Dougie and Cherry
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Dougie is in his 40s and has cerebral palsy. He uses an electric wheelchair with chin controls for mobility. He is also a world-class player of a Paralympic sport.
Dougie has difficulty hearing and speaking and brought his advocate, Cherry, with him to the Royal Commission.
Dougie used to live in a group home that he ‘loved’, but recently his service provider told him to move out.
‘I don’t know why,’ said Dougie.
It happened so fast, he was forced to find emergency accommodation and then moved into an unsuitable share house.
Cherry said the house was noisy with a lot of ‘shouting and banging’.
‘I didn’t like it,’ said Dougie.
Cherry said it was a long way from where ‘all of Dougie’s friends lived’, which was also close to where he played his sport.
‘That was really hard,’ said Dougie.
Dougie had to move again, but still lives a long way from his friends and his sport.
Dougie used to compete internationally. His travel used to be funded, but Cherry said the NDIS now considers his sport ‘just a hobby’ and ‘not a financially viable service’.
‘This is a highly competitive athlete,’ Cherry said. ‘This is his job.’
Dougie still has to travel to where he trains, and it’s expensive. He can no longer afford to compete at major interstate and international tournaments.
Although he still plays in local competitions, there are now ‘so many less opportunities to keep doing the things that were really, really meaningful to him’.
Dougie also misses his friends. He’s applying to keep a cat, but the new house has a no-pets policy. ‘He just wants some company,’ said Cherry.
When Dougie recently applied to move to a house in the area he used to live in, he was knocked back because a staff member at his previous house wouldn’t provide a suitable reference.
‘We got no explanation. Just “not suitable”,’ said Cherry.
Dougie feels it’s ‘not fair’ that he can’t choose where he wants to live, and that his ability to play competitive sport has been taken away.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.