How does a middle-aged spastic get voluntary work?
Dear Anyone.
I'm a middle-aged spastic, having been born with CP. I'm not in a wheelchair and I have17 Computing qualifications, including an HND equivalent. Thing is, I have Hydrocephalus along with the CP and this does make me look like a gnome gone wrong.
So I go along for a voluntary job and get the dreaded 'We'll Let You Know, Dear', or 'Leave us your name and number and We'll Get Back To You.' Or I get put down as a volunteer and treated like a user - every time anyone asks me to do anything it's 'It's OK, Dear. We can handle it!' And you end up not getting to actually help. Which means you start wondering why you're going there - you don't want to just be a user but you're forced into that role because nobody lets you do anything else.
Anyone got any ideas how to get around this? I'm pretty bright - though I. Always. Get. Spoken. To. In. Words. Of. One. Syllable. Slowly. Like. This. I'm a good learner and think of myself as fairly capable - if I need help, I'll ask for it. And I'm always willing to do things. Yet it's so RARE that anyone actually LETS me do anything, it's a permanent frustration like an itch you can't scratch.
And then I'm accused of being a 'lazy retard' by various members of the General Public, which annoys me even more! I challenge those members to give me work and they snigger. 'What can you do?' and walk off.
All I'm asking for is to be given a chance to get started somewhere, and nobody seems to want to let me have it.
Yours hopefully
Chris.
Emma says:
The same way as anyone else! be confident, proactive & push to be given tasks. Don't be afraid to point out that you're there to help
Kaz says:
To get work exp I volunteered at local 'Community First' office they have offices everywhere http://www.comfirst.org.uk/ they were gr8.
"Brew On" says:
Chris how about brewing beer? Fancy having a go? If you're anywhere near Herefordshire we'd be glad to help! www.brew-on.co.uk
hmmm I sort of know what you mean. I'm from a different condition but I felt in some places I was 'asked to make the tea' when I'm there to do computer graphics. I decided that computer graphics is my subject and I won't be doing anything else. Including tea and sympathy as well.
Currently this means that I don't have a volluntary job, I'm looking for training opportunities which I difficult as the funding has all gone. But I've got some software at home and if I can't do a course I'll have to get private tuition or something. Which is a shame but there you go.
The thing is I decided this is my subject and nobody can take that away
all the best
First of all: Hello Chris I'd recommend that you stop using the word, 'middle-aged spastic'. It just reinforces the stupidity of the person you have to put up with
Secondly: If someone wants to condescend then throw it right back at them.
Thirdly: Have you been to a Scope charity shop in your area? If not then why not pop along and see what happens?
Fourthly: You're more than welcome to join the Scope Yorkshire on facebook, which is run by Volunteers, friends of Scope and the Scope charity shop manager, Leeds. You'll be welcomed as you would on the main Scope FB page.
Fifthly: Have you tried contacting an organisation like pathways to work http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/pathways-to-work/? can be a great way to get into voluntary organisations?
Sixthly: You can never win when it comes to idiots, that's why the middle finger is so educational at times.
Hi Kaz,
Thank you for putting up your link to, 'Community First' . I'll use that on the Scope Yorkshire page.
regards,
Hi Chris,
Our followers on twitter came back with a number of comments. I'll post them here.
Hope they help,
Alex