by  Jane Trengove ~ contracted polio at age 11 months

In 1955 my mother and I contracted polio with devastating results. After we recovered from the acute phase of the illness we were both severely paralysed. My mother had no movement from the chest to her feet. I was a very small child (11 months) and so the polio went all over, with paralysis in all four limbs, predominantly on the right side of my body.

Mum’s arms were unaffected and she was able to use a wheelchair, drive a car and in the end she did not experience the late effects of polio (PPS). For fifty years she managed very well as a “stay-at-home” mum who ran the house, and when we were small looked after us kids brilliantly with the paid help from a wonderful number of women who assisted her with shopping and cleaning etc. However, it must never be underestimated how hard her life was, each day she struggled through her difficulties. My mother was an energetic force regardless, and my father was her staunch supporter – a selfless, gracious man.

My situation has been different. For fifty-nine years now, I have lived with polio and whilst young, things were okay. I was able to get an education (albeit prior to any “access provision” hauling myself up many flights of stairs in all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions). All the time, I had to earn the right to be treated equally at these places of education, while no consideration was given to how much harder it was for me without an accessible built environment.

I studied visual arts and after graduating discovered it did not provide a living wage. Like other artists I had to find part-time work to support myself. Also, part-time work was all that I could manage due to fatigue from the effort of coping with a severe disability. Finding accessible places of work, and work that I could physically do, was a challenge. I trained in typing/admin and things improved slowly, finally leading to a number of roles across a range of professional platforms in tertiary arts, community development and disability fields. My visual art career was sustained by and ran parallel to these other working activities.

In recent years, my story goes downhill as PPS has had a dire impact on my life. I have experienced a major loss of movement and capacity; have had to retire from work; can no longer paint; and all my domestic activities/self care have been dramatically affected. My future is uncertain as I try to maintain my independence.

For many years, those us who survived polio were not treated well by society. “Cripples” were considered undesirable socially, in education institutions and work places, often excluded by attitude as much as anything. We would appreciate some re-dress to this in our late years instead of facing more exclusion and struggle. We also require disability services specific to our needs like other people with a disability, instead of having to compete with the “able-bods” in aged care.

by  Jane Trengove ~ contracted polio at age 11 months