Chris discovers the freedom to live an independent life full of passion and purpose
At age 19, Chris tragically experienced a diving injury to his neck. This has left Chris in a wheelchair for almost 32 years now, making his cherished hobbies and daily activities challenging – but also more fulfilling to accomplish.
“I had a compound fracture of the 5th and 6th vertebra, so I underwent spinal fusion and spent 7 months in rehabilitation. Nevertheless, I always strive to live independently every day with a smile on my face.”
After the accident, he moved back home with his family in Canberra for a year and a half, where they cared for him. After this, Chris began his journey towards reclaiming his independence by moving to Sydney where he connected with people who were also navigating similar complexities of living with a disability.
“I was able to build more confidence by meeting these individuals. I started taking courses, writing books and making videos to contribute something valuable to the world.”
During these years, he had a care team looking after him. However, Chris found that managing the admin and maintaining these services was very time-consuming for him. There were also unfortunate instances during this time where his carers had not been easily accessible when he needed them.
After discovering support from Living My Way Chris was able to tailor what he needed and rely on support services.
“It has now been almost 8 years, and Living My Way continuously guides me in getting the most out of the NDIS for my needs.”
Chris has gained more control over his Support Worker team and NDIS funding. He can now contact his Support Workers directly whenever he needs to and change support providers if he wants, all without the hassle, stress and paperwork that comes with it.
Chris also relies on Living My Way to handle all the tedious tasks involved – from on-boarding, payroll arrangements and taxes to other administrative requirements.
“I got more hours with the NDIS. I used to have only 70 hours a fortnight before Living My Way stepped in. Now, I get 90 hours which has enabled me to focus on my wellbeing and achieve my goals.”
“Living My Way is very attentive, giving that one-on-one support. They have also assisted me in buying equipment easily. In addition, they have this online application called Deputy to streamline every process.”
Today, Chris showcases his masterpieces and stories at Dead Dingo Designs which enable him to inspire more people across the globe.
“Thanks to Living My Way, I’ve been able to harness my capabilities and skills to create artwork, write books and design a website. I also track fires for the RFS and do more volunteer work.”
