CP Info

About US

My name is Mark, I am 53 years old and have lived all my life with Cerebral Palsy. My Cerebral Palsy diagnosis when I was 2^1/2 years was moderate Quadriplegic Spasticity Athetosis, and more recently, I was informed that I have Dystonia due to my Cerebral Palsy which partly explains some of the changes I have experienced as I have got older. My CP affects all four limbs and a minor speech impairment. I am mobile and manage to walk independently althoough unsteady with a build up on my right shoe due to my right leg being shorter. I have difficulties with my dexterity and fine motor skills and experience involuntary movements. As I get older, I am experiencing pain in various areas i.e. lower back and neck pain is more prominent. It also takes me longer to perform everyday activities.

My parents were very encouraging as I grew up and would not allow me to use my CP as an excuse not to try new things. They also fought for me to attend a mainstream school. The primary school was not keen on having a pupil with CP although I did have some good teachers. From my early years at primary school, I was assessed annually by an educational psychologist, and from these assessments it was assumed I had a learning disability. The secondary school was very supportive which helped me start to develop my potential. As a result, when I had my final assessment, with the educational psychologist, prior to leaving school; I was assessed as being of average intelligence. I left secondary school with a few low-grade qualifications. All through my schooling I used an electric or electronic typewriter.

Once I started secondary school, I was encouraged by my parents to travel on my own using the local bus service and to meet with friends after school and at the weekend. Alternatively, I often used my bike to go and meet friends as I found cycling easier than walking. When I passed my driving test in 1990 and got my first mobility car; an Austin Mini Metro automatic, I done less cycling eventually stopping about 20 years ago.

Upon leaving school at 16, I went to Motherwell College which had a residential unit for students with disabilities. Due to my qualifications, I was enrolled in a two-year course designed to develop life and work skills, but I found the course very uninspiring and not challenging. Through speaking up for myself, during the second year I did more computing subjects, which was of real interest. Fortunately, at the end of this year one of the computing lecturers saw my potential and offered me the opportunity to complete the HNC Computing qualification over 2 years as opposed to one. The college assisted with arranging funding for me, including remaining in the residential unit for a further 2 years. From here I progressed onto University of Paisley and graduated in 1995 with a BSc Combined Studies Majoring in Computing.

In January 1996, I started my employment career path with Momentum Scotland an IT Trainer, then Team Leader. During this time, I completed an HNC Social Care qualification and progressed on to achieving a PGDip in Community Care through day release while working full-time. Following this I moved over to the Care Division of Momentum in 2008, where my role was the coordination, development and delivery of staff training for all care services. Unfortunately, I was made redundant in 2012. However, I was fortunate enough to gain further experience working as a Service Leader with another voluntary organisation. Then I spent a few years working with local authorities in care management and assessment roles.

For those interested in my full education and employment history, please view my LinkedIn profile.

In 2017 while working as a Social Work Assistant, I had to stop working due to my CP which was slowing me down. Consequently, I could not maintain the pace required. Whenever I tried to work faster my coordination worsened. This is when I first notice a significant change to my CP.

I live independently with my wife Gemma, who also has CP. We find that overall, we managed very well as our abilities complement each other. Gemma and I met while we were working at Momentum and got married in Jamacia in 2014.

I have a gained lot of personal and professional experience regardless of my CP. I intend to share these experiences through written blogs and snippets about how CP has not prevented me from living a fulfilled life and should not be viewed as a barrier to achieving your own goals and life aspirations. I have a real passion for learning new skills, in particular in IT. This is also the reason I am striving to build the web resource myself. I also hope to someday return to part-time employment in IT or Web development.

I also encourage yourselves to share your experiences as I believe this can assist others with CP; and show that Scotland has a supportive CP Community. Please email me your stories to share and inspire others living with CP. I really look forward to reading and sharing your experiences.