From NHS Nurse to Ski Instructor

Skiing with my own health care needs One of the reasons I am so passionate about helping people with health needs to ski is that I ski with my own health problems; several of them. I have scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, joint hypermobility, osteopenia and Raynaud’s. Scoliosis (curved spine)  is something I have had since a child. It’s quite severe and my spine is a perfect ‘S’ shape. In fact it is so severe that I have had two lots of spinal surgery and am fitted with a spinal rod which goes from between my shoulder blades down to my waist to keep me upright. This means I am very stiff in my upper body. Something I can’t help. My curved spine has also caused my pelvis to tilt and my right leg is longer than my left as a result. Please, if you are a ski instructor reading this don’t tell someone skiing with a spinal rod that they are too stiff in their upper body. It shows ignorance. Unfortunately I get told this all the time which just highlights my point earlier

  Disability Snowsport UK Disability Snowsport is the UK’s leading snow sports charity teaching skiing to disabled people both at UK indoor centres and on holidays abroad. DSUK make the health and social benefits of snow sports and the unique exhilaration thrill that accompanies skiing available to anyone with a disability no matter what sort of health need they have or how severe it is. Whilst there is a team of paid staff there is an even bigger team of passionate volunteers like myself who help out at local UK ski centres, social ski groups and on adaptive ski holidays. Helping people with healthcare needs to experience the same thing you and I do is something I am deeply passionate about. There is no such thing as disability, only ability. I strongly believe that every ski school should have an adaptive instructor on its team. Unless you have an adaptive instructor on your team you cannot be an inclusive ski school, you can only be an exclusive ski school and in being