Journey

‘There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more’  RM Hensel

Enabling Good Lives is a wonderful vision to aspire to but the path disabled people currently walk is broken uneven ground.  Unfortunately Rory’s disabilities do define him.  They significant limit what he can do but he still has much to contribute as a member of our community.  He has aspirations.  To begin with we have focussed on trying to secure volunteer work, we haven’t even considered the possibility he may secure paid employment.  Many of the people, businesses and organisations I have approached for volunteer opportunities do not reply.  Those that do reply make apologetic excuses about why their work environment is not suitable.  A few are prepared to give Rory a go but approx. half do not work out.  I appreciate most work environments are not set up for people with disabilities.  However, few businesses or organisations are willing to make modifications for a hard working young man with a big heart who has difficulty with co-ordination, walks with a walker, is slow and fatigues after a couple of hours.  It breaks my heart and makes me angry.  Our lives are richer for knowing and loving people with disabilities and their families.  Two special people created light in Rory’s life this week, Doug, the Supervisor at the Junction Recycling Hub in New Plymouth and Janica, the Manager of Woodleigh Nursery.  Doug and Janica have made room for Rory within their teams and modified their work environments.  They saw Rory as more than his disabilities and knocked down the barriers to his participation like they were pick up sticks.  Rory attended his first volunteering session at Woodleigh nursery on Thursday with Deanne, and at the Junction on Friday accompanied by Sean.  He loved it.  On Friday he spent two hours taking apart computers to recycle their parts.  The time passed quickly and at the end he turned to Sean and said “I could do this all day”.  I think Sean’s heart contracted.  It is especially hard to find blokey things for Rory to do which make him happy.  We have our fingers crossed Rory will be able to volunteer at the Junction for a second session each week. 

The hot wet weather brings new challenges to managing Rory.  He is slower to mobilise and the ground is wet and slippery.  We have to keep his cochlear implants dry.  He has a good shower jacket but it restricts visibility and impairs his balance even further.  He is at increased risk of accident so we are on edge.  I am running in the rain in the mornings to cope with having three Gardiner males cooped up indoors.