to experience what it is like working in journalism. Even though I am volunteering, having my work published makes me feel like I have actually achieved something worth shouting about, and writing for a charity which has helped me so much throughout my life makes me realise that I’m doing this for a reason.

    Right now, for me, there are a lot more questions than answers, and I realise that I have a long way to go, and a lot of changes to get used to, before I can stop stressing over qualifications, interviews and access issues. I love writing, and I love sharing my opinions. If I were to get a job in journalism, I think I’d be the happiest person alive. However, I realise that my road to employment will be a rocky one, and that there will be many hurdles to overcome, but, if I have confidence in myself then I can achieve anything I put my mind to.

 

10 things you need to know about my cerebral palsy

Kirsty gives us a list of all the things you should know about her life with cerebral palsy.

1. It doesn’t stop me from being myself

I like rock music and I want everyone to know it! I dress unconventionally, because I want to stand out from the crowd. People naturally assume because I sometimes use a wheelchair that I’d want to blend into the background, but far from it! I wear bright purple lipstick and AC/DC shirts because I want to be noticed. If they’re gonna stare then give ‘em a reason to!

2. My CP doesn’t give you a reason to patronise me

I’m seventeen so don’t treat me like I’m five! Just because you see me in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can call me a “wee girl” – I may be baby-faced but this wheelchair ain’t no pushchair! (These pictures are from when I met the band 10CC, who were very nice. This is Mick Wilson trying to steal my hat!)

3. I don’t need your help

I’m pretty independent, so when people are pushing and pulling me every which way, it’s more annoying than helpful. If I need your help – I’ll ask for it. Just because you think I’m struggling doesn’t mean that I actually am. This picture is from when I went on my first proper holiday without my parents – Switzerland with my Girl Guides!

4. I’m not just a label!

I can remember going to an album signing by a band that I really liked (The View) and being referred to as a “wheelchair”, by the security guard who kindly instructed everyone to “let the wheelchair through”. I honestly felt like saying “Excuse me, I have a name”!  I mean you wouldn’t refer to someone as just “green shirt” or “blue jeans”. You wouldn’t call someone by just the clothes they are wearing, so why refer to me as an inanimate object?

5. I don’t want surgery to “fix me”

I have been offered the option of surgery a few times, but I don’t want it! There are no guarantees that it will definitely work, and I would be in cast for months. When I told people that I was offered the option, but turned it down, they responded as if I had just turned down a million pounds! There is no real cure for cerebral palsy, only ways to make the effects of it less profound; like physio. So, I would rather not go through extensive surgery in order to “fix” something, which really, cannot be fixed. This picture is from one of my botox appointments a couple of years ago – where I used to get botox injected into my legs in order to make them looser.

6. I’m not self conscious about my CP

My cerebral palsy has affected me my whole life, so I’ve gotten used to it. It isn’t on my mind every second of every day – in fact, it’s rarely ever on my mind. I’ve gotten used to dealing with the obstacles I face every day, and even though I walk very differently to other people (dragging my foot, etc..) it’s not something that plays on my mind. As I have never experienced what it is like to live without my CP, I have no reason to be self-conscious, as this is who I am. This is another pic from Switzerland!

 

7. Growing up with a disability makes you appreciate more

I don’t take anything for granted, I walk as often as I can and never use my disability as an excuse not to do anything – unless I physically can’t do something. I hate seeing people taking their ability for granted. In April I walked around the full Brontë museum in Yorkshire, and walked up two flights of really steep steps because I am a huge fan of the Brontë sisters and didn’t want to let my CP stop me from experiencing something that I loved.

8. Not everyone with cerebral palsy is the same

Cerebral Palsy affects the brain; hence no two cases of it are exactly the same. The symptoms can range from speech problems to muscle stiffness, learning difficulties to weak limbs, and there are many different “types” of CP, so the severity of it can range from mild to severe. I’m lucky, as my Cerebral Palsy is very mild, and I now use crutches the majority of the time, however, I feel like there is a stereotype that all people who have CP have a learning difficultly, or can’t talk, or use a wheelchair 24/7. Whereas this is the case for a lot of people with Cerebral Palsy, it’s not with me. I feel like people tend to judge very quickly when they see me in my wheelchair, and assume that I am not as smart as I am, or feel like they have to talk down to me, which is incredibly annoying. Even my best friend didn’t know that there were other severities of my disability, and that the effects of my CP were mild, therefore I feel like there needs to be more information out there about my condition, and for people to be taught that not everyone with it is affected in exactly the same way.

Here’s my Dad and I enjoying the sun!

