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