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Sandy’s story – life during COVID-19

In this story: Learning disability / COVID-19 /

"I did have worries about COVID-19 because I was listening to the news 24/7 and things were happening really quickly."

“I’m Sandy and I’m a big Aberdeen fan. I’ve been a season ticket holder for about eight or nine years now and I’m a West Ham fan as well and I’ve just recently become a season ticket holder for them too. I’m a volunteer DJ for the local pubs and I volunteer for my local community radio station. It’s given me the opportunity to meet new people.

Having additional support needs and having a disability means absolutely nothing and anything is possible. I think people with additional support needs sometimes do need help and I think people are wary of speaking up. I was part of that as well. I used to let somebody else do all the talking but I sat back and thought ‘well if I want to do something I’ve got to do the talking’. It was a comfort barrier to overcome and I’ve certainly done that. Never look back always look forwards.

I did have worries about COVID-19 because I was listening to the news 24/7 and things were happening really quickly so I had to stop listening. But I was very lucky before I went into lockdown that I was able to get myself a PS4. A lot of my friends that I used to go to school with have the PS4 so we play FIFA most nights. Because I’ve been part of radio for a good number of years I’m in touch with one presenter who does a football show on a Saturday. So he’s set up a COVID-19 isolation football tournament on PS4. It’s all about taking part and it’s brought us more together as friends. We’re keeping in touch more so that’s really helped me.

I don’t know what I’ll do when life gets back to normal. I don’t know what’s going to happen with my community radio station. I don’t know if I’ll still have my role because of social distancing. We’ll never have that life back again. We’ll just have to come together and grin and bear it. I think COVID-19 has shocked everybody. I would say stick with your family and friends and we’ll all get through this together.”

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