Jolanda's story
Jolanda from Rotterdam has been an experience expert at MEE Rotterdam Rijnmond for 10 years. Her first reaction when she was asked about this: 'I thought to myself, that's way too scary'.
She would say I am a very sweet mother
Jolanda has a mild intellectual disability and lives with her 16-year-old daughter. Jolanda proudly tells about her daughter who is now in havo. In our conversation she talks a lot about her daughter. She says that because of her intellectual disability she sometimes finds it difficult to estimate whether she is doing well with her upbringing. When we ask her how her daughter would describe Jolanda, she says without a hint of doubt: 'she would say that I am a very sweet mother.' Jolanda has learned more and more how to deal with her MID. She receives help with the division of her week by ASVZ and can now plan outings with her daughter herself, such as a day of shopping.
The first time that Jolanda had to stand in front of a group, she says she was 'very very nervous', but in the meantime she has completely mastered giving information. Volunteer supervisor Wilma, who is also part of our conversation, says that she has a lot of admiration for how Jolanda deals with a group. She provides information to many different groups: to schools, doctors, nurses and the police. With every group she knows how to give her story a twist that connects to the people she is talking to.
It's simple: treat me the way you want to be treated yourself
In addition to providing information at MEE, she also checks information sources for readability. For example, she also looked at the government's Coronamelder app to make it as clear as possible. Partly because of her, the app is now super clear! When the corona crisis just started, she actually didn't want to give digital information, but because she missed it very much, she borrowed a laptop and she is starting to learn more and more from the digital world and is now also giving information again.
It will come as no surprise that Jolanda likes to talk very much. She finds it very difficult that people often talk about her. She says that people often finish her sentence before she has finished talking. She is happy to provide the following:
1. I decide my own life
2. Treat me as you would like to be treated
3. Wait until I'm done talking
4. Help me make decisions and don't decide for me
5. Talk to me and not about me
6. People with disabilities have the same rights as people without disabilities
After this story, are you curious about the information that Jolanda provides? Sign up free of charge [email protected]
25 gifts in December
25 presents for all helpers Have you made a difference for someone else or the world in the past year? Or do you want to thank someone who has done something for you? Or would you like to thank your volunteer team? Give the December calendar and unwrap a nice present every day! December calendar It was not an easy year. But one thing became clear: the Netherlands is there for each other. Never before have so many people volunteered to help. Fantastic! To thank everyone who was there for each other, we have a small gift. Well one... 25 little presents! On the December calendar you can unwrap a corona-proof gift every day from the day of the Volunteer (December 7) until the end of 2020. Ready... set... just unpack! Small spoiler: the presents are all coronaproof and can be redeemed online. For example, an online cooking workshop, an e-book, a special musical surprise and much more. share it Do you want to thank someone who has done something for you? Or would you like to thank your volunteer team? Then share the December calendar (out)! The December calendar is for everyone who has done something good. 25 cozy coronaproof presents About the action On behalf of NLvoorelkaar and all sponsors, we would like to thank you for all your help and we hope that you will be ready for each other again next year. You can read more about this action here. Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward
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