To celebrate National Personal Assistants Day on Friday 13 November, ILF Scotland will be sharing stories throughout the week that recognise the dedication of Personal Assistants (PAs) and the vital role they play in supporting disabled people to live independently.
Professional musician, author and filmmaker, Mick McCluskey, aged 69, developed chronic pancreatitis and later suffered a stroke which changed his life dramatically. Mick, who lives in a remote cottage in the Angus countryside, says he “counts his blessings every night” for his four PAs Willie, Kevin, Babs and Sarah.
He said: “When I became disabled my life suddenly changed overnight and I was dependent on other people.
“It took me years to find the right PAs and realise what I needed. Caring skills can be taught, but I wanted people who understood me and my life.
"One of my PAs, Willie, is a filmmaker and we met when he came to interview me for a documentary. We clicked straight away and to find another filmmaker on the same level as me was brilliant.
"My other PAs Babs and Sarah are mother and daughter. Babs is like a sister to me and can tell it to me straight and I think of Sarah as a niece.
"Kevin is a musician and even played alongside me when I returned to the stage after 25 years.
"We are like one big family. They keep my spirits up, know me well and genuinely care about what happens to me. They don't bring stress in and always look out for me."
Last year Mick and his PA Kevin organised a fundraising concert celebrating music from the 1980s, featuring members of iconic bands including the bass player from Simple Minds and the lead singer of Average White Band. The event raised more than £10,000 for Roxburghe House and the Brain Injury Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee, as well as RNLI.
With support from ILF Scotland funded specialist training, Mick was able to stand on stage and play his saxophone in front of a sold-out audience for the first time in 25 years.
Mick explained: “After my stroke, ILF funding allowed me to have specialist balance and breathing training for nine months. Without that support, I wouldn't have been able to play my saxophone on stage again.
“My son was in front of me, Kevin was behind me and the others were cheering me on in the wings. I knew I wasn’t as strong as I used to be, but everyone believed in me.
“I’m so lucky to have the connection I do with all my PAs. Trying to go from A to B can be scary, but they make me feel safe.
"I rebel against my own illness. It will not stop me. My PAs lift me up with the light that comes in with them. They help me laugh at myself and achieve all my projects, whether that is making films, writing books or performing on stage.
“Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do. Even if you don't achieve everything you hoped for, you might achieve more than you ever expected. My PAs support and encourage me to do that.
"I wish everyone who had a disability had PAs like mine. I count my blessings every night when I go to bed."
ILF Scotland CEO, Peter Scott, said: “Personal Assistants play a crucial role in enabling disabled people to live independent, fulfilling and self-directed lives.
“They provide much more than practical support. They help people to develop and maintain relationships, pursue interests and ambitions, contribute to their communities and achieve the goals that matter most to them.
“Mick’s story is a powerful example of what can be achieved when disabled people have the right support at the right time. Through the dedication, skill and commitment of his Personal Assistants, Mick has been able to continue creating, performing and living the life he chooses and which is so important to him.
“We are grateful to Mick for sharing his story and for highlighting the difference that his Personal Assistants have made in his life. On Personal Assistants Day, we want to recognise and thank PAs across Scotland and Northern Ireland for the invaluable contribution they make every day. Their work helps turn the principles of choice, control and independent living into a reality for thousands of disabled people.”
