Bram
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Bram is in his late-20s and has autism. He describes himself as ‘high functioning’ and says he has worked hard to learn to control his sensory issues and anxiety and to ‘use the benefits’ of his disability.
Nonetheless, Bram told the Royal Commission, he still faces ‘a lot of discrimination’.
‘At school I was not allowed to be part of many events that all other students were allowed to go to! I was not allowed to go to sporting events even though I was one of the fittest students!
‘I was not allowed to go on school trips, I was punished before I was spoken to! I was not told why I was being punished. Like many kids with autism, other students made a game of getting me punished!’
This discrimination continued when Bram went on to university, where ‘staff refused to teach or help’ him.
‘One staff refused to communicate with me after I told her of my disability,’ he told us.
‘Because I have a disability I have to constantly jump through issues that other people do not and have to do more work because of systems and bureaucracy, yet I often am not provided with the essential help I need for the few issues I have not overcome! … I spent over 1000 hours trying to get basic levels of help and proof that the university was willing to provide a service that would allow me to continue at university.’
Discrimination has also impacted Bram’s ability to work.
‘I have not been given the same level of opportunities in working in fast food outlets as others who are less qualified and not as hard working or reliable or even as able to do the job … I was yelled at and insulted by managers because of my disability.’
Bram says he has not been given the same levels of training or learning opportunities as ‘neurotypical people’.
‘So many people with a label of a disability can be working in high paying jobs but are not provided the education to get the careers. The discrimination of people with a disability is holding back not just the people with a disability but our whole country.’
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.