Many of us can recall our favourite books from childhood. The anticipation, and excitement adventuring with Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan or when the very hungry caterpillar turned into a butterfly. And with the gift of hindsight, we look back and understand the lessons those stories taught us.
Leisa Cook, a Hireup client and published author, has penned a book Polly the Trolley which is inspired by her personal experience about disability, assistive technology and family. Writing from her experience as a parent with disability, Leisa Cook wrote and published Polly the Trolley to explain disability and the benefits of assistive technology to children.
“The story was inspired by my own situation with my daughter. When she was younger, she blamed the equipment that I used and felt that if she could get rid of the equipment that I would be better,” Leisa says.
“I initially wrote the story as a tool to help my daughter understand, however now it’s more broadly a text for all children, explaining disability and the benefits of assistive technology.”
The book follows a young girl who blames an assistive walker for her mum not being able to do all the things she used to do..
“By the end of the book the girl feels more comfortable with Polly the Trolley and understands that her mum can actually do more with Polly the Trolley,” Leisa says.
Leisa had the urge to write about 12 years ago when she first became unwell. She hopes that the story might get the attention of a publisher such as Ashton Scholastic or Random House.
Since Polly the Trolley Leisa has continued to write children’s stories that aim to explain and normalise significant life changes. “I’ve written stories about relationships with the elderly, growing up without a dad, and understanding a friend who’s just lost a parent to cancer,” says Leisa. “All the issues are real problems that children are dealing with every day and told from a child's point of view - from kindergarten to year six.”
With her Hireup support workers, Leisa is able to find the time and energy she needs to write.
“I need my Hireup support worker in the morning to get showered and dressed so I can get out into the world and see what children and parents are doing and the challenges they’re facing”.
Leisa joined Hireup because it was the employer of choice for her lifelong friend and support worker Rachel and is currently expanding her team of support workers on Hireup. “My support worker Rachel helps me with my physical therapies and getting out in the community, to bookstores where I promote my books,” says Leisa. “She also helps me with domestic duties around the house which allows me to focus on my writing. I can’t do what I love without my Hireup support worker.”
Polly the Trolley can be ordered from bookstores by speaking to the store owner.
Find out more about how Hireup can help you with you education and employment goals.
