MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
DISABILITY CAMPAIGNER - INFLUENCER
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY RIGHTS CONSULTANT
ABOUT NICKI AWARD WINNING POLICE STORY
Firstly thank you so much for taking the first steps to wanting to improve your self awareness on disability inclusion and how to have a positive life. My site will help you unlock your potential to being a better you.
My site is my way of telling my real life stories in so many ways and on so many platforms to raise awareness on real life stories because they are powerful and influential. i am sharing all my achievements and struggles to show you how to be your full potential. I have proven all possibilities are endless and you can too!
I will NOW tell my story in short bursts .....the detailed version is tailored for speaking events. If my story has enlightened you then you can hear the full version tailored for your company and events by booking me as your speaker!!
Right My story begins right from when i was born in 1982. Little did i know my life would not be ordinary. As much as i wanted to have a normal childhood, my life's adversities shaped me into who i am now , a passionate Survivor and Gods servant to keep making a difference in a world that isn't build for wheelchair users and people with disabilities.
So in a way me being different was a good thing because i can make a difference and i still am; 35 years later.
I was born with a gene disease, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome/Elhers-Danlos Syndrome is a mutation affecting the connective tissue that holds everything in place. This is a progressive painful condition impacting on all my joints. The connective tissue that protects the joints doesn't protect mine, my bones rub on each other. The type i have has a life expectancy of 48. Many know this condition as a invisible disability. Some need wheelchairs to help with their lives. I was fortunate i did not require any wheelchairs. I was sports girl of the year in my senior school for 5 years running. I was very fit and active. I also trained for 2 years to join the Police Force and had no problems with my mobility. I mean if i could pass the Firearms physical tests and do the initial firearms course with EDS shows i was still super fit and able bodied to keeping pushing myself to do everything i wanted to do.
I was disowned by my family for being born (told) damaged. Everyone had told me i would not amount to anything. There was no family support . I literally had to fend for myself and become my own role model to survive. No one believed in me. I was given no hope to live out the rest of my life at home with no future prospects, no education, no childhood experiences because i was born different. I had been a victim of child abuse from 9 years of age. When i couldn't take it anymore i made the decision that one day i was going to be a Police Officer because i would then have the power to help other children from their abusers.
You can find out more about the determination of my childhood brave decision on how i survived my suicide in order to stop the abuse when you book me as your Speaker.
Over the years throughout my childhood i had a choice but to toughen myself and find ways to adapt and show my potential to my teachers and family just so i wasn't put in care. I would live out of a backpack of hand me down clothes because everyday i would wake up thinking today could be the day i would be sent to care because i wasn't born normal. No matter what i did to make my family love me ,it wasn't enough for my family to accept me just the way i am. I know my family loved me in their own way because i was kept alive.
I was unable to have to children because of my health but i would always dream of having a daughter named Eleanor. The reason why i wanted to be a mother was so i could be loved by a daughter and mainly the love i have inside me id give as a mother because i didn't have that unconditional love and bond i yearned for all my life. Fast forward to 22 years age i fell pregnant unexpectedly . This was my silent happiness i quietly celebrated. When my family had found out i was pregnant my happiness ended, a family member had hit my belly and pinned me down. The survival of my unborn daughter was questioned by the hospital. My daughter did survive,she was born one month early and i knew then my daughter is a fighter just like me.
Skipping to my Police Years, my maternity leave was cut short because of the pressures of having to returned to work. I had put my heart and soul into my Police Career. Terrible and good experiences had happened during my service which i use as references for different topics at a speaking event.
Fast forward to the time when my life changed for ever..... I had served as a West Midlands Police Officer for nearly ten years right after my 18th birthday. In 2002 I had volunteered as a Special Constable within West Midlands Police Force while i continued with my studies. It was very important for me to learn the reality of policing life and give back to my community. Volunteering as a Special Constable means you have the same powers and authority as a regular Police Officer but the only difference is as a Special Constable you don't get paid. I volunteered for two years literally working full time 30 hours per week working side by side regular Police Officers doing all the jobs any Police Officer would do. I remember my first arrest at 18 was :restraining a male for suspicion of Rape, i had taken the lead in this case, helped the female with the rape procedure investigation kit, as well as follow the case right through to the Crown courts where i gave evidence and the offender did plead guilty. l remember this case and the female as though it was yesterday. This shift lasted 18 hours and remember i wasn't get paid then I will never forget the female telling me : "thank you you saved me from that monster, hed kill me" . Back then i wish i could've have done more but i know as Police officers we are evidence gathers often called after an incident has occurred or is happening. As long as i did my best throughout the case to help the female get justice to what happened to her.
