Ms Wendy Newman:

Dia dhaoibh a chairde. Tá sé go deas bheith ag caint libh. I am here to talk about my experience with disability and education, and how education has helped me and played a big part in my recovery. I have an acquired brain injury, which happened when I fell off a horse in 2015. I went head-first into a brick wall. I had very serious head injuries and was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital where I was in a coma. I was in hospital for a long time. I could not walk, I could not talk and I could not move at all. I relied on others for everything. I could not continue in my job with Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta because I was so bad. My only income was from social welfare and I was very depressed. I was lost. At times I did not know where I would end up. I thought my life had no meaning and I did not have a clue what I could do next.

Then someone told me about the NLN. From the minute I heard about it, I felt it was something that would suit me. If nothing else, it would get me out of bed, get me organised and encourage me to plan and have a social life again. From the moment I walked in the door, I could see smiling, welcoming faces and I knew this was the right place for me. My tutor, James Conroy, knew about the fatigue I suffered from and he chatted to me about it. He gave me a chair by the door and told me that if ever I needed to get up and walk out to catch breath or get a cup of tea, I was more than welcome. This gave me peace of mind and I knew then that this was right for me. That little bit of understanding made all the difference.

In NLN, I studied IT and office skills. I found it challenging at first but over time I rediscovered myself. I grew in confidence and learned that I had something to offer. I am happy to say that I now have a job at the reception of a local company. What I have learned on my journey is that training services need to be supportive, understanding and approachable. People must be able to take training at their own pace. The social side of training, such as a smile, a conversation, a happy face, a coffee and making friends, was just as important as the certificate I got at the end of my course. I also believe that there should be better support once people leave training. A brain injury is for life so a bus pass or medical card should also be for life. I have spoken to a lot of people about these issues. I am happy to answer any questions the members have.