Chris discovers the freedom to live an independent life full of passion and purpose
Nothing can stop Chris from taking the path of independence and seizing every moment – not even quadriplegia.
At age 19, Chris tragically suffered 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.
To address his concerns, Chris was referred to Living My Way.
Living My Way offered him NDIS-approved Disability Support Services that are tailored to help him live a self-directed life with genuine and caring assistance he could depend on.
“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.”
With Living My Way, 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.
Through Living My Way, he also was able to apply for an additional 20+ hours from NDIS per fortnight. This means he has more time with his support workers, allowing him to get the support he needs to do the things he loves and have fun.
“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.”
To help elevate overall quality of life, Living My Way focuses on thoroughly understanding each Member’s requirements to provide empathetic support. By performing regular check-ins and supporting Members with services, tools and equipment, we provide more opportunities for people living with disabilities to enjoy life to the fullest.
“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.”
Empowered by Living My Way, Chris has obtained the flexibility and freedom he desires to live a meaningful life. With more time on his hands, he can stay true to his passion, interests and purpose of seeking happiness.
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.”
Whether you need Support Workers, assistance to directly employ your own Support Workers, someone to manage your invoices or an NDIS specialist, the friendly team at Living My Way is here to help you.
To find out more about Living My Way’s services:
- For Support Coordination, please click here.
- For Support Worker Services, please click here.
- For Occupational Therapy, please click here.
To view Chris’ masterpieces and stories, please click here.
Living My Way is celebrating 30 years of excellence in disability services.
