THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME

My name is James Denny, a signaller at Thames Valley Signalling Centre (TVSC) in Didcot, having worked for almost twenty years in a variety of jobs around the railway, both on the main line and for preservation groups. I’m an area health and safety representative and chair of RMT’s Reading branch, and temporary equalities officer for Reading Trades Council. I have been becoming aware that I am neurodivergent over the last few years, thanks to the growing publicity surrounding neurodivergence and the conditions it includes. The union movement, and especially the RMT, has played a big part in this. The big ‘penny drop’ moment came for me, though, in one of the training sessions I organise for the team of reps and managers I co-chair. I had invited our local IT agent, who is autistic, to speak to us about neurodiversity in the workplace, to give our team a better appreciation of what we can do to help. As he talked through his slides, I noticed that I related to everything he was saying. I already believed that I had some form of dyspraxia, but had never considered autism. It all felt distinctly surreal: how could I, having spent nearly two decades in safety- critical jobs, not to mentioning chairing committees and running events, have ‘something wrong with me’? Then it dawned on me: it’s not ‘something wrong’, it’s simply that my brain is wired differently and, in some cases, this is a distinct advantage. In the health and safety projects I have run, the ‘thinking outside the box’ that comes with my neurodivergence has been a big part of the success. Despite my initial concerns about how my manager would react – would I be taken off safety-critical duties? – I’ve received nothing but support. It’s clear to him, and to me, that whatever my exact condition, I can do the job I do with no need for concern. My message to all of you is have the confidence to talk to someone. It’s much easier to make the adjustments required if it’s known what those adjustments are. If you do experience problems, have confidence that your company and union can help you. I’m now a member of the union’s disabled members advisory committee as well as Neurodivergent Labour, and there are plenty more groups out there who can help. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2020 :: RMTnews 26 R ichard Constable, a member of the RMT disabled members advisory committee, is going to do a charity bike ride "Football to Amsterdam" in aid of fighting Prostate Cancer, which he is a survivor. It starts at the London velodrome and ends up in Amsterdam via Harwich and the Hook of Holland from Friday June 5 - Sunday June 7. If you feel that you could sponsor him please send your donations into head office at Unity House marked for the attention of Jessica Webb before Sunday May 31. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation in this appeal. https://prostatecanceruk.org/get- involved/football-to-amsterdam There is also a just giving page that donations can be made on as follows on Facebook “Richard David Constable” events RIDING FOR CHARITY ‘THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME’ DISABLED MEMBERS SPEAK OUT