Page 25 - Community Living Magazine 35-3

working life
A role in

academic

research

Self-advocate Richard Keagan-
Bull writes about his research
at a London university

started my job as a research assistant at
Kingston and St George’s University in
I London in January 2021. A few years
ago, I did a course there for people So I started my job working with Irene. to lead the project, and Tasha helps to
with learning disabilities about how to For the first months it was all done on support me in my work on a Tuesday. So
do research. computer because of Covid, so it was all a we have quite a team of people here now.
One of the teachers was Professor Irene bit weird. The team is Irene the professor, We didn’t really like the name LeDeR, so
Tuffrey-Wijne, who said that she was Becky the doctor who I’ve been working we’ve renamed it Staying Alive and Well.
hoping to get some funding to employ a with mostly on the research, and me the That was my idea.
person with a learning disability to help research assistant. We also have a new study starting in
her do some research. Irene said: “The first thing we’ve got to April. It is about end-of-life planning for
She asked if I would like to apply for the do is to employ someone who can people with learning disabilities. It will
job, but I think she asked all the other support you, Richard, in doing your job.” probably be on a Thursday.
students and everyone with a learning We ended up doing the interview to find So now we are joking that I am Staying
disability in her network also, not just me. someone to help me. We found a nice Alive on a Tuesday, I’m Growing Older on
So, in December 2020, I saw the job woman called Jo. We have given ourselves a Wednesday, and I’ll be Planning My
application and so I applied. I was lucky a name now – we’re the A-Team we are! Funeral on a Thursday!
enough to get an interview. So I had the So there has been lots going on this
interview – I was all dressed up smart. Practical research year. Lots of people asking me to do
The interview was on Zoom – it was a bit I’ve been working there since January 2021. things, like give talks. The highlight of my
strange, it was. After the interview, Irene I work on the Growing Older, Planning year was being put on the Disability Power
said: “Thank you very much, Richard. We Ahead project. I do that on a Wednesday. It 100 list. So that’s me, being one of the 100
will let you know by the end of the week, is about people with a learning disabilities most influential disabled people in the UK.
but it might be by the end of the day.” who are still living with their families in I’ve asked the team now to start putting
In the afternoon the telephone rang. their 40s. It’s about finding them help a the red carpet out for me!
Irene had called me to say: way to plan for the future, when their mum The first time I went in to do my job in
“Congratulations, Richard! You got the job and dad are sadly no longer around. the office at the hospital after lockdown,
on the Growing Older project.” I said: I’ve been busy doing interviews with Becky and Irene were away. Jo and me
“Thank you very much, Irene.” people with learning disabilities, and now went into the office on our own and did a
I felt quite excited. It was nice to get a we are running a group with families. bit of investigating around the place so we
proper job where I would get paid at the On a Tuesday morning, we have started could get our bearings and all that.
end of the month. It’s a big thing for me. I doing work with the LeDeR programme. When we got to Irene’s office, there was
now have a proper ID card to get into the This is about finding out why people with a nice card in her office for me saying,
university, I have. It’s quite exciting. It learning disabilities die sooner than they “Welcome Richard!” and two boxes of
makes you feel important to have an ID should. We have a group of six people chocolates, one for me and one for Jo, to
card to get into the research offices where with learning disabilities who meet say, “You made it!” and then I looked at
I work. I can even go into the staff canteen. together and talk about it. Jonny comes in the door. It had “Professor Irene Tuffrey-
Wijne” on it and, underneath it, “Richard
Richard Keagan-Bull: Research Assistant.”
Keagan-Bill So I thought, “I’ve really made it. My
with (l-r):
Irene name on the door!” n
l This is an edited extract from Richard
Tuffrey-Wijne,
Dr Becky Keagan-Bull’s Life Story, which he hopes
Anderson, will be published soon.
Jo Giles and
Colin the Richard Keagan-Bull is a self-advocate and
Caterpillar research assistant, and sits on Community
Living’s editorial board

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 3 | Spring 2022 25