Different ability not disability

November 17, 2022myAutonomy NDIS

“I choose not to place “DIS”, in my ability.”

Those are the words of author and Guinness World Records holder, Robert M. Hensel. Robert was born with a birth defect known as spina bifida, but his condition hasn’t stopped him from making an incredible contribution to the community.

Robert holds the world record for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, covering an incredible 6.178 miles.

His story is just one of many –– those who are reframing the experience of disability into a celebration of different ability.

Changing attitudes

Every Australian has the right to engage, contribute and be treated as an equal member of society. In practice, though, we know that people who are different often face exclusion.

Experiencing disability can be enormously challenging –– not just for participants, but for family and loved ones too. This comes down to a range of factors –– physical barriers, negative public perception and lack of awareness.

Attitudes are slowly changing. We believe it’s essential to reframe the experience to ensure every person in our country is respected and able to thrive.

The Paralympics, are just one example of celebrating the unique abilities people possess. They show that representation and support can transform views, provide inspiration, and act as an opportunity to truly represent our diverse population.

Celebrating uniqueness

We view it as essential to celebrate the unique abilities and contributions of all Australians.

When the focus is put on a person’s disability what can be overlooked is their uniqueness. That’s why it’s important to remember that experiencing disability also means having different abilities.

It’s essential to celebrate every person’s contribution to society – regardless of what that contribution is.

Living up to your potential

Everyone has a different potential in different areas. And as humans, we all deserve to live up to our personal potential.

At myAutonomy, it’s our goal to ensure all participants can thrive. This ultimately allows everyone to live up to their potential.

How can participants live up to their potential? We believe there are many ways in which this can happen:

With proper NDIS planning and goal setting
By working towards personal NDIS goals
Receiving the right care services
Via access to creative organisations (like Wild at Heart)
Access to engage with the community
Being associated with a supportive plan provider