Kirstie Goodwin: Always striving to achieve more.

Kirstie Goodwin is Co-Founder of the Cerebral Palsy Adult Advice UK Facebook group.

As well as advocating for adults with Cerebral Palsy, she is a single, working parent to two young girls. For Kirstie, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to remind her daughters that with hard work they can do anything they want to do.

Kristie works extremely hard supporting the adult members of her group and in fact her friend and group Co-Founder Karen named Kirstie as her inspirational female role model.

Through her connection with Aergo Health, Kirstie has highlighted the wide-reaching implications that poor equipment provision can have on the life of an adult with Cerebral Palsy, affecting her ability to carry out her job and care for her family.

But, she doesn’t let that hold her back and here’s what she had to say about IWD.

Do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?

Yes, gender equality is essential and although a lot has been achieved - there is more to do. Women still lag behind in many areas and often their voices aren’t heard.

This is evident in boardroom inequality and that’s before we even consider the number of women with disabilities in senior positions.

Have you faced any barriers in your life / career / person with a disability due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

I think I have been an easy target for bullying and mistreatment during my education and early career both as a female and a female with a disability.

But, all it has done is made me strive to work harder and achieve more. To show those people I can do it.

I think I have been overlooked for opportunities to progress in my career, it’s hard to pinpoint if that is has a result of being a woman, being disabled or a combination of both.

It’s an ongoing battle and I suppose I would use this opportunity to encourage employers and people in decision making roles to just give women and women like me a chance to prove ourselves.

Share an unpopular opinion...

Disabled parents are NOT less able than non-disabled parents. I think it is a common misconception that disabled parents are somehow less able to care for their children and it’s simply not true.

Can you name an inspirational female role model?

My mum.

She never treated me any differently to my non-disabled siblings. Her message to me was always the same, you need to work hard Kirstie and keep going you can’t just sit back and expect handouts.

I’d also say the Queen, to be the age she is and still working so hard and undertaking her duties for the Commonwealth.

What's your best bit of advice to girls or young women?

If someone tells you, you can’t do something - strive to prove them wrong.

My daughter recently fell behind in school, people kept saying she’ll not catch up now. But she worked so hard to prove them wrong and is now sitting in the top half of her class.

I’m so proud of her determination and belief in herself.

What's the best thing about being a woman?

Bringing new life into this world.

It was so amazing chatting to Kirstie for our #IWD series of interviews. Thank you Kirstie!

For more information about Karen & Kristie’s FB group visit Cerebral Palsy Adult Advice UK - the group is open to adults with CP and their parents, carers and friends. It is a safe space to support each other through shared experience, knowledge and advice. Parents of children entering adult services are also welcome to join.

You can catch Karen’s interview here.