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/