I was inspired to interview James O'Driscoll after reading about his 1 in 10 million injury. i was inspired by his story and was fascinated to find out more. this was the first interview i found-
How did you lose your sight?
I lost my sight 13 years ago, when I was 26 years old. I went to bed one night and when I woke up I couldn’t see out of my right eye. I lost sight in my left eye six weeks later. I went to see my doctor who didn’t know what it was, so they sent me to hospital where I had more tests, but they still didn’t know what it was.
I lost my sight 13 years ago, when I was 26 years old. I went to bed one night and when I woke up I couldn’t see out of my right eye. I lost sight in my left eye six weeks later. I went to see my doctor who didn’t know what it was, so they sent me to hospital where I had more tests, but they still didn’t know what it was.
I spent two weeks at King's College hospital which was pretty horrific. I was the youngest one in there by about 25 years and it was very, very scary; a lot of crying at night, people falling out of bed, people walking around and bumping into things. A specialist from America came over and told me that I had Leber's Optic Neuropathy and that there was nothing they could do. I just didn’t get it at the start and asked him about wearing glasses – I couldn’t get my head around the fact that I could go from being fine to having no sight in six weeks.
It must have been an incredibly difficult time for you.
Yes, it was a bit of a disaster. I was self-employed so I lost my job and the council filled in the wrong forms for me so my flat was repossessed and I had to move into a council flat; all this happened in the space of about three months. It took me about four years to come to terms with losing my sight. It was hard because I didn’t have anyone to blame – it wasn’t anyone’s fault, it just happened. The disease is incredibly rare; the odds of getting it are one in 20 million.
Yes, it was a bit of a disaster. I was self-employed so I lost my job and the council filled in the wrong forms for me so my flat was repossessed and I had to move into a council flat; all this happened in the space of about three months. It took me about four years to come to terms with losing my sight. It was hard because I didn’t have anyone to blame – it wasn’t anyone’s fault, it just happened. The disease is incredibly rare; the odds of getting it are one in 20 million.
How did you decide to enter the fitness industry?
I always enjoyed being fit but after I became blind I had four years of what I call 'my wilderness years' – I smoked, drank and ate too much. I put on a lot of weight and didn’t care about my appearance. Then I got an acting job and needed to get in better shape, so I went to the gym with my nephew and realised that I missed being fit.
I always enjoyed being fit but after I became blind I had four years of what I call 'my wilderness years' – I smoked, drank and ate too much. I put on a lot of weight and didn’t care about my appearance. Then I got an acting job and needed to get in better shape, so I went to the gym with my nephew and realised that I missed being fit.
Having made the decision, what did you do next?
I went to a fitness association and they basically said that there was no way that I would be able to work in the fitness industry. I believed that I could do it and a charity called London Disability Forum got in touch and offered to fund me to complete the Level 2 Fitness Instructor course. I still had to convince a hell of a lot of people though.
I went to a fitness association and they basically said that there was no way that I would be able to work in the fitness industry. I believed that I could do it and a charity called London Disability Forum got in touch and offered to fund me to complete the Level 2 Fitness Instructor course. I still had to convince a hell of a lot of people though.
Practically, how do you do things such as check on good technique?
I have an access worker, who effectively acts as my eyes. They have an idea about different movements but they’re not actually qualified. I ask them certain questions such as, "are their knees going over their toes?" and through a series of questions I can work out what their technique is like. I’ve built up a really good rapport and friendship with a lot of my clients.
I have an access worker, who effectively acts as my eyes. They have an idea about different movements but they’re not actually qualified. I ask them certain questions such as, "are their knees going over their toes?" and through a series of questions I can work out what their technique is like. I’ve built up a really good rapport and friendship with a lot of my clients.
You seem to be very passionate about being a PT?
Yeah, I really enjoy being active, interacting with people and helping them with their different goals – be that losing weight to get into a wedding dress, or just to feel better about themselves.
Yeah, I really enjoy being active, interacting with people and helping them with their different goals – be that losing weight to get into a wedding dress, or just to feel better about themselves.
What are the main problems you’ve faced?
People judging me before they’ve even met me. Unfortunately, I have met a lot of ignorant people. A PT once said that if I was training in a club then it wouldn’t work because clients would feel they had been short-changed having a disabled person training them. It's other people’s interpretations of you – there were some people at a gym where I worked that I had to train before they accepted I was good.
