What is your role at CPSN and what does a typical day look like for you?
I'm a Customer Service Officer but like everyone at CPSN I wear many hats and help where needed. Day-to-day this might look like answering enquiries from clients who contact us to ask about services we, or others offer for people with CP, writing up some helpful blog posts or working closely with the rest of my team on any projects or events we have happening.
How long have you been with CPSN? And what has been your favourite thing you've worked on in that time?
Just over a year so far, I started with CPSN in August of 2022 to support their adult "Tribal Wisdom" offering which is no longer. I love any opportunity to spotlight what people with CP are capable of and where I can use my lived experience of CP to bring about exciting offerings that contribute "goodness" to the CP Community.
Outside of work, what keeps you busy? What are you interested in?
Hanging out with my best friends- my very energetic 2-year-old and husband! We look after our pet chickens and keep our veggie patches happy. If I manage to snatch a little bit of time for myself, I like to delve into a good book and enjoy a nice hot cuppa, or try to sneak in a clinical Pilates session to maintain my strength and flexibility but I'm very much in a season of my life where I'm devoting much of my time to my family, so, busy, but full of joy!
What motivates you in the work that you do?
Using my Lived Experience to help others and building connections for and with others with CP! It's so rewarding when the experiences I've had throughout my life can be helpful to others, I've always wanted to work somewhere that spotlights living with a Disability so I'm happy to be able to do that.
Are there any common misconceptions about CP/ the Disability sector you'd like to correct?
Disabled is not a dirty word.
I used to really struggle to identify as Disabled and lament all the additional things I had to go through, and how much harder I found it to connect with people, but now I am a proud Disabled woman! Perhaps finding it harder to make connections means the ones that we do have are of better quality and not just superficial. I've found that in my experience and that of others with a Disability, society often dismisses Disabled people as being incapable much of the time and this is simply untrue- we are able to achieve so much, and live full and happy lives!
How would you describe CPSN's culture in a few words?
Committed to the cause.
What are your top three life tips?
- Ask for help when you need it.
- Freeze your leftovers when you have them, save yourself future cooking!
- If everything feels overwhelming, have a glass of water and a snack- often in times of stress we forget to meet our most basic needs. While it might not fix the situation, it can make you feel considerably better almost immediately.
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