Page 11 - Community Living Magazine 36-1
P. 11

column: Shalim Ali

       I’m always trying to think: How


       could this be done better?




       I’m highly motivated, earn my own living and find it hard to say
       no to all the opportunities that come my way – so I make sure
       I find time to unwind and clear my mind



           his is the first thing I’m writing as a   It’s important to relax and free your   at what helps people with learning
           new columnist for Community Living,   mind of worries. I do that by watching   disabilities feel at home where they live.
       Tbut it’s not the only thing I do.   television or listening to music to get my   I enjoyed this because it was about
        I work in health and social care, in   mind off work.                   coming up with ideas on how to run the
       learning disability and mental health                                    sessions. I loved getting to know people’s
       issues, and I’m a self-advocate     Get the crowd going                  personalities and hearing about their
       and campaigner.                     One of my jobs is as a DJ with arts charity   interests and hobbies.
        I’m really busy at the moment. I’ve got   Heart n Soul, which is like a second family   I liked being a kind of teacher, leading a
       so many different jobs and I always get a   to me. The best gig I’ve done so far was for   group and understanding what makes a
       lot of calls from people who want me to   our 30th birthday at the Beautiful Octopus   home for someone. I’m really committed
       be part of their organisation.      Club at the Southbank in 2016 when I just   to supporting other people to have a voice.
                                           played anything the crowd wanted. It   People hire me because they want
       I like being a kind of teacher,     makes me feel excited and nice to have   someone who is keen and understands the
                                                                                challenges people have. I’m from a diverse
                                           people from all diverse backgrounds
       leading a group and                 enjoying music.                      background and know the ins and outs of
       understanding what makes              I’m also a quality checker (a person with  mental health and learning disability.
                                                                                  I often wear my heart on my sleeve and
       a home for someone                  experience of support services who is paid   I’m a caring person. I can think about
                                           to check on such provision) for Choice
                                           Support, a self-advocate for Learning   other people who are in the situation I
                                           Disability England and a travel buddy for   was in. That’s empathy.
        I get a lot of job opportunities and it’s   Roots and Shoots, a charity that helps   We’re coming to the end of the year and
       hard to say no. This makes me feel quite   young people in south London to be   I’m looking forward to what the next one
       excited, but also it can be overwhelming.   more independent.            brings. One thing I’d like to achieve is a
       Sometimes I overthink stuff and my work   I’ve also just finished a job as a   better work/life balance. I feel motivated
       is always on my mind so it can be   researcher and advocacy group leader for   and excited about what’s next – I’m going
       exhausting. I’m always trying to think:   Feeling at Home. That was a research   to be an uncle again, and that’s going to
       “How could this be done better?”    project by King’s College London looking   be another new chapter for me. n



        My aim has always been to be financially stable. Work’s important


           ’ve always worked. I got my first pay   important because you need to keep   the other three are teachers. They are
           cheque when I was 18 years old when   yourself busy, pay your bills on time and   proud of me and they know I’m
        II had a job as a play worker at an   try to save money. Long term, if I have a   passionate about what I do.
         adventure playground for disabled kids   family, I need a job. If I’m in relationship, I   My dream job would be to give all the
         in south London.                   want both of us to bring something to it.  poor people houses, fix the economy
           Before that, I did a lot of volunteering   There should be more awareness that   and design houses for disabled people.
         work in a cafe, a charity shop and as a   people want to work and need to work.   Although I love working, It would be
         football coach. I wasn’t worried that I’d   But right now, only five per cent of   amazing to be able to retire by the time
         be stuck in volunteering forever because   working-age adults with a learning   I’m 50 years old, in another 15 years
         I had a plan to build enough experience   disability have a paid job. That is   or so. n
                                                                                     n
         to get paid work.                  so shocking.
           I didn’t have the academic stuff to get   It’s partly because no one expects us
         to university. I went on a different path   to work. I went to a mainstream school   I carved a career path out for
         to my brothers and sister, but they gave   with a special unit but there was no
         me the ambition to work and earn my   awareness or any sense of where I’d be   myself because I could see
         own money.                         in five years’ time – no career path.   what my brothers and sister
           My aim has always been to be       I carved that out for myself because I   were doing
         financially stable because I didn’t have   could see what my brothers and sister
         money when I was growing up. Work’s   were doing. Today, one is a doctor and


       www.cl-initiatives.co.uk                                            Community Living  Vol 36 No 1  |  Autumn 2022  11
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