Jemma This page is first of the set of Personal Perspectives by Type III Adults. (This was originally given as a talk at the JTSMA 2000 conference)

From when I started to walk, I did fall over a lot and so when I was about 5, my parents thought I should learn to swim in case I fell into a river or pool. My first instructor immediately said that there was no chance I would ever be able to swim and so that made me try harder. I got the hang of swimming very quickly, and after a few years I joined a local swimming club for the disabled, which I went to every week and I started entering small competitions. I quickly progressed with my swimming and it was one of my favourite hobbies. By about the age of 10, I was competing in larger galas all over the country, such as one in Darlington. As I can't really participate in other sports, swimming was my only exercise, but I loved it so much, I saw it more as an enjoyment. I have been awarded about 50 medals. Even now, I am safer in the water that I am out, my only problem is getting in and out of the pool! Even though I don't swim regularly with a club anymore, because I am concentrating on my school work, whenever I get the opportunity, I will go swimming.

Another interest I developed was playing the piano, but it was strange how I began. About six years ago, my Dad bought himself a keyboard, which he was going to learn on, but, as usual, he never did, so when the music teacher came round at school asking if anyone wanted to learn an instrument, I thought I would try the piano. After a year or so, I was really enjoying playing so I convinced my parents to buy me second hand piano. When I left my primary school, I could no longer have lessons at school, which I had been doing, so I started learning privately. Because my hands were not as strong as those of most people, my teacher didn't think I would get past examination grades 1 or 2, but, in fact I am now practicing for Grade 4. I was really pleased when I managed to achieve a distinction in my elementary, and in grades 2 & 3. I still love music and took it as one of my subjects for GCSE.

I have always been adventurous and even now I would love to do a parachute jump, a bungee jump or whatever. When I was 14, my Mum told me that she and my Grandpa were going in a hot air balloon for my Grandpa's 80th birthday. I wasn't at all surprised as they too are daredevils, like me and I was really looking forward to watching it. When the day came, it was about an hour before we were ready to leave and my Mum told me that I was going up with them! I had no idea but I should have guessed, because my Mum would have done a thing like that to me. But, as usual, the whole way down to the launch site, I wasn't thinking about how brilliant it was likely to be, but how I was going to get in and out of the basket, and how I was going to stand up for an hour, and what if I fell when we landed!! I am a terrible worrier, I even worried about getting up on this stage today, that is why I have used the wheelchair, so I wouldn't have to worry about managing the steps!

Anyway, my Mum told me that there would be people to help me in and out of the balloon basket, but it was easier than I expected. When we took off, we all laid down in the basket, lying on the ground, and when we landed I didn't have to climb out, I was just lifted out. I had a really brilliant time, it was just so good being with my Mum and my Grandpa, and we all had champagne afterwards, except I hate champagne.

Up until about two years ago I was able to walk most of the time, but I would borrow a wheelchair to use when I went shopping, so I decided to have my own electric wheelchair. I am really glad that I chose to have it because it has given me so much independence, I use it when I go shopping and sometimes at school, but I do walk as much as I can. At about the same time as when I got the wheelchair, my Mum and Dad found out about how and when I could learn to drive a car. I was really shocked when they told me I could learn at 16 and so we started saving for a suitable car that would accommodate my electric wheelchair. I was assessed for what adaptations I would need in a car and with the help of Motability, my parents had bought me my car which is a Mitsubishi Spacewagon.

A few weeks before I turned 16, my Dad took me to the car drome where I could practice on private roads, of course, my Mum wouldn't come with me, as she was too scared! On my 16th birthday, I had already planned that with my Dad, I would drive to school for the first time on public roads. My Mum still wouldn't come with me, even though I had a dual control so that my Dad could stop me in an emergency. Typical! I had my first lesson three days later and after 9 more lessons I took my theory test and passed. We then booked my proper driving test for a couple of months later. The night before, I slept two hours, I told no one at school that I was taking it and was going crazy with nerves. I went to school in the morning, and came home at lunchtime as I usually did on a Wednesday. My test was at 2.30pm so I went out at 1 o'clock for one last lesson before my test and it was completely typical that the weather got bad and there were hale stones but luckily it cleared up for my test. When I pulled up at the end of my test, I had a feeling I had passed because my manoeuvers went really well so when the examiner told me I definitely had passed, I went to phone my Mum. As soon as I heard the phone answer, I screamed "I've passed, I've passed". I got no answer, my Mum had dropped the phone on the floor with excitement.

I have now been driving since the 1st March this year, giving all my friends lifts everywhere, of course. Driving a car has given me so much independence because I can't use buses and trains but everything is thanks to my Mum and Dad.

In conclusion, I must emphasise that, despite my SMA type III disability, I have tried to follow as normal a life as possible. In fact, I believe I have achieved possibly more than some 16 year olds who have no physical limitations. I am a competent swimmer, I play the piano, I have been up in a hot air balloon, I drive a car, and have recently passed in nine GCSE's including an "A" grade in mathematics.

Other people with SMA type III should be encouraged by what I have achieved and should be aware that determination will help them to succeed in those areas which otherwise would seem impossible.

© JTSMA May 2001