Welcome to VERCIDA website.

Skip to main content
Enable Recite to make this website accessible

Personal disability stories: Michael's story - making the comeback count

Category: Disability (Learning/Mental/Physical)

Disability

MichaelMichael

Whoever you are, sometimes really bad stuff happens to you. When it does, you want to come back from it and comebacks can take a long time, with many twists and turns.

In 2005, training for the New Zealand Ironman, I was on a bike ride with a friend. A van suddenly turned across our path. I had nowhere to go, but to crash into it. I went from over 20mph to zero in a heartbeat. I was lucky to survive, and a long recovery ensued.

My accident left me with a severe traumatic brain injury. I was in the coma-like state of Post-Traumatic Amnesia for almost two months. I spent about a month in intensive care and a further six months in a rehabilitation unit. This included intensive physiotherapy, as I learned how to walk again.

There is so much our brains normally do seamlessly, such as walking. It’s only when something goes wrong that we realise how important they are. I had to re-learn so many things, it felt like being thrown to the bottom of a steep mountain. To get back the life I wanted to lead, I had to scale it.

My accident prevented me from completing Ironman in 2005. It created a range of issues that made it difficult to even consider training. Yet, I had survived, and none of those issues could stop me attempting it.

Before my accident, I’d been considering a PhD in Economics. I still had a passion for the subject. Barriers to study now included fatigue from my brain injury, ongoing health treatment and problems with my focus. But I wasn’t daunted, and knew that my abilities would improve. So, I took on a Masters in Economics.

It took me five years to succeed in these goals. I learnt so many lessons, achieved so many smaller goals and got so much help from talking to people. I started a blog about strategies for recovering from brain injury. My accident was definitely bad luck but, underpinned by a bit of hard work, I had so much good luck following it. For example, I still wasn’t running well two and a half years afterwards. I researched this, spoke to experts and found a physiotherapist in Australia who specialised in teaching people to run, post-brain injury. Even after training with him, though, I still hadn’t cracked it. I was unbelievably fortunate when another physio, who was herself a runner, happened to move into my block in 2009. How far would I have gotten without her?

In 2010, I finally completed an Ironman. The following year, I completed an MA with Merit in Economics. But my recovery wasn’t over – not even close. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with a British woman. We married and moved to London in 2017. Changing to a new country isn’t easy. With a CV that looked odd because of my accident, I struggled to find work as an economist.

Michael approaching the finish line in an Ironman raceThe finish line in sight for 'Ironman' Michael

I’d somehow gone off track. Life had separated me from the work I was passionate about. Although my accident was now well in my past, I’d somehow lost my overall purpose, the glue that bound my recovery together. I stopped talking to people about how things were going. Brain injury issues like forgetfulness and fatigue started disrupting my life again. Not even becoming a father helped me find my mojo.

My wife and wider family managed to encourage and cajole me to find these things. The Civil Service more readily accepts candidates from diverse backgrounds like me. It gave me the start I needed, an Assistant Economist role at DCMS. Once more having full-time work in economics, I found my mojo again. Through the Ability Network at DCMS and my blog, I started talking to people again about recovery. And I’m back thinking about major goals to achieve.

The accident that disabled me also gave me great strengths. Few have my ability to think resourcefully about goals. I perceive my personal weaknesses – I break them into small steps I need to take and I get the input I need. 

Now, I've started in the Civil Service, I am very fortunate to have a manager who helps me make the most of my skills and gives me the flexibility to plan work around my fatigue. She also discusses goals with me openly, advising me when she doesn’t think my path is the right one.

Why am I sharing this? Lots of people tell me how inspiring my story is. If only they’d say what it was that they were inspired to do, I wouldn’t see these as mere platitudes.

I’m sharing my story for people who are coming back from something, be it brain injury or anything else. If that’s you, I encourage you to keep in mind your overall motivation to recover. What is the glue that holds it all together for you? Talk about the stuff that’s weighing you down. The Civil Service is full of supportive groups like DCMS Ability Network – start using your employee network now. And my best wishes for your comeback.

Show us how it can be done!

Michael

Vercida logo

VERCIDA works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with VERCIDA to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please email [email protected] for more information.

Learn more about this employer

Department for Culture, Media & Sport

Inclusive features

  • Race, Ethnicity & Heritage
  • Dependency (Parenting & Carers)
  • Social Responsibility (Charity/ Volunteering)
  • Staff Network Group
Government, Politics, EU Department for Culture, Media & Sport

Thank you for registering on VERCIDA - the leading job site for companies that are passionate about diversity and inclusion.

  • Check out our client profiles to get the latest on their DE&I credentials
  • Look out for client benefits next to all our job specs
  • Sign up for job alerts to keep up to date on new roles as they come in
  • Search 1000s of roles from the biggest brands

Please proceed to the next step. If you are unable to complete the next stage of application please use the contact form HERE.

You will receive an email with link to reset your password.

Enter your new password