Aotearoa in 20: Maurice Flynn has had over 100 operations, but is making life his own
Friday, 28 August 2020
After a rocky time in high school and living off the false perception that life would come easy because he was disabled, Maurice Flynn faced the reality that he needed to make it on his own. He shares his story for Aotearoa in 20, a Stuff special project.
If I could tell myself ten years ago I’d have a degree, a partner and a fulltime job, I would not believe it.
I have spina bifida and I’ve been disabled since birth.
I’ve had over 100 operations. It was tough when I was a kid because I had to take a lot of time off school, but when I look at it now those operations have made me who I am. I’m independent and I’m able to look after my personal cares. My disability is a part of who I am, but it doesn’t make me who I am. I’m no different from you.
People are always surprised when I tell them how I am or how I am doing. They think about my disability a lot more than I do. When I’m getting groceries, when I’m at work, when I’m having a beer with friends – it always seems to come up ‘wow look at you’. I have struggled with this in the past, because I see myself as ordinary, as do my friends and family.
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My disability has given me a unique life, I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. I have a unique career in the disability sector and I’m lucky to have it.
I grew up in Waiuku near Auckland, and I was basically the only child in the small town with an obvious physical disability. These schools are now set up for future kids that come through with a disability. My school was very adaptive, they made sure I was always included. I was rarely left out.
I’ve had my struggles like everybody else. Unfocussed at school, lack of motivation and on reflection, bouts of depression. I guess you could say I was a bit of a troublemaker. I had this false perception that because I’m disabled everything would be alright when I left school and it’ll all fall into place. That was not the case. I was so looked after in the education environment, I didn’t really understand the difficulty of making it on your own.
There was a period of about two years when I didn’t have anything going for me. I was in a bad place, I wasn’t happy. I found it hard to find my purpose in life.
I moved to Hamilton in 2011, so nearly ten years ago. I was accepted into a course at Wintec. From there my life really changed. I found a place to live and by 2016 I had a degree in communications, majoring in public relations.
Getting my degree was a big highlight in my life. Being the troubled teenager to the point when I received my cap was pretty special. It was a big turning point in my life where I realised I could make something of myself. I can see how far I’ve come and it has made me who I am today.
When I completed my degree I had that moment again where I was uncertain of what was going to happen next. I struggled to get into employment, it took over a year. I applied for job after job and I didn’t even get one interview. I got pretty used to seeing the generic ‘unsuccessful’ email, so it got to the point where I didn’t even open it.
Eventually, I got into some volunteer work and after that, I got a job in the disability sector.
After studying and graduating, and doing voluntary work, and eventually finding employment, I am in a really good space.
A lot of people with a disability don’t get the opportunity of having a job. I think the main reason for that is people’s attitude towards disability which may come from a lack of awareness or understanding of who we are. There’s a quote I like – ‘Disabled people can be the catalyst for innovation’, which means when you open your doors up for diversity; you’re growing your mindset to be diverse.
I’ve been working at CCS Disability Action Waikato for about four years. I’m very passionate about my job. I educate and advocate for better physical access in our community, as well as ensuring the voice of disabled people is at the core of what our organisation stands for.
I live with my partner, and we are a great team – she makes a mess and I clean it up. I am an uncle to the greatest little humans I’ve ever met, and have two older sisters who never allowed my disability to get in the way of the usual sibling antics. My parents, my grandparents, I owe who I am to them. They always supported me to be involved, advocated on behalf of me, and didn’t let me feel sorry for myself.
My grandad was a good reason why I do what I do. He passed away in November 2019, and he was my role model. He worked for St Vincent de Paul and was heavily involved in the Lions Club. A people-focused man who helped out countless people. He reminds me how lucky I am to be in the position I am today. I am able to help people – I would like to think I’m like him in some ways.
As told to Chloe Blommerde, for ‘Aotearoa in 20’, a Stuff project.