Tommy Carmichael

"It was like my first day at school. It was so frightening... but I was glowing inside. I would be able to feel normal again"

The Story

Tommy's life changed in 1994 as a result of Diabetes. Within a short period of time he had lost most of his vision and was eventually registered as blind. He had to give up his job as a self employed shop-fitter. A long sequence of hospital attendance and procedures followed. Tommy felt desperate. He found the question "Why me?" often prominent in his thoughts. Through the efforts and help of good friends, Tommy began a rehabilitation programme. He learnt new skills and re-trained with the RNIB in Belfast, gaining qualifications in Business Administration.

On 15th November '99 Tommy started a new job and in many ways a new life...

The story continues...

Tommy is now 57 years old. He was out of work for exactly five years (1994 - 1999) due to his illness and has since been in constant employment with PROTEUS NI Ltd., an intermediary funding body for the European Social Fund PEACE programme, in Northern Ireland and Border counties.

While unemployed, he retrained on a project run by RNIB and achieved NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration. This helped him to secure his current post.

Having achieved an Advanced Diploma in Administrative Management, his new target is to attain a degree in Strategic Management, which he confesses is "heavy going".

He presently holds the dual role of Communications and Monitoring Officer and uses specialised adaptive equipment to help him to carry out these tasks. He was helped back into work by the Access to Work scheme which is overseen by the Department for Employment and Learning.

In July and August of 2004, Tommy spent 8 weeks on a Churchill Travel Fellowship in South Africa and Australia, investigating education employment issues for visually impaired people.

He still takes a keen interest in all sports, something he was particularly keen on before he lost his sight. His main leisure activity for the past 36 years has been as a Credit Union volunteer which he feels helps his local community in a practical way.

Some related weblinks:
PROTEUS NI

RNIB

NICVA

Employers Forum on Disability NI

Visual Access NI

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