 I was delighted to be a stallholder at the Disability Confident at West Cheshire College yesterday. This was held in conjunction with the Dept of Work and Pensions and Cheshire Centre for Independent Living.
It was great to network with local companies and discuss the advantages of employing people who may have a disability / long term medical condition. The important thing to remember is that the skills and attributes that people with disabilities bring to your organisation make a positive impact on your business. See the potential, don't miss out! I hope to be involved with disability awareness training with many of the attendees to ensure that businesses and organisations are inclusive and fair to all. It's all about breaking down barriers and making adjustments to accommodate a diverse workforce. If you are reading this as an employer, and feel that your organisation could benefit from disability awareness training, please get in touch. I would be pleased to work with you. Networking and training and making life better for everyone. A.Duckworth, 23/2/17
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Delegate feedback, Courageous, inspiring, optimistic, huge thanks for sharing your story. On Wednesday 8th February I was delighted to speak to international delegates from Sanofi Genzyme Pharmaceutical Company at their conference in Mainz, Germany.
I shared my experience of being diagnosed with Pompe disease, a rare neuromuscular metabolic disease. I talked about events leading up to the diagnosis, the diagnosis itself and how, despite this progressive disease, I manage to lead a happy, fulfilled and independent life. I explained that the biggest shock of all was in 2003, when I was told that I needed to use night ventilation as my carbon dioxide levels were becoming dangerously high. This was a huge adjustment for our family. In 2006, I was thrown a lifeline, and was one of the first patients in the North West at Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester to receive ERT (Enzyme Replacement Therapy). I explained how my experience of having ERT was a positive one and that although my mobility was still slowly deteriorating, my lung function tests showed a stabilisation over the last five years. As I explained, if your legs don't work, you can use aids but if you can't breathe you're stuffed! I demonstrated that good support networks are vital to my quality of life and include, family, PA's (my special friends), hospitals, The Neuromuscular Centre in Cheshire, AGSD (The Association of Glycogen Storage Diseases) and Dial West Cheshire Shopmobility . Exercise plays a big part too. I explained how having such a disease need not define you. For the past ten years ERT has given me a new lease of life. I enjoy time with my family and friends and recently started my own business. Finally, I explained that the Pompe Community want to carry on receiving ERT and that their work is essential in stabilising our condition and giving us a good quality of life. We await the next generation of treatment. A privilege and a pleasure. A. Duckworth February, 2017 |
AuthorAndrea Duckworth is a motivational speaker & coach with over 20 years experience in the field of disability. Andrea is living with the progressive disease Pompe (Acid Maltase Deficiency) more Archives
May 2019
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