Question 1

"Could you tell us about your early life before your accident?"

Accepted Answer

I was born in 1974 and grew up in Wakefield. I had a loving family, mum - a school teacher, dad - a university academic, and an older sister.  I found maths really easy, I couldn't quite believe it was worth the same as the other GCSEs, like English which I actually had to work at! I'm dyslexic and I very strategically avoided subjects that required a lot of writing when it came to my GCSE options. This left me with the sciences. I didn't have to write much and I was quite good at them, they played to my strengths as a practical person.

Question 2

"How have things changed for you?"

Accepted Answer

In the spinal unit, I was surrounded by other people who were in wheelchairs. Obviously being in a wheelchair in a spinal unit is normal because everybody is in one, so you don't have any people looking at you strangely for being different, you’re all in the same boat. The concept of disability discrimination just isn't there. And the spinal unit is kitted up for you, so to begin with you don’t experience any kind of barriers due to your disability.

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