ASSAULTS AND INJURIES ON PC DONNELLY
When I joined as Paid Police Officer in 2004 i was more prepared and proactive in my Policing because my Special Constable enabled me to be ready and experienced in for the first two years. Over the years i was then ready to further my career and I was training within the Specialised Firearms Department when i was involved in a road traffic collision. In 2009 i was severely assaulted on duty in March 2009 and on a separate incident was hit by speeding car on 5th October 2009. For so long i couldn't face talking about what happened to me, i even would could mention the date it happened. I just couldn't face it so i avoid it altogether and cover it with another date which was September 2009 because i know it would help me stay strong as September is the month my daughter was born and i know my mind overthinks where i'm afraid the offender will try to hurt me again over again if i said the exact date because i have never got justice for what happened to me. But My website is in my control where i can tell all my story and not be afraid to tell the truth. I sustained a host of injuries that led to two years living in and out of specialist hospitals away from my daughter. I had damaged my shoulder,eye socket, collar bone, suffered a damaged back, hip, pelvic ,fractured wrist and jaw. I was unable to communicate, my speech muscles were damaged.My neurological function all over my body was shutting down, i could feel and see my body crumbling and there was nothing i could do to stop it. For last 2 years from 2009 my pain in my head and back continued, my phobia getting in cars was getting worse,driving was impossible,i had nightmares, i was losing sensation in my arms, my fingers would go numb and i would lose co- ordination, i was scared all the time, living in fear, having nightmares, reliving the crash, not sleeping,not eating. I would have brain freeze, forget things: all while i was still in the police force. Watching my body waste away: where my legs were losing sensation i went from limping to using walking sticks then to longer able to walk in 2011. AND no one helped me. Not one senior officer visited me in hospital. I had impaired cognitive function. I became paralsyed from the chest down and had to re learn to live again.
Over time following the accident, treatments from 2012 to 2014 weren’t working and rehabilitation in hospital was proving unsuccessful and required receiving fulltime care to be fed, washed, dressed and bladder and bowl management. Medical professionals had informed me and my family that my body had literally was wasting away and the likelihood of surviving was slim. I nearly died when my daughter reminded me that her love and our bond was and is powerful and nothing would change me being her mum . Ultimately i was paralyzed (paraplegia) from the chest down with limited her function in my fingers. I was diagnosed with T7 paraplegia this is having no feeling,no sensation from the top rib touching your chest down to your toes,Neurological Dysfunction and Peripheral Neuropathy.
Following the incident, i was medically discharged from the West Midlands Police force with
six bravery commendations and received a medal of exemplary bravery for having served her country .
PTSD & PROTECT THE PROTECTORS CAMPAIGN
TO BE FILLED SOON ON THE PAGE ONCE MY THERPY HAS FINISHED IN THE MEAN TIME PLEASE GO TO MY SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TO SEE HOW I HAVE BEEN MANAGING WITH PTSD AND THE REALITY OF PTSD AND WHY I AVOIDED WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME OVER THE YEARS. I FILLED MY PTSD BY NOT DEALING WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BY COVERING IT WITH SO MANY PROJECTS AND TASKS TO AVOID HOW I AM REALLY COPING WITH CAR CRASH AND NOW I KNOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF PTSD IS THAT IT IS OK TO ASK FOR HELP AND TO GET HELP ASAP. PLEASE ALSO HAVE LOOK AT MY POSTS ABOUT THE POLICE FORCES CAMPAIGN ,#protecttheprotectors is a campaign set up by the police officers for Police Officers to get the courts to change the legislations for offenders to be given tougher sentences for assaulting police officers,better equipments,training and welfare support and better data on assaults on officers. Remember every 4 seconds a officers is assaulted in the UK. To this date i have never got justice. In the eyes of the law,the courts don't see police officers as victims and this campaign is proving we are vicitms! I share my story so other serving officers can keep coming forward to join the campaign and be public about their injuries and help get them the justice they deserve.
