Sketches, personal bests and the NDIS

Josh Manning has two great passions; drawing and running.

With support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), he is now carving up the track, and discovering artistic talent he didn’t think possible.

Josh, who has autism, has always liked drawing, and in early 2019 started using his NDIS funding to employ Zoe, a local artist, to help him develop his skills.

“We started working on very basic outlines, and within two weeks he was saying let’s try something harder,” Zoe said.

“What we are working on is called hyperrealism. Within a year he has progressed so quickly to what you can see now.”

Josh’s first significant project was a drawing of his favourite marathon runner.

“Eluid Kipchoge is my favourite runner. The photo I drew is taken about 15 seconds after he had taken out the world record. He is hugging his coach Patrick Sang,” Josh said.

The resulting artwork was so true to life that Josh’s mum Christine was blown away.

Even Josh was shocked.

“I had never drawn a person before. I didn’t know I would pick it up so fast,” he said.

Josh is also reaching new heights with his running, taking out the Mateship Run in Currumbin in November, beating his previous years’ time by more than 30 seconds.

“I recently won a 5 km run for charity, raising money on Remembrance Day for young veterans,” he said.

“I came in at 16 minutes and 27 seconds, which is my new personal best.”

Josh trains regularly with the Rat Pack, a Gold Coast-based community running group started by former rugby league and union legend Mat Rogers.

Josh’s mum, Christine, said the NDIS funding had made Josh feel more connected to his community.

“The NDIS isn’t about the money, it’s about the connections that Josh has been able to make,” she said.

“Josh’s goals were to become more independent and to learn to work with people other than mum and dad.

“The fact he has other people coming into his life now is fantastic. He has Zoe to do art with, he has Tanya, his support worker, and he has the running group. He has never had those connections before.

“Next year, they will be venturing out into the community and going to art galleries and stuff like that. We would love him to get him out in the community, to have some adventures, to maybe take a few risks.”

Armed with a new found confidence, Josh has big plans for the future.

“My next race is the Gold Coast 50, and I am running 25 kilometres of it,” he said.

“My big goal is to represent Australia at an international level.”

Josh has also set himself the goal of finding part-time work.

Christine said she was overwhelmed by the opportunities that NDIS support had provided to Josh.

“Josh has had a fantastic year. He has been really building on his independence.

“We are very proud of Josh and very grateful for the opportunity; it is things that we couldn’t have given him ourselves.”

Josh is supported on his NDIS journey by Carers Queensland’s Partner in the Community program, and his Local Area Coordinator, Leiza.

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 staff can also help you identify and link to options for support in your local community.

To find out more about how the NDIS and Local Area Coordination program can work for you, visit Carers Queensland NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program for the Gold Coast region, at Suite 10-12, 207 Currumburra Road, Ashmore, 4214, or call 5671 7600.

You can also contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au