Vivienne Gilman
Position: Independent living expert
Email:
My name is Vivienne, I am 38 years old and am registered as Deaf/Blind with Hartlepool Borough Council Social Services.
When I left college in 1994, I took up a position in Redhill Jobcentre to try to get my foot on the employment ladder. Although this meant that I would be living approximately 300 miles away from my family I thought it was the right thing to do to enable me to live as independent a life as possible and, with the help of my friends, this proved a success for me.
As well as being self direct's Independent Living Expert, I am currently working as an Administration Officer for the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP).
I am very interested in people who have disabilities, their rights and equal opportunities. I am currently involved with a working group via Social Services, and also involved in a working group within my work in the DWP. I would like to be more involved with other working groups outside of my work remit, as I feel I have a lot of experience gained through my working for the DWP and know what it is like to be sighted and non sighted, and the barriers that people with disabilities are faced with.