In my last article for Community Living, I was looking forward to returning to what I thought would be a normal life… but, as of now, this has not been the case. Everyone has faced the same disappointments and there have been so many tragic losses during this time.
As someone with Down syndrome and being part of a family who are shielding, we always follow the guidelines closely to keep ourselves safe. This meant that, like so many other families, we had a very different Christmas last year. However, we have just had our first vaccinations, which feels like we have made one important small step towards a life beyond the pandemic. I have missed so many face-to-face experiences over the past year, especially the opportunities I had to meet so many inspirational people from other countries in my role as a self-advocate council member for Inclusion International. I was fortunate enough to travel widely during my five-year term of office. This came to an end at the general assembly, which was due to be held in Dubai in November, which I was so looking forward to.
Unfortunately, this had to be held online but, as part of the live event, I was delighted to be told that I was to be made an honorary life member of Inclusion International. This was an unexpected honour and I am looking forward to contributing to and keeping in touch with the work of this fantastic global organisation in the future.
I have also missed my involvement in the work of Mencap Cymru as, together with many of my work colleagues, I have been furloughed since last March. We have kept in touch but that is not the same as having our usual banter in the office.
A champion for the country
While on furlough, I was made aware of an exciting opportunity to be part of a Welsh Government initiative to increase the number of disabled people in work in Wales. This is something I feel passionate about as I have benefited so much myself from being in paid employment.
The Welsh Government published its Action on Disability: the Right to Independent Living Framework and Action Plan in 2019, which supported the idea of appointing disability champions who would advocate for the employment of disabled people by increasing awareness of their talents and skills. These posts, which are to be one-year, fixed-term appointments, will be filled by people with disabilities who would work with business leaders of small and medium-sized businesses throughout Wales to illustrate the benefits of employing people with a disability and to make them aware of the support that is out there for both the employers and the people with disabilities.
Having found out about this, I was made aware I had an opportunity to take a career break from Mencap Cymru to take up this post if I was successful. I applied and, after quite a period of time, was delighted to hear that I was to be offered an online interview. After doing some research, I felt well prepared and thought the interview went well.
There was quite a gap again between the interview and finally hearing that I had been successful and was to be one of the six disabled people’s employment champions for Wales. There was still a lot to be done on pre-employment checks before I was able to take up this post as a civil servant for the first time.
Eventually, all this was completed and I took up my new role with the Welsh Government at the start of February. Now I can really start to make a difference to the hopes of people with a range of disabilities within our communities.
A magic moment in this whole process was when my contract finally arrived and I was able to sign it (see picture). I can look forward to this next brand-new chapter in my life. Despite all the doom and gloom around the pandemic at present, I feel that having a job like this will give me the opportunity to play a part in the recovery, which needs to take place to ensure those with disabilities are not left behind. People with a range of disabilities have gained so many new skills by working from home that, I am sure, can be put to good use in employment opportunities in the future.
As I write this article, I am just starting my new job and I am so looking forward to working as part of a team of disabled people’s employment champions within the Prosperous Futures Division of the Welsh Government.
