Hi, my name is Iain, I’m Marketing & Communications Assistant at SCLD. I’ve been here since the end of September, so I’m still fairly new in. Prior to joining the team I worked at organizations including Cancer Support Scotland, Covid Aid and Queens Cross Housing Association.

In my free time, I try to keep fairly busy; I have a lifelong interest in music and have been playing the drums for almost 20 years now, so I spend a lot of time hauled up in my dark and dingy practice room in the east end of Glasgow (the dream is to one day have somewhere less dark and dingy). I’ve also recently developed an interest in cold water swimming and have a (very embarrassing) lifelong love of professional wrestling.

Working with SCLD interested me greatly as I have also been a dyslexic person in the workforce for the past 12 years.

When I left school, I felt like dyslexia was something I could now leave behind me, as I felt all the support I had received in that time was there to exclude me. To me, dyslexia was the reason I had to be segregated from my friends during exam time, it was the reason I would be pulled out of classes to attend appointments and most importantly, I felt the support made me stand out from everyone else.

Growing up, I never felt like I was ever asked what support I needed, rather I was told what support I needed and what support I would be given.

I vividly remember all the ways I’d try and worm my way out of this support; purposely forgetting to bring the large clunky gadgets that I’d be given and taking unusual routes round the school so I could lose my classroom scribe in the hallways (she always managed to find me again).

When I saw the vacancy for the role at SCLD, I felt excited to apply as I felt my lived experience could play a small part in the future of support.

Joining the team here has been incredibly smooth, from my interview till today I’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome and have felt I’ve been given great support in settling into the role.

I’ve really been enjoying my workload since starting, I find the role to very creative and that’s something I get a lot of job satisfaction from. I’ve spent much of my time so far editing videos, building graphics and maintaining website. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working alongside out Rapporteurs as part of Include For Good.

I’m very excited about my role here at SCLD will bring and look forward to the future.