People judging me before they’ve even met me. Unfortunately, I have met a lot of ignorant people. A PT once said that if I was training in a club then it wouldn’t work because clients would feel they had been short-changed having a disabled person training them. It's other people’s interpretations of you – there were some people at a gym where I worked that I had to train before they accepted I was good.
What are your ambitions for the future?
People say that I should become a life coach and it’s something I’m thinking about. When I speak to clients and they find out some of the things that I have gone through and experienced it can help them to understand that, perhaps, some of their problems are easier to deal with than they might think.
My favorite question from this interview the one about 'how he lost his sight' this question is very appealing yet can come across very emotion in some ways.
People say that I should become a life coach and it’s something I’m thinking about. When I speak to clients and they find out some of the things that I have gone through and experienced it can help them to understand that, perhaps, some of their problems are easier to deal with than they might think.
My favorite question from this interview the one about 'how he lost his sight' this question is very appealing yet can come across very emotion in some ways.
I even read, how exercise changes his life. james became very depressed. the only way he could over come this depression was by training, by him constantly training inspired james to become a fitness coach. this to me just shows his sheer dedication to getting his life on track after loosing his sight. it also shows just how strong james is not only physically but mentally.
other examples of interviews that inspired me was:
http://www.cyq.org.uk/englands-first-blind-fitness-instructor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_Cj_TjxBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_Cj_TjxBU
James O’Driscoll is the first blind person in England to become a qualified fitness instructor.
On qualifying, the 37-year-old from Bromley in Kent said: “Becoming physically active changed my life, taking me from a place of depression to happiness.
“Now I’m seeking to give as many other people the opportunity to experience the life-enhancing benefits of getting and keeping fit.”
James enrolled and trained alongside non-disabled students on a CYQ (Central YMCA Qualifications) Level 2 course, leading to an internationally recognised fitness instructor qualification. CYQ are the UK’s leading health and fitness awarding body.
As well as setting a solo precedent, James’ achievement marks a first for the fitness industry and leads the way for future blind students to become fitness instructors and on training courses that could be fully inclusive (open to applicants with and without disabilities).
Eleven years ago, James was a vivacious young man with a solid career in construction and a bustling social life. All that changed overnight when one morning he woke up and found he couldn’t see out of one eye. Six weeks later, James had lost complete sight in both eyes, finding out that he had a rare form of Optic Neuropathy, a condition affecting around 1 in 20 million people.
“I can’t explain the huge emotional and mental, as well as physical impact this had on me,” says James. “I ended up losing my girlfriend, flat and job and gradually became more and more depressed, turning into a recluse and living a life comprising of sitting indoors, smoking, drinking and eating take-aways.”
It took a couple years for James to come to terms with his condition, but once he did, his life began to move on quickly. He learnt Braille in three months, became an avid reader, and joined the gym.
“As I got fitter and more physically active, I regained my interest in life and wanted to do something meaningful.” James became a classroom assistant for children attending a local education college for students with a visual impairment. He developed his role by becoming a mentor and volunteer fitness advisor, passionately encouraging kids and adults coming to the college to use the gym after school hours. His success with the students (the gym at the college had never been busier!) ignited James’ calling to a career in fitness.
Trainees undertake the same training
The fitness instructor course James enrolled on was held at London South Bank University (LSBU).
James was expected to fulfil the same criteria for the theory and practical components of the course. He received additional support (funded by The London Sports Forum for Disabled People and LSBU) by way of the provision of audio translation, an assistant for practical sessions (see below) and care for his guide dog while he was in practical sessions.
The Eyes of the Instructor
James delivers fitness instruction to a client a using a model called ‘The Eyes of the Instructor’. An assistant acts as James’ ‘eyes’, enabling him to gain information about the clients’ physical safety, exercise performance and technique by verbal comment, questioning and prompting. The Assistant does not offer information freely, but is directed by James who leads the session.
James will have the support of an Eyes Assistant once he takes up employment as a Fitness Instructor in his local health club.
I feel that by reading an previous interview which James had previously done really helped me to think of some good questions in which I would be able to put into my own interview. And by seeing the amount of depth James goes into, I knew that our interview would flow nicely. I also felt that by watching some interviews online helped me to see how James reacts with some questions he may be asked, and by this I saw that James was fine and more than happy to answer any questions he was giving, this also made me realize how interesting our interview would be and how listening to a story as tragic as this would inspire some people.
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ReplyDeleteWell done for finding a lot of interviews Kristie, but there is nowhere near enough evaluation going on here for me to award you more than a pass.
ReplyDeleteTo improve, evaluate to strengths and weaknesses of each found intwerview by analysing specific questions in depth.