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I was born with cerebral palsy (CP) due to lack of oxygen from a traumatic birth. My disability doesn't affect me intellectually at all, but I can't talk because I can't control the muscles in my mouth to form the words. I often get people who constantly talk down to me and speak really loud because they think I'm deaf. I even get people who try and make hand signals as they talk down to me!!!! I'm so used to it, that it doesn't worry me anymore. My family and friends know that I'm intelligent. I use an electric wheelchair and I get my thoughts and opinions across by using a communication device called a LightWriter.
My life has been as normal as it can be. I have always been up for anything and I am a real daredevil. I love to learn new things, ride behind my dad's ski boat in a water ski tube, co-pilot in a friend's plane, tandem parasailing and skydiving. There is no rule book on 'how to be disabled'… I first met Ken Duncan at the 2006 Prospective In Print Expo held by the Spastic Centre every year for disabled photographers. Ken offered me work experience at CFL. They were obviously impressed by my computer skills and knowledge of certain programes they use that I am now employed two days per week. I love my job and the feeling of achievement it gives me .I am going to work extremely hard and do wonderful things and fulfill my goal of full time employment. Sue from SEDS helped organize my job at Ken Duncan's Created For Life Print Lab [CFL], funding for my personal care, organized equipment such as laptops, external screens, desks to help me to do what my job requires, and handled all the paper work. SEDS also help organized workplace modifications so I could access the work place. SEDS played a really important role in my successful employment at CFL. I have been interested in photography for four years now. A family friend, Michael introduced me to it and ever since it is very unusual not to see a camera attached to my electric wheelchair with a specially design tripod. Mike just like my other mentors are always there for me. After I met Ken Duncan and his team at CFL my photography really took off, they are consistently teaching me new skills which are a big help to me. Christmas 2008 I was approached by Canon with a sponsorship and I now have a CANON 400D which has helped me reach a higher level in photography. |