A DISABLED teacher and photographer from Coventry has won a prestigious business award and is now aiming to give opportunities to young people with special needs.
Donna Bridgewater, who was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia and severe Irlen syndrome when she was at university, has won a Prince’s Trust Enterprise award.
Irlen syndrome affects the brain’s ability to process visual information while dyslexia and dypraxia make it difficult for people to read, write and spell.
Against the odds and with the support of the trust she was able to found her own business, Bridgwater photography.
She now divides her time between teaching photography to students with special needs at Hereward College in Bramston Crescent, Coventry, and expanding her business.
Ms Bridgewater said: “At school I struggled with reading, writing and my speech; it affected my confidence and my ability to communicate.
“I was at the bottom of my class for everything – the whole schooling process was physically and emotionally draining.
“When I finally made it to university to study photography, my lecturer noticed I was struggling with assignments and referred me to a specialist.
“When I got my diagnosis, it was a relief to finally know what was wrong.
“After university I studied for a teaching diploma and got a job at a college for people with disabilities, but the hours didn’t give me the financial stability I needed, so I began toying with the idea of starting my own photography business.
“A friend suggested I should sign up to Enterprise, an intensive programme from The Prince’s Trust that helps young people start up in business.
“The programme gave me the confidence to just go for it and now I not run my own photography business and teach photography at the college where I work.
“My life is so fulfilling. I am stronger as a person and I am proud of what I’m achieving for myself and for others.
“I want to open my own studio and invest in a photo booth so I can branch out into parties and events and be in a position to offer more work placements to young photographers with special needs.”
The Prince’s Trust is a national charity which helps young vulnerable people get their life on track.
It aims to provide those who are between the ages of 11 and 30 who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their lives.
