Care is Everywhere

Today we're talking to two young men with autism who are making a name for themselves in digital spaces. 

Indie game developer Bradley Hennessey is the creator of Aspergers-themed computer game An Aspie Life. Brad’s studying game design and interactive environments at QUT. He started his own company, EnderLost Studios, and he's working on a prequel to An Aspie Life based on his experiences when he was younger.  

And Gold Coast YouTuber Joe Smith is rubbing shoulders with celebrities, athletes, and people from all walks of life through his own online chat show, Top Guest Studio With Joe.  He's planning to leverage his online content into a job in the media or entertainment.

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/3-1-The-Future-Is-Online-transcript.docx

Enderlost Studios: www.enderloststudios.com

Top Guest Studio with Joe: www.youtube.com/channel/UCnGOvHiiD78lqHFJeIhlFCg

Carers Queensland upcoming events and workshops: www.carersqld.com.au/events

Carers Queensland NDIS on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarersQueenslandNDIS

Choice and Control is back soon with season three!  Join us for new journeys with Queenslanders with disability creating wonderful things: from art and podcasts to buliding communities and turning lives around, we're celebrating achievements with a whole new batch of amazing stories.

In this episode we meet Martin Broad, a motivational speaker from Springsure using his life experiences to educate youth about the dangers of risky behaviour, alcohol, and brain injury.

After a night out on the town to celebrate a new job, Martin realised he'd locked himself out of his apartment.  He tried to climb up the side of the building to get to the open door on his balcony - and fell seven storeys to the ground, sustaining severe injuries including acquired brain injury.

These days Martin owns his own home, has his drivers licence back, and is building his career as a speaker sharing his experience and insights.  His business shares the initials "ABI" with his disability - but in this case, it stands for Actually Bloody Incredible.

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.8-Martin-Broad-transcript.pdf

Brain Injury Australia: https://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

In this episode we meet Rebecca Johnson, a young artist and musician from Rockhampton living with bipolar disorder and chronic illness.

Rebecca's finishing 2020 strong, with artistic achievements, some answers about her health, and even the beginning of a new family business.

Rebecca has a piece included in Carers Queensland's This Is Me art exhibition, which is on show at the Banana Shire Regional Art Gallery in Biloela until early March.

She's also had an artwork selected for the front cover of Art from the Margin's 2021 calendar, a piece about her relationship with her Mum called Hold Me Mother Before I Disappear.

Along with her mother, Rebecca has started Tutti Fruitti Handmade, and they've just had their first market stall outing selling their cute handmade goodies.

It took years for Rebecca to get a definitive diagnosis, and she says she's still learning what disability means for her and un-learning a lot of internalised ableism - negative ideas about disability we might have picked up unconsciously, even if we have disability ourselves.

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.7-Rebecca-Johnson-transcript.pdf

Art from the Margin's 2021 calendar: https://www.wmq.org.au/communities/art-from-the-margins/aftm-news/2021-Calendar-available-now

Tutti Fruitti Handmade's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Tutti-Fruitti-Handmade-111604017405009

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

In this episode we meet Amanda Fraser, who represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, and went on to become a Local Area Coordinator supporting other people with disability using the NDIS.

Amanda grew up in a sport-loving family in Emerald, in Queensland's Central Highlands region.  She soon discovered her own athletic talents, and a world of possibility and potential opened up. 

Amanda says the Australian Institute of Sport does a great job with inclusion and support for athletes with disabilities, and during her time there she met some of the best of the best, including boxer Kostya Tszyu.

Outside of the sporting arena, it look longer to find her niche... Amanda experienced some frustrating false starts and dead ends in the workplace, due to low expectations of what people with disability can achieve.

Amanda now works in disability services herself, supporting other people with disability to access the services they need, reach their goals and live their best lives.  When we caught up for this chat, she was part of Carers Queensland's Local Area Coordination team in Rockhampton, working with people accessing and using the NDIS.

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/amanda-fraser-transcript.pdf

Australian Institute of Sport: https://www.ais.gov.au/

Carers Queensland's NDIS Local Area Coordination team: https://carersqld.com.au/ndis/

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

In this episode we meet Des Ryan, a champion for access, inclusion and employment for people with disability and recently elected Chair of the Queenslanders with Disability Network.

Des is working on Community Solutions' Regional Advantage project.  The initiative is building employment opportunities for people with disability by working with employers to break down myths about workers with disability, show the many benefits staff with disability can bring a business, and celebrate great examples of inclusion in the workforce.

The project is supported by an NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacility Building (ILC) Economic Participation of People with Disability Grant.

Des is also the long-time organiser of Rockhampton's annual (COVID permitting) Accessible Pub Crawl, when a team of people with disability, community leaders and health and disability sector workers spend a night on the tiles for a practical test of the region's accessibility.

