Bex
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.
Bex is neurodivergent and has physical disability. They are transgender and non-binary.
‘I move funny, talk funny, act funny, think funny, exist funny, study funny, learn funny, work funny. And because we train our society to pick on difference, to hate the different, the strange, and the new – that ends in violence.’
Bex told the Royal Commission that they learnt to ‘mask’ from a young age.
‘Literally doing my best to act like other people, hide all the little and big differences as best as I can.’
But the problem with acting, Bex says, is you can’t keep it up forever. Bex would became exhausted, anxious and depressed and would ‘inevitably slip-up’.
People would often react with violence.
‘I've been beaten, had weapons pointed at me, used against me, I've been harassed, I've been followed, I've been yelled at, street harassed, I've been excluded.’
Sometimes the abuse was more subtle.
People would accuse Bex of acting weirdly or being on drugs. Others would tell them, ‘You don’t socialise well with our team, social group. Sorry, you’re not a good fit for us.’
Bex has complex post-traumatic stress disorder because ‘the trauma keeps going’.
For a short time, Bex had a full-time job. They carefully managed their disability for as long as they could. Eventually it became too hard and they couldn’t sustain the energy, the focus and executive function required to do the job.
They discovered ‘anyone who talks candidly about health or disability isn’t hired or around for long’.
‘Asking for accommodations is an incredibly intimidating experience.’
Over the years, Bex has needed to frequently engage with health services.
She finds it very difficult filling in ‘endless forms to beg for help’, following up with doctors, chasing and rescheduling appointments.
Being transgender and non-binary adds complications. Bex says the system doesn’t even have options to record their details correctly.
A tick box for male, female or transgender serves no-one.
‘When you're a minority group within a minority group within a minority group, it's hard to find suitable advocacy, hard to find someone who can fight for your needs.’
Bex believes the NDIS is part of the problem, denying or delaying access to support.
‘With jargon and divisions designed to confuse, inconsistent applications of rules, random funding cuts, paperwork from hell, a straight up ignorance of the law and human rights in those delivering it.’
Bex believes a better funded Medicare system would work better.
‘Disabled people have a lot to contribute, and unless this goes to a universal access guarantee like Medicare was meant to be, you won't be able to increase our social or economic participation. Too many of us slip through the cracks or, at best, spend all our energy fighting.’
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.