This year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Conference at the Open University. The two-day event, held on 9-10 July, brought together many people from across the world.
We had people attending from Australia and the UK. The conference was hosted by Ian, Craig and Liz, and featured keynote speakers such as Professor Jan Walmsley, presentations, and a full programme. Gosia and I had the pleasure of presenting and hosting a session.
For our talk, I focused on my journey with technology over the years. My interest in technology started when I was a little boy. I remember using my first desktop computer to play old games. Later, when I was 16 or 17, I joined Sixth Form College and studied IT. I learned to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. After finishing college in 1998–99, I struggled to find a job and worked in shops and factories.
Things changed in 2007 when I met my employment support worker, Charles Oham, and started at The RIX Centre. That’s where I became a Technical Assistant — and I’ve been in that role for more than 18 years now!
I’ve worked closely with Gosia on many projects. I helped teach people how to use computers, microphones, cameras, and multimedia software. We used PowerPoint, Audacity, Movie Maker, scanners, Photo Story, and created easy-read materials like Newham Easy Read and Click Start.
As technology changed, I kept learning. Today, I work as a Technical Assistant, Researcher, and a proud member of purpleSTARS. I use RIX Wikis in research projects to help document every step and make the research inclusive. I also teach others how to use technology to break down barriers and support people into employment.
At the conference, I was happy to share my story and hopefully inspire others to explore technology. My message is simple:
You can do it, and you can live it!
Ajay Choksi and Gosia Kwiatkowska