Maybe it’s a result of my natural
learning style, but I’ve always believed the most powerful learning comes from
direct experience. Sometimes this can happen in contrived environments, like
the simulations and exercises that we build into our workshops, but sometimes
good learning can turn up completely unexpectedly.
My most recent experience
happened quite by accident, in the form of a broken ankle! Early learning
confronted my total lack of skill in being able to balance on one leg,
resulting in even the simplest task became a major feat! Why should balancing
on one leg make cleaning teeth such an impossible task?
I needed to get back to work as
soon as possible, and whilst crutches are ok for hopping between the sofa and
the loo, they’re not ideal for trekking around the country running training
events.
I decided to hire a wheelchair
(thank you Wheelfreedom – amazing service!) and that’s when my learning really
moved up a gear! I started to think about the logistics of travelling to my
sessions and was surprised to discover in this technologically liberated /
customer focussed era that if you are a wheelchair user, journeys on public
transport need to be planned with military precision. Trains need to be
pre-booked so that ramps can be available to get on and off the train, and
routes planned to ensure step-free access at the beginning and end of every
journey. Bus services seem to be better, with well designed wheelchair areas as
standard, together with automated access ramps or ‘low-floors’, meaning they
can be lowered to pavement level by the driver at bus stops.
Once I had begun to re-claim my
place in the outside world, it highlighted the next – and in many ways most
powerful - learning: As a wheelchair user, I became invisible! People stopped
seeing me (the person) even if they managed to notice The Chair! At it’s most
terrifying, this resulted in being climbed over by stressed commuters trying to
get to work in the snow, who failed to register me as anything more than an
obstruction! However, on many occasions people stopped talking to me, even if
it was about my need. I found it harder to be assertive, felt it challenging to
be independent, and even found my style of training changed as I couldn’t
easily move around the training room which made it more difficult to facilitate
my groups..
In many ways this wasn’t new learning. Over the years I’ve
worked with colleagues and clients with a range of disabilities which has given
me perspectives on how we, Society, can stereotype people and reduce inclusion.
This knowledge has led me to be an advocate for Equality and work towards
making it an everyday reality. However, as the KOLB learning cycle explains,
Knowledge and Experience are totally different things! What I learned from my
first-hand experience has added a depth of understanding and awareness to my
knowledge of the concept of inclusion.
Lastly on this particular journey
I’ve remembered the power of setting goals to motivate progress. I’ve signed up
for ‘Race for Life’ in June. I won’t be running the 5K, but am determined I
will be walking the course, without crutches.
That means I’ve got 14 weeks to get out of the plaster and into the
running shoes – oh yes, and achieve the £500 sponsorship target I’ve set
myself! Challenging goals? Maybe, but that’s what makes them interesting!
Help me to achieve my £500 target, and give me a few words of support at my sponsor page:
~ Terry
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