 If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.4-Para-Ice-Hockey-transcript.pdf

Queenslanders With Disability Network: https://qdn.org.au/

The Regional Advantage project: https://communitysolutions.org.au/regional-advantage/

More information about the Accessible Pub Crawl: https://capricornenterprise.com.au/events/the-2019-accessible-pub-crawl/

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

The temperature is rising, so it's time to hit the ice!  In this episode we drop in at Para Ice Hockey Queensland to find out more about this fast-paced accessible sport.

Para Ice Hockey players use sledges rather than skates, and take to the ice weilding two double-ended poles - one end for propelling themselves around the rink, the other for shooting the puck.

Carers Queensland's Taryn Forster suited up for Para Ice Hockey Queensland's recent come-and-try day at IceWorld.  She spoke to players Cecilia Baily and Tony Doevendans and coach Gregor Rozenberg about the sport, and IceWorld CEO Keith Fullerton to find out how the accessible sessions are bringing new and more diverse patrons to the complex.

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Please note due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, parts of this episode were recorded via Zoom.

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.4-Para-Ice-Hockey-transcript.pdf

Para Ice Hockey information from the official Paralympics website: https://www.paralympic.org/ice-hockey/about

IceWorld Skating Rinks: https://www.iceworld.com.au/

Para Ice Hockey Queensland's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ParaIceHockeyQld/

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

In this episode we meet Barb Cook, a regional Queensland-based writer, academic, developmental educator and autism advocate.

Barb has autism, ADHD and dyslexia, but like many of her generation wasn't diagnosed until well into adulthood.  She says the diagnosis was a relief, and a chance for a whole new start.  Barb's since achieved her Master of Autism (Education) at the University of Wollongong, focussing on the critically important issues of education and employment for the neurodiverse community.

Barb is now a prolific author and speaker, and has built Autistic-led initiatives such as Spectrum Women Magazine and Bikers for Autism Australia.  She's a Community Council Member of Autistic Adults and other Stakeholders Engaged Together, which provides advice and input into health research affecting people on the spectrum, and an independent lived experience peer reviewer of the Autism in Adulthood academic journal.

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Please note due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, this episode was recorded via Zoom.

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.3-Barb-Cook-transcript.pdf

Barb's website: https://barbcook.com.au/

Spectrum Women Magazine: https://www.spectrumwomen.com/

Bikers for Autism Australia: http://bikersforautism.org/

Autistic Adults and other Stakeholders Engaged Together: http://www.autistichealth.org/

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

In this episode we talk to Suzanne Dang, Brisbane-based fashion blogger, artist, and mental health advocate.

Suzanne says her purpose in life is to share her experiences and to support others going through similar challenges.  She's now working in the mental health field, as well as sharing her insights through her blog and social media, public speaking, and one-on-one conversations. 

Suzanne even has an 'elevator pitch' about her story and her advocacy ready for when she meets people at fashion events.  She loves attending these solo, so she's forced out of her comfort zone to mix and mingle with new people.

Suzanne is also a great advocate for representation in the fashion world and says there's a place in the fashion community for every body, of every shape, size and ability.

Content note: This episode contains themes some listeners may find distressing, including discussion of suicide, self-harm and mistreatment of people with mental illness.  If you need support, you can contact the Mental Health Access Line on 1300 64 22 55. This is a confidential 24/7 line, and will link you to your nearest Queensland public mental health service.  You can also contact Lifeline telephone counselling on 13 11 14.  In an emergency, or if you feel unsafe, dial 000 (triple zero). 

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Please note due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, this episode was recorded via phone.

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.2-Suzanne-Dang-transcript.pdf

Suzanne's website: https://www.suzanne-dang.com/

Suzanne's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneTuMi/

Suzanne's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannedang/

1300 MH CALL (1300 642255) is a confidential service that provides the first point of contact to Queensland's public mental health services: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/mental-health/help-lines/1300-mh-call

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/

Choice and Control is back, talking to people with disability from across Queensland about their lives and achievements, as well as accessibility, inclusion, employment, and advocacy.

We talk with Jaydon Cowan, David Swift, and George Kambouris.  They're all peer mentors with Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Queensland, supporting other people with disability to reach for the stars in the workplace and other avenues of life.

We also talk to Rainey and her mum Amber.  Rainey has spina bifida, and inspired Life Education Queensland to make their Central Queensland van more accessible so all kids can enjoy sessions with Healthy Harold.

If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Please note due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements parts of this episode were recorded via Zoom.

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.1-Peer-Mentors-transcript.pdf

 Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Queensland: https://www.spinabifida.org/ 

Life Education Queensland: https://www.lifeeducation.org.au/ 

More about Life Education's accessible van: https://lifeeducationqld.org.au/wheelchair-accessible-life-education-van/ 

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/