#TeamNorthMid blogs

We invited Rona van-Horne (pictured), our assistant company secretary and co-chair of our DiverseAbility Staff Network, to share her thoughts and experiences of living and working with a disability. Rona kindly agreed and has penned her words in the form of the beautiful poem below. Let her know what you think of her piece. 

We will be marking UK Disability History Month (18 November-18 December 2021) at North Mid with a series of events and activities throughout the month, to raise awareness and encourage conversations about this year's campaign theme, hidden impairments. View our news and events pages for more information.

 

Write a blog came the decree,

tell us about Rona, the Assistant Company Secretary

Tell us how long you have worked at the Trust,

and tell us what we can do better, if you must.

 

Give us the words of the DiverseAbility chair,

tell us, so that everyone can hear.

I tell you no lies I tossed, and I turned,

how am I gonna do this without causing concern.

 

To be fair a blog is not really my thing,

I’m a little more old school in my thinking.

I like to hold my own counsel when I lay in my bed

and then I put pen to paper to quiet the noise of life which for me helps, to put things right in my head.

 

So, these are my words, in my own way,

to give an insight into my day.

For me this is not about telling my life in an everlasting soliloquy,

but seeing disabled people in a different way.

 

I want to raise the voices of others like me,

who live their daily lives with a disability.

Not all can be seen, or measured in wheels,

hell, I can’t breathe but I love to wear red heels.

 

Walk a day in my shoes, on the uneven pavement floor,

or try to get your mobility scooter through that really heavy door,

Stiff fingers trying to control the cursor flying all over the screen,

for the sake of a mouse, you see what I mean?

 

We are strong, we are resilient, we have to be,

we don’t need pity but understanding and empathy.

It takes effort to steel oneself against careless words,

or try to continue working when the unkind comments can still be heard.

 

We have fought the good fight just to be here you see,

like on that morning you parked in the disabled bay when you shouldn’t, then pretended not to see me.

 

Now, one never to take myself too seriously,

I can give you a hundred stories of things that have happened to me,

Like the time I was so tired at the end of the day,

I got in the car in all the wrong way,

Hitting my head on the car door,

falling red heels and all into the car towards the floor.

Clamping my lips shut to prevent the shout and the squeal,

nearly knocking myself out, meh, it’s really no big deal.

 

But joking aside, this really is a serious thing,

and the Trust needs to start listening,

And act on the words and concerns that it hears,

so we can all learn to listen without prejudice and speak without fear.

 

Don’t get me wrong, things are not all bad,

the winds are a changing, we now have what we never had.

We now have a Reasonable Adjustment Policy, one that has recently been agreed,

One we can all understand, to get the support that we need.

 

We have the Disability Taskforce to moves things along

We have the DiverseAbility Network so you can tell us what is right, and when things go wrong.

 

For Disability History Month we will launch the Sunflower Scheme,

so those with hidden disabilities can be seen,

And for those who want to show their support with more than just a grin,

we are endeavouring to provide you with a DiverseAbility Pin.

 

Things can be done to even the score,

and not all are as dramatic as expensive equipment or changing a door.

Be kind, be thoughtful, this doesn’t cost a thing,

see the person not the disability, this is a quick win.

 

I know there may be a few diehards who need to get with the times,

and realise our differences are part of what makes us shine.

That tapestry, that kaleidoscope of colour and shape,

the diversity and multiplicity which transcends the hate.

 

I thank those colleagues who have taken the time,

to understand and accommodate those needs that are uniquely mine,

But be don’t fooled this is a two way street,

trust is needed so others can help you find your feet.

 

I try not to focus on what I cannot do,

but as a human my flaws are nothing new,

I strive to be better than I was yesterday,

my job is more to me than just my pay day.

 

Those I work with on the Trust floor,

since COVID came along, know about me a little more.

And although it is sometimes difficult to see,

remember my disability is not all of me.

 

Now, some will argue this piece was wreck, a car crash, not the brief, what the heck??

Others will disagree and say No, it was epic,

Either which way what matters

Is that you read it!!