Helen's Story: Lived experience

In September 2025, I joined Cedar’s Employee Engagement Forum and became part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion subgroup. Inclusion and equality are very close to my heart. During discussions within the subgroup, someone suggested I should write about my own experience as an employee and living with a disability. I was initially reluctant, and telling my story is well outside my comfort zone. I hope that sharing my experiences will enable individuals to feel more at ease talking about their disability or health condition. Whether you are an employee, a service user accessing one of our services, or a potential employee, I hope that sharing my story will help you. 

I live with a mild form of Cerebral Palsy. I’m fortunate that most of the time I feel well; however, I can experience periods of fatigue and pain. Also, my speech can be unclear, and I take longer to complete tasks. I have a glass-half-full attitude to all aspects of my life. 

I knew I wanted a career where I could positively impact people’s lives. My eagerness to help others stems from my personal experiences of receiving support throughout my life. After graduating in June 2012, like many graduates just out of university, I shared the same worries as my peers, along with a few additional concerns. My initial hesitation was whether to select ‘Yes’ for the disability question on the application form. I remember ticking the yes box, which felt like a big thing for me, as I’m just Helen, but being open is the best policy, I believe. 

After job hunting, I started working for The Cedar Foundation in June 2013 as a Job Support Worker, based in our Balmoral office. I worried that people might not see me as Helen, and I questioned whether I could offer the same level of service to my service users as my colleagues did. I shouldn’t have worried. I would describe myself as outgoing and friendly; however, I was apprehensive about my speech. I wanted to ‘bury my speech difficulties in the sand’. Thankfully, I had an incredible manager and colleagues who saw me as Helen and believed in me. I have accepted that, on rare occasions, people will misunderstand me now; this is nobody's fault. The last thing I want is to make anyone uncomfortable. One technique I use when beginning work with new service users is to tell them that my speech might be unclear at times. I reassure them that if they cannot understand me, they should ask me to repeat anything to ensure they understand. I also emphasise that I’m here to do my job and don’t want the focus on me. Thankfully, my service users see me as Helen, their Community Inclusion Officer. 

My favourite part of my job is working directly with service users. However, this role also involves administrative tasks such as emailing, calling, and record-keeping. I take longer to complete tasks because I live with Cerebral Palsy. I can write, but it takes more effort and time than it does for my colleagues. My manager noticed I was struggling and advised me on reasonable adjustments, including using my laptop for all meetings to save time and energy. I also use software that helps me work more efficiently. Honestly, my pride made me hesitant to use these adjustments at first. I have now accepted my laptop and software as essential ‘tools’ that enable me to work more independently, quickly, and effectively. 

I also live with an immune condition and sometimes need injections for it. I can become unwell quickly, so I occasionally have to cancel plans at the last minute. With my manager's agreement, I have flexible working arrangements. Before the COVID pandemic, it was agreed that if I experienced a ‘flare-up’, I could work from home rather than take sick leave. I am fortunate that I didn’t need to use this arrangement often, but having the option is helpful. Also, the flexible working policy allows me to attend medical appointments and reduces pressure during flare-ups, as I may need to work shorter days. 

It has been a journey-12 years working at Cedar. I thoroughly enjoy my job and feel privileged to be involved in people’s lives. I am grateful to work alongside wonderful colleagues and a brilliant, supportive manager. I prefer to be the one providing support, but accepting support is also helpful. My advice is to focus on your strengths rather than your hurdles and be open to new opportunities. Please continue to see me as Helen, colleague, potential colleague, and most importantly, Community Inclusion Officer.”