9. There is no cure

As I said before, the only options of reducing the effects of CP are either physio or surgery; there is no real cure. However, I don’t let that fact get me down. Sure, if I had the option to change a few things about myself, I would, wouldn’t we all? But, would my CP be one of them? Probably not. My Cerebral Palsy is part of who I am, without it I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I try to be as positive as I possibly can about everything, and try to live as “normal” a life as I can, as, after all, I am normal. This is a pic of my Mum and me when I was about 2.

10. Friends and family get you through it!

I have been so blessed to have an amazing family and awesome friends. It is thanks to these people that I can stay positive about myself and be happy! They never patronise me or treat me differently because of my condition, and it’s because of this that my mind isn’t constantly plagued with the fact I have Cerebral Palsy. In my eyes, I’m just a seventeen year old Rock Chick ready to take on the world no matter what life throws at me!

Meet Kirsty: Music

Kirsty tells us all about her love of music and how she’s overcome obstacles to pursue her passion!

I have always loved music. This is probably because my Dad was in a band in his early twenties, and still plays his guitar every day. I grew up in a musical household, which inspired me to become a musician. When I was about ten, my Dad bought me a guitar. However, I found it very difficult to play and gave up almost as soon as I started. In Primary six, a woodwind teacher came into our school asking if anyone wanted to be a musician. I was one of the first people to show up to auditions; in which Doctor Harris would put pupils through a gruelling test, which assessed our ability to recognise rhythm, pitch, and above all, how well we could breathe! We were allowed to try out the mouthpieces of the flute, clarinet and saxophone, and then we were told what instrument was best suited to us. I desperately wanted to play the sax, as my Grandfather played for most of his life, and was part of a successful jazz band. Doctor Harris was very perceptive; she took my Cerebral Palsy into consideration and worked out which instrument would be easiest, and best, for me to play. Thinking back, she could’ve easily dismissed me because of my disability – as the music industry is a scrupulous place, full of perfectionists. However, her kindness and understanding on that day meant that I had the opportunity to be seen as something other than just someone with a disability. 

We realised quickly that holding the saxophone would be difficult for me, as it is very heavy (about the same weight as a bowling ball). The saxophone is meant to be held to the side, having only the sling (a strap around the neck which is hooked onto the sax) for support. We solved this issue by placing two pillows between my legs in order to hold the weight of my saxophone, after that, everything went swimmingly.

High School was the first opportunity I had to be part of an actual music class. In first and second year, we were given the chance to try out guitar, glockenspiel, keyboard and drums. I had a go at all of these, keenly, as I saw no reason why I couldn’t. The teachers, again, were so considerate, and were always eager to help me gain these experiences – so I never felt like I was missing out on anything. It was at this time, also, that my tech teacher offered to make me a wooden stand for my saxophone, instead of the unaesthetically pleasing pillows. This was a great help and made it easier to play the instrument that I loved.

Going into third year, we were to pick two instruments to focus on leading up to our National 5 exams in fourth year. I knew I wanted to continue sax, and I chose to learn keyboard (which was a popular instrument amongst my classmates). Not being one to follow the crowd, I asked my mum if I could start piano lessons. She agreed and told me that our neighbour, Lauren, was a piano teacher, so I began my lessons with her at the end of third year. 

Lauren was also an incredibly kind person. She knew that my hands were quite tight due to my CP and that my fingers tended to lock sometimes, so she searched for pieces that not only would I love playing, but that were the easiest for me to learn to play (she always likes to challenge me and doesn’t treat me any differently to her other pupils!). Even though my actual music teacher felt there was no way I would pass my exam in the time I had (eight months) I passed with an A! My teacher was shocked as she told me that it normally takes at least two years for someone to just pass Grade 4 piano, never mind with an A!

Last August I joined the South Lanarkshire Orchestral Society intermediate band. In order to get in, you have to audition, but it turned out that the conductor of the band was actually the woman who had examined me for my Grade 4 – so no audition needed! Since I have been there I have performed two concerts with the band, both at the Hamilton Townhouse. My fellow bandmates are so helpful and always make sure that I have everything I need before we play. Playing in a band makes me forget that I am any different to anyone else as I am focusing on my ability as a musician, and performer, and nothing else.

I am so grateful for all of the teachers and fellow musicians who believed in me in order to get me to where I am now. I love being able to play my saxophone, and, through being a musician, I have learned what it is like to be treated equally to abled people, not patronised or looked down upon. I have worked and been taught by people who see me for my ability rather than my disability and that are not afraid to tell it like it is! I am proud to say that I am both disabled and a musician, and that those two things can coincide if you put your mind to it. It really is true that you can be anything you want to be!