Andrew Radford has been living his best life with the help of The Disability Trust’s programs for more than two decades and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He has thrived in a variety of roles and earlier this year he was chosen to participate in a six-part documentary series with the ABC called The Assembly in which he and other people with autism interviewed famous Australians as part of a specially designed journalism course.
They interviewed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, former Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes, singer Delta Goodrem, comedian Hamish Blake, broadcaster Amanda Keller and actor Sam Neill under the guidance of renowned journalist Leigh Sales.
Andrew also works at his local library, washes cars at The Disability Trust’s Batemans Bay office and is a passionate advocate for people with disability.
He has also been invited to join The Disability Trust’s board and he is looking forward to fulfilling that role to amplify the voice of people with disability in the community.
“I’ve been with the Disability Trust in Batemans Bay for over 20 years, and I have had a job at the library with WorkAbility for 23 years, and they always support me,” he said.
“The Disability Trust is absolutely fantastic with supports. I can always ask them questions and I think it’s fantastic.
“I first started with the Disability Trust when I did TAFE, and I needed supports.
“The Disability Trust helped me in my everyday life, learning life skills. I’ve had wonderful support workers.
“With the employment opportunities I’ve had with the Disability Trust, I’ve been able to have my job at the Batemans Bay Library for 23 years, and I’ve also been able to wash the fleet cars at the Batemans Bay office, which is a passion of mine, cars, so that’s pretty exciting.
“I just always have loved cars, and that’s just something I’ve always loved.
“Here at the library, I put the books back on the shelf. I issue and return books, and tick off boxes (on checklists). It makes me feel happy. The customers think that I do a wonderful job, and I’m so happy. Having a job at the library has made me get my own home, and also have my own car.”
Andrew is not only a passionate advocate for people with disability, he loves to spread the word about The Disability Trust’s mission to create a more inclusive world for everyone.
“I don’t want to be with anyone else but the Disability Trust, because they really know how to look after us,” he said.
“I do a lot of advocacy work where we talk about our rights. We have the same rights as everyone else. We go to the VALID Conference every year, which is a really good conference where we speak up and talk about issues with disabilities.
“I like to say ‘nothing about us without us’. And it’s our time to shine. Our voice is being heard.”
Learn about other key people in the story of The Disability Trust
