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» Jeanette Emmerson - Palmerston North
» Michael Zandvoort - Auckland
Jane Pope from Whangapararoa, north of Auckland, has had a career as a registered nurse, something she had to give up three years ago following a severe MS exacerbation leaving her decreased sensation and perception in her fingers, making her everyday nursing tasks difficult to perform.
Jane has chosen to enrol part-time, starting in 2008, in a Master of Social Work degree from Massey University, and will study by correspondence.
Since leaving nursing, Jane has been working part-time as a Field Worker for the Hibiscus Coast Parent Aid Family Services, dedicating her time to support families with young children who are experiencing a crisis. She has attended training courses in the various aspects of her current role.
Jane has welcomed the challenge of working with and helping other people and wants to now further her skills and knowledge with further social work training.
She hopes to get work in a hospital setting in either adolescent mental health or in the community working in rehabilitation with those affected by disability.
“I would like to help individuals, families and communities to resolve personal and social difficulties and promote policy options that provide a better environment in which to live.”
James Egan from Christchurch is married and is a father of two young boys. James has had an established and demanding career in pest control for some years. But in early 2007, his MS severely deteriorated to the extent that he could no longer manage the physical demands of his work. He is looking for a more sedentary job due to the chronic fatigue he suffers.
James is embarking on a new career direction pursuing a well-respected Certificate in Advanced Computer-aided Design at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering, from 2008. He hopes to get work as a design draftsperson, specialising in 3-D drawing.
James acknowledges that the Dorothy Newman Scholarship will help him to attain a qualification that will enable him to secure a new career in area he would enjoy.
“My numeracy skills and spatial awareness will equip me well for this course and for my chosen field, he says. He has already had positive indications about future work, given a shortage of specialist design technicians.
Elizabeth (Liz) plans to use the award to train as a teacher. Already a teacher aide for seven and a half years with a creditable record, she has been accepted in a Bachelor of Teaching degree at Waikato University’s School of Education for 2007.
She plans to use her already comprehensive skills and first-hand classroom experience to work with students with learning & behavioural challenges and physical disabilities – those who need extra help and assistance at school.
Having MS herself, she is not new to disability.
Liz first experienced MS in her late teens. Despite a number of debilitating attacks she was able to remain in the workforce. Married at 21 and a mother at 24, after a comfortable pregnancy, two weeks after the birth of her son, Josh, she had a severe exacerbation – with consequent hospitalisation, a huge loss in independence and a new baby. Her marriage collapsed with the enormity of the situation.
She has had no choice but to cope and bring up her son alone, aided by loving support from her family and motivated by her interest in disability studies.
"Studying with a disability and a small child was a challenge," she says, "but I met that challenge head on."
Liz now holds a Certificate in Human Services and a National Diploma in Teaching People with Disabilities from Waikato Polytechnic. These studies – together with her on hands classroom experience and personal experience – have enabled Liz to focus on understanding, valuing and supporting people with disabilities.
Liz is delighted and grateful at being one of this year’s recipients of the Dorothy Newman scholarship. She says that at present while her health is stable she relishes the challenge ahead. She is undaunted by her ongoing mobility problems, always having to use a walking stick.
But, she copes admirably. She has even initiated a lunchtime games group to assist students who don’t experience success out in the playground. She ensures that the group plays safely in a non-threatening environment.
Now, with renewed horizons and determination, she is seeking to fulfil her goal of becoming a teacher.
Jeanette is about to embark on a change of career direction. She completed a BA at Massey University’s Palmerston North campus in 2002 with a History major and also gained an undergraduate Certificate in Rehabilitation. She then commenced study towards a teaching degree to prepare for a career in early childhood education.
But, disappointingly, a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (known to most of us as MS) earlier this year meant that teaching was out. Physical comfort and security are an absolute must to carry out that role successfully – things most of us take for granted, but no longer guaranteed when you have MS.
So, now she’s exploring different options.
Jeanette is to take on part-time study for a BA in Information Technology and Library Studies through the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. She considers this will better suit her and ultimately give her more achievable employment choices.
Above all, she says that distance learning through the Open Polytechnic will give her the freedom and independence as a person with MS to study effectively.
"Something as simple as turning up to a class on time across town is not always easy for someone like me," she remarks. "Just physically getting there can be a challenge in itself sometimes, let alone having to concentrate when I get there and learn. Chronic fatigue is typically a problem."
"This way I have a much more flexible part-time alternative. I can study as my health allows," she says.
Jeanette feels privileged to be one of this year’s recipients of the Dorothy Newman study award and she looks forward to the challenge of part-time study ahead of her.
Frances is using the award to partially fund her Bachelor of Design (Visual Arts) at CPIT in Christchurch. Frances was diagnosed with MS in 2001 and quickly became active in the North Shore MS Society. However, a move closer to family in the South Island provided an opportunity for her to re-evaluate her goals, and she was successfully admitted to the design programme at CPIT. Having completed an initial foundation course, last year she finished her Certificate of Design prospectus, and featured in various exhibition brochures. Frances says: "Since being diagnosed I have become aware of the need to change my life to anticipate the challenges of living with MS. Retraining is critical to my future, and an integral part of the process of leading a fulfilling life that incorporates my MS. After completing my degree I intend to work from home – ideally as a children’s book illustrator.
I would also like to teach art to people in similar situations.
Paula is a kindergarten teacher. Her work involves supporting pupil’s development and building a strong relationship between the school, children’s parents and the wider community. Since diagnosis in 2004, Paula has reconsidered how she can best apply her practical skills and experience to the wider education industry. Thus, as part of her positive and proactive approach to the challenge of MS, Paula is undertaking a postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology at Massey in Albany. This will give her the skills necessary to work as an advisor to early childhood centres, where she can put her experience with and interest in children to good use. Paula has had an interesting and challenging first semester, learnt a lot about herself and proved that she can focus, concentrate and apply herself academically. She has been both inspired and challenged and met some wonderful people along the way. Paula says: "Thank you once again for the fantastic opportunity."
As a qualified outdoor instructor, Mike says that upon diagnosis and thinking pragmatically, it was obvious that primary teaching would be a less physically demanding role and one that would enable him to continue making a positive input into children’s lives through education. The award meant he could return to university last year and complete his Bachelor of Sport and Recreation at AUT. He has now moved to Christchurch and started a postgraduate diploma in primary education, with a view to becoming a teacher. Mike says he’s finding the course very challenging and is trying to balance a large workload with staying fit and healthy, as well as enjoying the close-proximity of the hills! He notes: "The award has made a huge difference - not having mounting student debt removes one big worry for an adult student with dubious physiology." His immediate goals are to pass the course and find rewarding, manageable employment (not necessarily in a classroom situation) where his various skills and experiences can be put to good use helping people. Mike gives a special thank you to the MS Society (Nola, Amy, Mini, Glen and the DL Newman Award judging panel) for helping him make all this possible.
A previous recipient of the Award, Rebekah has been studying at Nelson and Marlborough Institute of Technology for the last three years. She currently has three papers left to complete to gain the NZQA Diploma in Business and the NZIM Diploma in Management. She has been studying part-time instead of full-time as this helps her maintain good health. She has found the staff at NMIT very supportive and happy to do whatever they can to help her complete her diplomas at a pace that works for her. Having the scholarship has enabled her to have the papers she needs to complete transferred to a different semester so she can study part time because they have been prepaid. She has just completed an employment relations management paper and is about to start a paper in operations management. Next, there she has small business management and HR management papers to do. Rebekah says: "I feel this is an area that comes very naturally to me, one that I definitely feel passionate about and therefore enjoy immensely."
