I am not sure you will want my story because unfortunately it is not very positive.
I am a former Carer Ambassador for Carers Australia but exited that role in 2011, prior to that I was actively involved in advocacy work including media interviews and submitted a submission to an enquiry into better support for carers. I’d like to get involved again and raise awareness against, stereotyping, stigma and discrimination because what happened to us shouldn’t happen to anyone. EVER!
I am 62 years old now and have been an unpaid family carer to my son Jayden for over 30 years. He has a diagnosis of autism and in recent years, paranoid schizophrenia. His meltdowns used to be violent yet he hasn’t had a violent meltdown in at least 8 years.
In 2012 I experienced workplace discrimination and that cost me my home that I had been slowly paying off for 10 years.
Jayden and my physical and mental health is the worst it’s ever been.
I found it difficult to put our story into 200 words, because how do you zip 26 years of blame & judgement and the trauma that stems from that into 200 words?