A NEW LIFE WITH DISABILITIES (Helicopter down cuts short military career) Steve Pendleton Steve Pendleton served with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Green Jackets. It was in November 1991, during a two and a half year posting to Omagh, Northern Ireland that the helicopter that Steve was travelling in, lost control and crashed into a hillside. One member of the patrol was killed and six others were seriously injured, suffering from a wide variety of injuries. “I was the most seriously injured soldier from this crash.”  Steve suffered three fractures to his skull, plus a broken jaw, fractures to his right leg and ankle, compound fractures to his right arm plus damage to the right shoulder, collapsed lungs, a ruptured spleen plus other minor internal injuries and lastly, a traumatic amputation to his left leg above the knee.  “The head injuries I received left me Registered Blind and deaf in my right ear, but apart from this, I am still very good looking!” Steve was treated in various hospitals in Northern Ireland, before being transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital in December 1991 where he spent the next five months. After this he was sent to St Dunstan’s for more specialised rehabilitation focusing on his eye disabilities. Steve spent three months at St Dunstan’s learning how to rebuild his life [without sight!]  Since leaving St Dunstan’s in July 1992, Steve has spent a number of years studying at various colleges. During this time, he also studied Braille and found that he had the touch for Braille. It was not long after leaving Gravesend, that he secured a position at the Rochester Adult Education Centre as their Braille Teacher. Steve left the Adult Education Centre in July 2006, but he loves teaching and continues to teach privately from home. In Oct/Nov 2005, Steve was involved with a Clean Water and Hygiene Programme, working alongside the Royal Engineers and Water Aid in the northern region of Ghana. His job was to educate the populations of three villages in the use of good hygiene practices and to teach them about basic drainage and sanitation. In recognition of his achievements in Ghana, he was awarded a ‘Pride in Medway Nomination for Outstanding Community Involvement.’ Steve has been a public speaker since June 2005. He talks about his experiences serving in Northern Ireland leading up to when he was injured out there. Steve then explains in a very humorous way about his rehabilitation. All Steve requires from the groups he visits is a jug of water and an audience with a sense of humour!!!