Brad the guitarist is making inroads through his music

For someone who prefers to be out of the limelight, Brad’s come a long way in the past few years, playing guitar and singing in public most weekends.

Growing up in rural Queensland on a farm with 9 siblings, Brad spent a lot of time running across paddocks, mustering cattle, branding and everything that goes with being on a small farm.

However, living with a physical disability since birth has been a challenge for the Rockhampton resident. Brad’s bones grow outwards, not lengthways and this makes everyday tasks and movement painful and difficult.

“It's a calcium thing and I’ve got big lumps under my muscles. So, each time your muscle pulls over something, it works harder because it's not pulling in a straight line,” Brad said.

“It causes fatigue because you're exerting more energy to do normal things and the lumps aren't always smooth.

“They have spikes and spurs on them, so the pain is when the spurs and the lumps push on nerve endings or soft tissue. And you can have them on your rib cage, pushing into your vital organs.”

Brad developed a mental toughness that enabled him to push boundaries, particularly when it comes to pain management.

After he left school, one of Brad’s goals was follow in his family’s footsteps and pursue a career in either the navy, army, or the police. But he lacked the height and failed the medical.

Not one to give up easily, Brad applied for mainstream jobs but kept getting knocked back because he disclosed his disability.

“My employers knew I had a problem, but then the private sector wouldn't go out on a limb, so to speak, to employ me,” Brad said.

“I didn't want to be looked at as a person with a disability, I wanted to be looked at as Brad.”

After multiple knockbacks, Brad reached out to a disability employment provider who secured him employment at a local university. Brad’s role varied, from IT, desktop support as well as numerous buildings.

With the inability to say “no” to others, and grateful to have a job, Brad quickly burned out.

“I used to be able to manage my pain by trying to block it out,” Brad said. “But when the pressure at work got too bad, I started relying on medication and then alcohol, and then it just went on and on.”

At 35, Brad was able to stop working and retire, after he was given approval to access his superannuation.

With the support of his wife Amanda, Brad reached out to Carers Queensland Rockhampton office to apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Amanda said it was an extremely challenging time for the family, made harder by the fact that Brad often struggled with some of the complex questions.

“He battled to have to confront demons that he never wanted to confront before because he had to admit, “I do have a problem,” Amanda said.

Brad admitted the process was “very confronting.”

With the patience and support from Allison, their Local Area Coordinator, Brad was able to complete his preplanning NDIS meeting and set future goals.

“Allison was so good at her job in saying, “well, what about this? And what about that?” and getting him to see things from a different perspective,” Amanda said.

“I honestly think if it wasn't Allison in that chair, it’s likely Brad might have just walked away. She saw the disability, but she saw the person first.”

With the support of Carers Queensland and Amanda, Brad has gone from strength-to-strength.

Brad uses his NDIS supports to access a support worker, a physiotherapist, and a psychologist. The Scheme has also modified his bathroom and pool so they’re more accessible.

Brad’s also been able to use his funding to get inbuilt orthotics to level his hips, meaning he has less hip and back pain.

With the right physical supports in place, Brad said he’s shifted his focus to concentrate on growing his confidence and mental health.

“One of my goals was to learn the guitar,” Brad said. “And I want to be known as Brad who can play the guitar, not Brad with a disability.”

Brad said his life changed once he found support worker Lauren, who has taught him the guitar and to sing.

“I play around the campfire quite happily and sing, but she now pushes me to play in front of people in pubs and stuff like that. She keeps changing the goal posts,” Brad said.

The pair often visit the riverbank or beachfront to play the guitar in public, something Amanda says has helped improve Brad's mental health and confidence.

“He was always a bit of a loner who had a very close-knit of friends but never really went outside his bubble,” Amanda said.

“Now, since he's doing his music and he's enjoying it, he's got himself outside of our home and he's out and about in the community like he's never been before.”

Brad performs monthly at the Yeppoon RSL Club and also connects with a group of like-minded musicians at the club.

“I'm a muso now. Before NDIS, I had a condition, I didn't have a skill. I'm getting the identity that I want, not what I don't want. So that sort of says it all.” Brad said.

Carers Queensland can support you to find out more about the NDIS, to apply for funding and to help you get started with the NDIS.

If you have a disability but are not eligible for the NDIS, Carers Queensland can help you identify and link to options for support in your community.

You can also contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au,  or sign up to our LAC Connect app here.