Hearing Link volunteer May features in new Humans of Scotland book
Hearing Link volunteer May Wood features in a new e-book called Humans of Scotland produced by The Alliance in Scotland.
The book was launched on 25th September at the Edinburgh Storytelling Centre. May attended the launch evening with her son Jamie (pictured right) and Hearing Link’s Volunteer Co-ordinator Alison Coyle.
The Humans of Scotland book features 30 inspirational stories from people across Scotland, including former national team rugby Doddie Weir, with a foreword by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
May, who is a Helpdesk Responder and part of Hearing Link’s award-winning HALO team, talks about her hearing loss journey and the support she has received by attending lipreading classes, contacting hearing loss charities and attending self-management courses.
She said: “I am honoured to be part of this amazing, heartening project. The humility, hope and the impact of kindness and understanding in the amazing stories told here is so inspiring. Like so many whose stories are told in the book, I too found there was a lot of support out there from people struggling as I was, who would listen, could empathise and were willing to share their experiences. Like them I’m so pleased to now have the confidence to help and offer peer support to others.”
To read May’s story visit: https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/humansofscotland/sensory-impairment/mays-story/
Professor Ian Welsh OBE, Chief Executive of the ALLIANCE, says the book is a powerful look at the lives of those whose stories need to be heard: “Living with a long term health condition, disability or as an unpaid carer presents challenges that often must be overcome time and time again. It is important to us to highlight these issues as an organisation that champions the voice of people with these experiences. In sharing their stories, the contributors to Humans of Scotland have played a vital part in growing our understanding of what it means to face and cope with adversity.”
The book will be available free of charge across all libraries in Scotland.