EDUCATION
I successfully completed my education despite being dyslexic and was born with a genetic condition, degenerative bone and Joint disease. My battle to fight to survive had already begun from childhood. Having no role models i learnt to become her own role model. Believing in myself i was able to be qualified in:
Child Psychology degree, Teaching Assistant Level 2 and 3, SEN TA level 3, Fitness and Nutrition Trainer level 4 and with extensive skills and experiences from police Background of Family and Child Profiler and Interviewer, Investigator ,Vulnerable children and Adults officer, School Liaison Officer, Self Defence and Weapons Handling, Effective communication and body language training, First aider and defibrillator training, Search and Rescue, expert Witness for Court Proceedings , Translator for terrorism Unit, Police Driver , Supervision Training, Tactical Training. These are some of skills and training that has defined me along with integrity and reputation to be Exemplary Role Model.
My dream career was as a Police Officer. My Police Identity was hard to let go when i had no choice but to be told i was medically discharged from the police force. I had struggled even with records of successful convictions and 6 bravery commendations throughout Police Service where i put my own live in danger to save and help victims . These awards are given to show recognition to officers who go above and beyond their normal duties with limited resources and information given at that time to make split second decisions.
LIFE AFTER AS POLICE OFFICER
Tired of being treated irrelevant and insignificant, being turned down at interviews because she was over qualified or they couldn’t accommodate 'disabled person or wheelchair'. I soon learnt i had to start my own campaigning work in order to keep working. I started gathering thousands of supporters across my social media where i shared my journey for my fight to and be accepted as mother with disabilities who can still be a role model. I began fighting for my disability rights and freedom of speech for society to make the changes to include people with disabilities. I became one of the influential voices for 13.5 million people with disabilities in the UK. I used my Police identity as my Strength to remind myself I was and is capable being more than what society sees me as, a barrier. My story started generating interest in local papers, tv stations such as ITV Lorraine, This Morning, Channel 5, BBC1 and public figures.
MOTHERHOOD LIFESTYLE INFLUENCER
I went back into my fitness training to maintain my quality of life but i also found motivation to find ways on how to help others to enjoy a healthy lifestyle by training myself and sharing my adaptive training on my social media. It wasn’t easy because i used a gym that wasn’t wheelchair friendly so i had to adapt. I soon became a valuable asset for the local Gym. I became a independent swimmer something i longed for and the training paid of for me to be able to swim my with daughter again. In 2018 my health has really tested my capabilities where i have had to make hard life choices in reducing a huge amount of what i do inorder to have a prolonged life and not a bedbound life . This has meant no longer able to work out at gym the way i use but to do light physio rehabilitation training. i have had to go back into hospital treatment. more importantly i am learning that life can still be positive even if my capabilities are reduced. there are not limited to holding me back but i am now being selective in the choices i make that will enable me to enjoy life and keep helping others in the work i do within the abilities that wont damage me body. i have created new talking topics on my youtube channel.
I remain grounded and still make time as a practicing Catholic to attend church and volunteer my time to commit to the Choir and as Religious Studies Teacher teaching Sunday Liturgy to the children of the Parish and School. My faith has enabled me to keep believing in the work i do is important. i believe God gave me a second chance to live again and help serve any way i could by using my voice and sharing my stories to inspire others to be better versions of themselves.
My commitment to my faith received reognition from BBC 1s Songs of Praise. I was the main feature as Model of Faith and Fashion . Link is on my New page and Youtube channel.
I share my POSITIVE LIFE AFFIRMATIONS, LIFESTYLE CHOICES, HEALTHY CONFIDENT LIVING, BODY POSITIVE, LEARNING ABOUT OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES AND LIFE IN A WHEELCHAIR - WHEELCHAIR BEAUTY ON MY YOU TUBE CHANNEL AND INSTAGRAM:
WHEELCHAIRMODEL LIFE
I started modelling to raise awareness for disabilities and diversities because i saw first hand the difficulties of fashion industries attitudes towards people like myself. I found I was not represented in true light and decided to do modelling as a way to be taken seriously. This is something i still do and works as a freelance Model. Go over to my NEWS page to see my MODELLING achievements.
One of the biggest barriers i broke down was........... In the UK i made HISTORY by becoming the first disabled mother to win a BEAUTY PAGENT....... i was crowned MRS BRITISH EMPIRE 2017.
