What strikes you most about Linda is her openness, her ability to recall events and dates from many years ago and describe them in vivid detail, and how, even 11 years after his death, she refers to her and Shand as “we”. A true partnership that demonstrated what disabled housing and care can, and should, be like.

Linda and Shand met in 1986 – from then they embarked on a remarkable journey together, overcoming many obstacles along the way. Linda explained:

“There was a chemistry there that meant that we could work together. He knew that I would always support him, and I knew that he would always support me.”

In the ‘90’s Shand moved into sheltered housing and was supported throughout by Linda when dealing with the many problems that he faced in this time. To begin with she assisted him with the mental process of detaching himself from his parents, something that Linda says he found very difficult:

“The day he moved I think he phoned me 7 times to say ‘do you think we can put this off until tomorrow? I think I could do it tomorrow’ but I kept reminding him ‘if you’re not going to do it today, you’re not going to do it.’”

When asked if she doubted then that he would be able to live on his own, without his mother and father, Linda responded without hesitation:

“No. I thought he was big enough… I knew he had the courage to see it through.”

In 1996 Shand, and other disabled people living in the sheltered housing complex, began to experience bullying from children from a nearby school. They would run along his roof, deliberately causing the gutters to fall down, throw soup across his door and even put fireworks through his letterbox which “really terrified him”.

“Small things made his life a complete misery. He was in an electric wheelchair at this time and loved to walk his dog, Beauty, in the mornings. He got great pleasure from doing that on his own; it was something he could do independently. However, the kids would be waiting for him in a line of 5 and they would torment and intimidate him to the point he felt he couldn’t take the dog for a walk.

“That virtually destroyed him because it was one of the things that he really loved. The distress that he suffered in these years, I will never forget. It was terrible.”

Both Linda and Shand were resolute that he would not continue to live in such misery, however they discovered that, because his physical needs were being met he didn’t have, in the eyes of the authorities, a right to move.

Shand’s determination and courage, a common thread in the story of his life, meant that he was unwilling to accept that.

Eventually, after exhausting all other avenues, it was suggested to the pair that Linda buy a house, adapt it to Shand’s needs and then let it out to him. They would then live together in the home and Linda would act as Shand’s principle carer and would help to train additional staff.

The search then began for a house that was easily adaptable, that would suit Shand’s needs, that wasn’t going to be too much hassle and that would accommodate carers.

At last a property was found, Tulloch Ard, and together they went about making the necessary alterations to meet Shand’s requirements. The doors were all widened, the windows replaced, ramps put in place, and remote entry and CCTV were installed. Shand specifically didn’t want the house to look like a “disabled” house, instead subtle alterations were made to make moving around and performing tasks easier.

Shand and Linda eventually moved in in 2000. At last he was able to regain his independence, feel safe in his home, and could walk his dog without fear of intimidation.

All of the staff, or “his girls” as Linda affectionately calls them, worked on the garden, something that Linda said brought Shand great joy. Their dedication was “astonishing” and it won many prizes for its appearance including third prize in Lanarkshire.

Despite encountering complications, red tape and stereotyping throughout his life, Shand repeatedly refused to be limited by his disability. In the 90’s Shand began fundraising for money so that he could buy a car suitable for his needs. In the end an astonishing £50,000 was raised and he travelled to America to be fitted for it. In many ways the freedom and happiness it brought to his life was worth far more. He was able to run errands and drive to social events, opening a world of opportunities that hadn’t previously been available to him.

 In regards to his 5 years of driving Shand said:

“Anything is possible if you have an enabling environment. It simply requires belief in yourself, the courage of your convictions, and the willingness to stand up and be counted.”

Shand also set up two organisations: Free Space and LCIL, both of which were aimed at empowering disabled people. Linda explained:

“Disabled people can’t make the most of things if people keep cutting their money. Shand was always saying ‘ if you empower disabled people they will give so much back and it will lead to a better economy.’”

In 2001 Shand was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his services to disabled housing; an indicator of how influential his work in the area had been.

Sadly, in 2004 he passed away. His memory remains clear and alive in the stories told by Linda and in the lasting impression he has made on the disabled community and housing in particular. It has also come time for Linda and her husband to move from Tulloch Ard. Without Shand’s other carers the garden is difficult to upkeep with her busy schedule, and with her and her husband now looking to downsize to something more manageable.

Linda hopes that it can be used as an example for other people. She also hopes that someone else can benefit and get as much joy from the house as Shand did, or as he had always hoped, that it could perhaps become an empowerment centre.  

Looking back at their time, Linda said:

“15 years working together meant so much, what he had done meant so much, and if this guy taught me anything it’s that engagement is the caterpillar, empowerment is the chrysalis and autonomy is the butterfly.”

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