Isaac Harvey MBE

Just another thing you probably did not realise I did 😅😎

For the past 8 years on pretty much every single Sunday morning I have laid on this bed at the back of my church where I have controlled a laptop putting up a PowerPoint for the service. On top of that which again on a weekly basis I have prepared the songs that the minister wishes us to sing and any other things which need projecting.

On my LinkedIn I have this role put down as 'Information Technology Specialist' as I had no clue what else to put it down as! 😅

In my church we recently acquired a new minister who came all the way from India with his wife and on the weekend we had his official induction service where the moderator and other people came and celebrated the occasion. I was tasked on making sure that the service was streamed to all of his family and friends back in India.

The past year we have all used some sort of video calling platform which has allowed us to connect with people from near and afar. I have been using Zoom just after the first lockdown where all my work transferred to the platform. So because of this I do find it to be a piece of cake 🍰

Everything ran as smooth as possible apart from the internet not being stable (unfortunately I'm not that much of a whizz to fix the internet) and everybody enjoyed it! 😄

 I wonder what else you don't know OR more importantly I wonder what else I've forgotten? 😂


#informationtechnology #disability #zoommeeting #talent #churchonline

It's hard for me to admit this,

but I have been struggling.

I have been honoured with an MBE from King Charles, carried the Olympic torch for the 2012 Games and recently featured in a Channel 4 documentary.


And this is only scratching the surface.

But behind the scenes, it's a totally different story.


All my life, I've relied on the kindness of friends and family for daily support.

But, things are changing - my aging mum, can no longer provide the same level of care with her professional nurse background, my brother has his commitments and friends have their own lives to lead.


This often leaves me in vulnerable situations.


I cannot use the toilet by myself.

Something many people take for granted.


Regularly I experience uncomfortable waits (sometimes for hours) or avoid eating and drinking when I am out independently, which is especially unhealthy in the summer heat.

Additionally, after 40 minutes in my chair, I experience pain.


Out all day with all of this, can make functioning mentally not easy.


You might see me smiling in photos and would imagine that I have everything in place.

Reality is the opposite.


‘Why don't you get Access to Work or seek local council support?’


Because of my achievements, there is a societal presumption that I have all the help.

I am constantly unsuccessfully batting the conflicting administration of the application processes, to get the very basic things that I need in place to be able to work and live independently.

The ongoing battle and lack of empathy makes the whole process so much harder and prevents me from reaching my full potential.


This struggle isn't just about me.

It's about everyone in similar situations who might not have the support or the voice to speak up.


How are they managing?


I'm speaking out because I can.

I’m sharing my story showcasing that even I am struggling.

I need the help and I need it now.


I've often stayed silent as speaking up impacts me, and so does remaining quiet.


Enough is enough.

Today, I'm choosing to be real.


#DisabilityAwareness #RealTalk #ChangeIsRequired