PARALYMPIAN
CHANNEL 4 FIRST CREATED 'SUPERHUMANS' AS PART OF THEIR OUTSTANDING FILM FOR LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES. THIS CAMPAIGN THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN REACHED THE TV AUDIENCES ON A MAGNITUDE LEVEL IN THE 10 YEARS OF CHANNEL 4 DELIVERING PARALYMPIC CAMPAIGNS. THIS DEFINITELY CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE SAW DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF BECAME CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE TAKEN PART AS GB WHEELCHAIR RACER IN THE CAMPAIGN OF
THE YEAR 2016: CHANNEL 4 WE'RE THE SUPERHUMANS
I was fortunate to really push my boundaries and pursue all my goals. It wasn't easy but i am a firm believer in trying everything and not putting all your eggs in one basket. It was important for me to show that failure is not a weakness but a learning tool that helped me become stronger and better. No matter how long it took me i tried my best to become a wheelchair racer. I was able to train with the best athletes and teams. I was part of the Weir-Archer Academy, a wheelchair racing training company for the Paralympics. My training paid off when i was part of the iconic Paralympic YES I can commercial, Super humans on channel 4.
The training for this special filming was exhausting and grueling of 8 hours of racing to get the right takes.
To work alongside Tony Dee's rendition of the Sammy Davies Jr track Yes I Can, Hannah Cockroft and the rest of the talented Paralympics was a valuable opportunity to grow and expand. I appreciated and learnt a great deal on how hard paralympics training is.
To be part of a iconic film really gave me the opportunity for companies to see me on a national scale. Unfortunately i had hit another health barrier, i was no longer able compete professionally due to my life threatening heart condition. I can no longer be part of the sporting industry but i continue to remain a distant supporter with confidant CEO Jenny Archer MBE of Weir-Archer Academy. Of course i was disappointed and felt that i let the team down and my coach. I had to process my own failure to understand i cant be good at everything and it is ok. Somethings are not meant to be as long as i tried it.
What i learnt from my failure in no longer able to be a paralympian;
" FAILURE is not a WEAKNESS but a process you tried and now you can learn from to explore your potential for more greatness...."
DISABILITY CAMPAIGNER - WHEELCHAIR BEAUTY MOVEMENT
I work tirelessly fundraising and campaigning to promote a positive image and raise awareness for visible, invisible disability and several initiatives for disabled people. I support many organisations including Disabled Police Association, Police Federation, Models of Diversity, Spinal Injuries Association and HMSA and EDS which is personal to my daughters disabilities.
Part of my campaign for disability inclusion is to promote a positive life. I created a movement #wheelchairbeauty on my social media sites to stop the online abuse towards people in wheelchairs. Wheelchair Beauty is my way to be a voice for all wheelchair users and share all my daily wheelchair life moments :the good,the bad and the ugly as the saying goes so others can really see what i go through everyday due to the lack of wheelchair accessibility in society and lack of education and communication on disability and wheelchairs. My youtube channel is a social blogging videos educitng everyone on my personal life and sharing my tips and on how to be a positive human being.
As a campaigner i travel all around UK meeting companies and people of all industries where i conduct disability inclusion meetings and educate people at all levels on the disability rights act, the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities, how to communicate with people with disabilities, identifying the needs of people with disabilities,how to engage and assist with people with disabilities, understanding the needs of wheelchair access requirements, establishing the priority of wheelchair access requirements, identifying the barriers of wheelchair accessibility needs, what not to say to people in wheelchairs, what not to do with people in wheelchairs, implementing wheelchair height adaptions.
ROBOCOP
Just as i started my new journey in 2016 i put the ReWalk technology first above everything else. What the public didn’t see was the hard work and side effects it took for me to make the Technology work to the best of my physical and mental abilities. I become the face for UK ReWalk, a reputable Ambassador. I was unable to use the robotic machine due to life threatening condition where her heart can suddenly stop from standing. Bravely, the technology was donated to another paraplegic to enable them to walk again with their family. I continue to share my emotional and painful journey in my talks as a way to educate and inspire others of how powerful human minds can be than relying on technology. I use my my self-healing approach to talk to different audiences and give listeners tools to expand their minds and strength their own beliefs of possibilities are endless.
Nicki is now recognised as an “Inspirational Role model”, a title that was awarded to her by the Birmingham Lord Mayor.
ACTOR KEVIN SPACEY also recognised Donnelly as
an “Influential key note speaker with a story to tell”.
