Lex and Doris
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.
Lex is a First Nations man in his 40s. He has an acquired brain injury (ABI) and lives in a rural town.
‘I was hit in the head with a baseball bat about five times and had a totally shattered skull,’ Lex told the Royal Commission. ‘I got told by a number of psychologists and psychiatrists over the years that I would never have full brain, or brain capacity function come back, and that I have an ABI.’
Lex recently applied to the NDIS for support but was unsuccessful. ‘They told me I didn't fit the criteria because of how functional I am.’
Lex said that when the hospital discharged him after the assault, he developed depression and ‘started using drugs heavily’. However he has now been clean for several years. ‘Since I've been clean, the chronic depression has sort of gone away.’
A couple of years ago, Lex and his partner, Doris, had a baby. Doris has epilepsy. Like Lex, she had been a drug user but, at the time of her child’s birth, was clean.
There were complications during birth. ‘She had a very sort of brutal … birthing experience. Forceps were used. It was very rough and very hard. The baby came out black and blue.’
The baby spent three weeks in intensive care. Lex said the hospital failed to support Doris because she had a disability. He made a complaint and was later told by child protection that he had been aggressive.
‘[The hospital] made no suggestion of aggression from me at the time, and no suggestion of anger.’
When the hospital discharged Lex’s son, child protection took him into care.
‘They said that the reason they were taking [my son] was due to drug use. But that was found not to be true … They had a target on me, you know. At the same time, I'm dealing with a premature childbirth, a partner with a disability that wasn't coping, with constant depression. Every time I went anywhere I was getting pulled up by the same particular police officer continually.’
Lex said that although the NDIS didn’t recognise his ABI, police and child protection officers used it to discriminate against him.
‘It's a small town, bigoted community. If you're black, you are bad. If you are disabled, we'll take your kid. Or if you're Indigenous we'll take your child. If you're white, not a problem.’
Lex’s son now lives with him and his current partner.
‘If I didn't have a supportive partner, which I've got now, some days I would struggle. I would really, really struggle.’
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.