Artist's Journey and the NDIS

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Today I began my 8 week Artist in Residency,  My journey as an artist began in 2012.  After a serious illness I thought I'd step back and reline my choices in life. Art was something I always loved and my support provider thought I could potently sell my art. 

'Like no way! I am just Doodling.' I protested. 

The activities coordinator exclaimed that, 'No one doodles like that! That is art.' 

So determined to slow down I went home and made some 'art'. However somewhere along the line got roped in to applying for a Leadership Program.  A program that changed the direction of my life. 

The National  Disability Insurance Scheme was still being debated and  lobbied for: the system of how people with disabilities were supported and cared for needed change.  Many people living with disabilities believed that change needed to driven by people's lives who were directly impacted by disabilities.  The central change needed to be a change from being seen as a 'patient' to a person in our own right.  The motto 'Every Australian Counts' was adopted and in 2016 the Australian  Government and the Queensland Government signed an agreement to co-fund the NDIS. 

During my leadership development training I was keen to develop professional opportunities for artist living with disabilities.  I had worked in the industry for many years and never expected the opposition that occurred to my chosen objectives. In principle everyone agreed the reality was a consensus,  'I should be content to let people just enjoy art, not lead them up the garden path, that would end in failure.' There is still a belief people with disabilities need to be protected from failure. 

This was not the message I was hearing from individuals with disabilities, nor was it the focus of my the Leadership Program. During the Leaders For Tomorrow Program, we leaders with disabilities, were challenged to find a route by which our goals could be achieved and not to accept any road blocks, the word 'fail' was not used.

My leadership journey became about my two passions.

1. Advocacy
2. Art

Fast forward to today and my advocacy and artwork have become inseparable. 

 'Yes today the children at kindy, wanted to know what I was doing? And then offered advice on what the scarecrow should look like. But also wanted to know 'why I talked funny?'.

They nicely told me they couldn't understand me. I suggested because my brain didn't work the same as their brains, they would need to listen more carefully.

And they did! And together we made 'Rainbow'!

I became a NDIS participant in 2017 and this week I sat down with my planner or Local Area Coordinator to develop my 3rd NDIS participant plan.  Many of my followers know the struggles I had finding my path through the NDIS and finding the right supports to assist me to build my visual art practice. 

Yes! There has been many tears along the way. However in the main I have been able to make the NDIS work for me.  This week after almost two years, my powerchair was finally ordered.  I was  able to self manage my plan and now self-direct my own supports. meaning  I am able to choose who comes into my 'home and at what time.'

I found support workers who whole heartily empower me to achieve my NDIS goals.  They know my goals and these are at the centre of my supports session.  My goal is not to tie myself to my local community but to expand my art practice and exhibit my work in galleries outside Ipswich. My goals are very much inline with other emerging artists. 

I also got notice today I have been appointed to the RADF committee giving artists of all abilities representation in shaping the future.  The best way to make change and break down barriers is to lead the way. . . 

It is important that people with disabilities continue to tell their stories so future policies for people with disabilities are based on lived experience not research or theories. There are many faults that need to be addressed to MAKE THE NDIS WORK for all Australians not just people to have the ability to self-manage and self-direct.  We need to inform politicians on what does work and what doesn't work.

With the federal election next weekend I encourage everyone to tell their stories.  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.