Cerebral Palsy and the Workplace  

– By Bryan Farrah

Introduction  

Hello, my name is Bryan, I’m from Cardiff born and bred. I have been working as an intern in the Centre for Trials Research as part of the Supported Internship programme. I love football and I support FC Barcelona.  I have mild cerebral palsy and scoliosis. I am currently in my placement doing research on barriers to employment for people with cerebral palsy. 

What is Cerebral Palsy? 

Cerebral Palsy is a condition where it affects muscle control, movement and coordination. It affects about one in every four hundred children in the UK. Some of the things which people with cerebral palsy find difficult include opening doors, walking up and downstairs, speech and processing information quickly. There are different kinds of cerebral palsy, and everyone’s experience is different.  

Personally, I have mild Cerebral Palsy and Scoliosis – which means the spine is curved, so I experience regular tiredness and hypersensitivity. I find it hard to concentrate on work for an extended period –  I can’t take too much information at once. I get uncomfortable and I want to get out and feel free instead of feeling closed in. 

On a personal level I love football, but I lost my passion that I once had because us people with Cerebral Palsy do not seem to get a chance and it is just too hard to try to keep up with able bodied people. This has led me to where I am now, I am interested in finding out what jobs are out there that I can do. 

In my internship I have been doing research on the barriers for people with cerebral palsy in the workplace.  

Why is it hard for people with Cerebral Palsy to find a job?  

Compared with the rest of the population, people with Cerebral Palsy are much less likely to be in work.  There are lots of reason why this is.  Living with Cerebral Palsy is challenging for the individual – including tiredness, feeling overwhelmed when processing information, and finding it hard to lift things like boxes or other things which most people take for granted. 

But people with CB have lots of skills and abilities.  A challenge which we face is a lack of understanding of what we can do, and the kind of help we might need.  People might not know what Cerebral Palsy is or think that we are not listening when we need to ask a question a few times. 

Another important barrier for people like me is that places are not accessible to wheelchairs.  For instance, heavy doors that you have to push, or pull are hard on your muscles and make you feel like simple things are not easy like they are for other people.  Sometimes places like hospitals or parks don’t have level paths, or there are stairs which mean you have to go a long way around.  If a lift is broken it makes a simple journey frustrating. 

How can we give people with Cerebral Palsy a chance in a workplace? 

My personal experience was that I went for a walk in the park and to see the pond, but there was no clear path, and it was rocky and bumpy.  Someone had to help me, but if the path had been made better, I could have got there myself. 

I think places need to be more accessible because sometimes places don’t have automatic doors, and we must rely on people opening the door for us. 

People like me with Cerebral Palsy use a wheelchair, but that doesn’t mean we’re less clever – it just means that we might need a bit more help to get to places.  Sometimes we might need to ask a question a couple of times.  If people understand why, it will make being at work less stressful for us.  Sometimes we might get tired but there are ways around that – like working and then taking a break.  And automatic doors would help! 

What I have learnt and what are my plans? 

During my time in the Centre for Trials Research I have enjoyed working with my mentor Jeremy, and have met lots of people who do different jobs in the centre.  I have become more confident in talking to other people and sharing my experiences of living with Cerebral Palsy.  My highlight was going to the CTR staff meeting and seeing my name on the big screen when I was introduced to everyone!  My plans for the future are to do something that involves young people and sport and helping other people with disabilities to achieve their goals.