AUTHOR
i am writing my first book which will change the readers way of life and thinking when i have hopefully finished writing ( November-December 2018) .
This is my first book written by herself ,no ghost writing. I will be opening up about my many life stories of a to z adversities from childhood to 2018. These are my own valuable life lessons i want to share with everyone to help uplift others, to tell those who are going through what i have gone through they are not alone and how to fight through their challenges and sufferings in their own right but with the additional benefit on knowing how i overcame my ordeals.
I can bring joy and happiness to others. My presence is profound because i don't judge and as great listener i have learnt so much from others on how to help others with their difficulties in whats holding them back. I am first to admit i am not perfect. I am always learning into finding ways to keep improving. I make mistakes just like everyone else. I have bad days and good days. I will happily share how i got through my difficult obstacles and stages to achieve and explains on all my different roles and services i offer as outlined on the page. I firmly believe i have been given another chance by God , a blessing delivered through my daughter to continue serving God by helping others through using all my talents.
I learnt to always adapt and be flexible with using different platforms to reach wider audiences to achieve my own goals and to help others. This is why you'll probably now understand and why i take on too much work because i really do put my heart and soul in everything i do.
The one life lesson that took 35 years years to learn is the word NO. I no longer feel guilty to say NO because you must not over load otherwise what your doing becomes less productive.
YOU WILL BE THROWN BACK AS YOU READ EACH PAGE HOW NICKIs UNBELIEVABLE STRENGTH CARRIED HER THROUGH THE YEARS.
THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT TO LISTEN TO NICKIS STORIES IN A INTIMATE SETTING WHERE NO CAMERAS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED HAVE RESPONDED :
The book is about Nicki's challenging life story that turned into a self healing book for others to read when its ready to be published.
Nickis book will also have never before seen pictures throughout the chapters to give you a depth of understanding in order to connect with Nicki at that time-scene-setting of her story . this will hopefully help the readers feel what Nicki was going through at that time then to process the reasoning behind why she doesn't blame anyone now that she is a adult . Nickis 6 years of studying Child Psychology has helped, with the various forms of therapy she has endured. This really has enabled Nicki to explore her childhood and adulthood trauma to be able to write her harrowing and torment suffering in a book without spirally backwards. Nicki really has come far.
To accomplish typing this page and all designing her own website all by herself is a big achievement for me, sorry for Nicki Remember being Dyslexic Nicki was told she would be incapable of an education !! If Nicki can do it so can YOU!!
SPONSERSHIP - AMBASSADOR
AND BLOGGER
Now have a look at Nicki's pages to find out more about Nicki and brows her social media sites for her recent inspiration as Fashion and Beauty Blogger.
Nicki has been approached by overwhelming amount of fashion, beauty and cosmetic brands to try out their products and share to them on her social media platforms. Have a look on You Tube and Instagram on the top right hand corner which products Nicki enjoys using and her detailed reviews on Wheelchair accessibility living and lifestyle on her Tumblr Blog -top right hand of this page. Contact Nicki on how your product can be promoted with Nickis Influence!
The following brands AND COMPANIES have shared one of social media posts, supported my WHEELCHAIR BEAUTY MOVEMENT, have been model for their brand. Brands have also sent me products as part of my Social media Influencer and Blogger role. These Brands and companies i had the pleasure to collaborate with and receive support for disability inclusion are:
SMASHBOX COSMETICS-SLEEK MAKEUP-ELEGANT TOUCH NAILS-NEWLOOK FASHION- AX PARIS-WOMENS HEALTH UK MAGAZINE-IWEIGH-ROUTES HAIR EXTENSION-CORKED-AROMATHERAPY DIFFUSER PENS -SLICK CHICS UNDERWEAR-ENABLE MAGAZINE-EYELURE-FORT BIRMINGHAM SHOPPING CENTRE-INVACARE WHEELCHAIR COMPANY UK AND EUROPE-BOOTS UK -APPLE UK
AT 25 AND 26 SECONDS YOU WILL SEE A GLIMPSE OF ME RACING. I AM THE ONE IN THE PICTURE LABELLED ME!
I AM VERY PROUD TO HAVE REPRESENTED MY COUNTRY ANOTHER WAY.
11 HOURS OF RACING IN PAIN FOR 3 SECONDS OF APPEARANCE IS WORTH IT WHEN I AM PROMOTING DISABILITY INCLUSION.