Love of music drives disabled boy on (From The Argus)

Love of music drives disabled boy on

10:40am Thursday 14th February 2008

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Playing the piano despite not being able to use his hands is no problem for this talented ten-year-old.

For Jordan Manderson hasn't let his disability stop him being an enthusiastic member of his school band.

Jordan, who goes to Rudyard Kipling School in Woodingdean, Brighton, suffers from a rare disorder which meant his arms did not develop properly when he was in the womb.

He uses his feet to do the things the rest of us do with our hands.

Not content with his musical accomplishments, Jordan can also paint and write and is a menace on the Nintendo DS.

Doctors at Worthing Hospital advised his mother Kelly, 28, to have a termination after their initial scans wrongly suggested he had Edward's Syndrome.

But Kelly is as determined as her son. She eventually gave birth to him at Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Kelly, who is a stay-athome mother, said: "His will to get on with things surprises a lot of people. Especially when they see what he can achieve.

"He has a get up and get on with it' attitude. He never says I can't do this or that and is willing to give anything a go. I'm so proud - at one stage we didn't even think we'd have him."

Jordan, who lives in Whitehawk, has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which causes multiple joint contractures and is characterised by muscle weakness and fibrosis.

He said: "I love music and I've played with the concert band for six months but so far we've only done one concert.

"I love computers too - Braintime especially - but they're too easy.

"My favourite subject at school is numeracy. I love maths."

Nina Moore, Jordan's teacher and music co-ordinator, said: "I have been teaching him for two terms and he's a lovely boy.

"He was great in our recent concert. The children composed it all themselves, with a little bit of help from Mike Rathbone in music. It was a wonderful success."

Ms Moore added: "Jordan will not be left out of anything.

He even plays basketball.

When he's playing in the playground he wears a helmet but all the other kids are very nurturing.

"They help him to take it off and will take his coat and hang it up before class."

Dad Colin, 38, who is a driver for Big Lemon buses, said: "He's always listening to music on the radio and he has a keyboard in his room. It was his big sister's, but because he was always playing she let him have it. He has never looked back."

Colin plays football for Northbook in Worthing and Jordan loves the sport too: "He comes down to training and does the running but he just wants to play with the ball. He plays with the other kids on the side.

"It's the only time we get to spend together because of my work. But I think he only really comes because he likes the pub."

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