I'm 38 years of age. I was alright when I was born but after six months I went into a coma and was left with cerebral palsy as well as with a speech and hearing impairment.

After a special schooling I went to Bedford Industries for two years, where I learned about money, cooking and how to care for children. My first paid job was at Regency Park for Crippled Children as a helper, caring for the children and doing chores. That was a full time paid job for four years. I love children and so it was bad luck that the job finished because of government cuts.

Then 15 years ago, when I was 22, I started work at the Phoenix Society factory in Torrensville. I began gluing the rubber onto the mops, now I assemble and pack things. Cerebral palsy means that promotion is difficult, although I work very hard because there is no one to talk with.

When I first started at Phoenix, Tina, my hearing dog, used to come to work with me, but itıs different now. She can't go to work because of new health laws about dogs in factories, which were introduced about five years ago. Tina has to stay home all day and she worries about me and gets depressed. I miss her too.

It's a bit difficult without Tina at work because she hears for me. She knows if something strange is happening and could alarm and protect me if there was an emergency. Also, if I'm in the toilet at work, Tina would let other people know I was there, which made me feel safer. Tina also used to be protection for me when I'd walk home at the end of the day.

My disability means that I can have very little communication board like a computer (Franklin Language Master) which would help hearing people understand me. I would be able to type in a message and other people could hear that message through a computer voice.

There is only a few of these machines and there is a long waiting list at Phoenix to get one. Phoenix buys these machines and the workers can borrow them. If I wanted to use the phone at work, in a n emergency, I wouldn't be able to, because there is on TTY at Phoenix which would allow me to make a phone call.

Factory work is dirty and we work long hours. Also, the money is not terrific but staying at home is boring. I would rather work. I would like to work with more deaf people so communication is easier. There are a group of workers with hearing impairments at Bedford Industries, but I would have to travel a long way to work there.

Cheryl Liddell, speaking through interpreter, Wendy Stevens.