Pictured at Brookfield Health Sciences Complex are John Twomey with L-R: Evan McMahon, a student of the Intellectual Disability Nursing programme, with General Nursing students Laurence O'Tuama, Geraldine O'Brien, Michelle O'Regan, Sarah Moloney and Maria Nason (Image by Tony Archer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, AV Support).
The presentation comes as part of an on-going series of lectures between the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Department of Applied Social Studies, which aims to raise awareness of disability. As emerging healthcare professionals, nursing students from the BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing and the BSc General Nursing Programme at UCC are ideally placed to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities.
Twomey is very clear on the type of attitude he expects from the health sector as well as the general public: “Being in a wheelchair is an inconvenience, not a life stopper. You have to see me, not my chair”.
Twomey, who hails from Ballinhassig in Cork, has enjoyed a distinguished sporting career. While sailing has been his true passion, he won a bronze medal for discus in 1984 and a gold medal in 1988 at the Seoul Olympics.
He has been a constant advocate for people with disabilities through his ongoing participation in national and international competitions. Twomey made history this year by competing in sailing at what was his 10th Paralympics at London 2012, a record for any Irish person competing at either the Olympics or Paralympics. He was placed 11th overall alongside his teammates Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costelloe (Sonar class).
“The School of Nursing and Midwifery is deeply committed to ensuring that our undergraduate nursing students embrace disability, become more broad-minded and ultimately care for and support people with disabilities to the best of their abilities,” says Lynne Marsh, college lecturer and registered nurse in intellectual disability. “A slogan created by second year students from the BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing programme, ‘Intellectual Disabilities: Infinite Possibilities’, is one which encompasses physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities and shows that no one should be limited by their disability.”
Lynne first met John nearly 25 years ago. His refusal to let any barrier get in the way of enjoying life since a fateful cycling accident 40 years ago is an attitude that has remained with her. “He had to decide if he was going to live his life in the world. In the early years, he would attend appointments with a friend. Instinctively, the healthcare professional would direct all the questions to John’s companion and ignore him. He was determined to be visible and he started to attend all his appointments unaccompanied and healthcare professionals had no option but to talk to him directly,” says Lynne. “John is a great example of ability; he travels the world, enjoys a happy and healthy life and has embraced his disability. He is one of those people that you are instantly drawn to because of his positive outlook in life.”