This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by James Sutliff, a Certified Disability Specialist Coach and Personal Trainer at James Sutliff Personal Trainer & Disability Specialist Coach. James has dystonia, which affects his speech and his hands. This episode was POWERFUL. It wasn't until he pushed harder for answers that he got referred to specialists and found out his dystonia was caused by continuous concussion & head bangs whilst playing rugby over the years. Not having a diagnosis quite literally ruined him - he had no money, no job, no savings until he got his diagnosis. He talks about how much he loves his job working with disabled people and training them, and how being disabled has made him into the person that he is. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• The journey to getting a diagnosis for James. He shares his experience of not having a diagnosis for 5 years and how things changed for him after being diagnosed.
• James talks about what it’s like for him to live with Dystonia. He shares how life is different for him than that of the average person and how he manages it.
• How James’ disability affected his previous career. He talks about how he lost his career as a plumber/heating engineer and how not having a real diagnosis at the time affected him.
• His current career as a personal trainer. He has found this career path to be the best for him.
• James’ advice to people who have similar experiences, persons with disabilities and anyone in general. He says pushing for answers is the best way to navigate life.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways:

• No matter the obstacle, not giving up is the only way to see through to your goal.
• Even though James’ years without a diagnosis negatively affected his life, he still found a way to live comfortably.

Resources

James Sutliff LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Brooke Millhouse Instagram 

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en