Steven thrives ten years on

Steven recently went to the gym in Forest Lake at 8am as part of his Wednesday routine. After breaking a sweat on the treadmill, his support worker Rey Seminiano drove him to the Gabba to pick up his new pair of custom-made shoes, funded by the NDIS. This is just one of the benefits Steven has received since becoming an NDIS participant.  As an avid walker with underlying foot issues, he previously had to replace his badly fitted shoes with an equally unfit pair every couple of months which gave him bad blisters.

It was during 2008 when extra-wide belts and pleather leggings were still in style that Rey first met Steven. At the time, Steven had left emergency accommodation and was living in one of our Wacol SIL homes with other housemates. Although this new living situation improved his sense of security, he found himself distancing from others and craving more alone time.

​He wants to keep improving relationships within his community in Forest Lake which is paying off as almost everyone knows Steven. He also aims to go on a supported holiday once a year which he has been doing now for eight years.

Steven’s favourite things to do at home are vacuuming the floor, mowing the lawn, doing laundry, making his own bed, cooking breakfast, and putting away groceries. In his community, he enjoys heading to his local café, pub and shopping centre to socialise. He also regularly goes on walks by himself along the nearby lake unsupported and has reconnected with his family who he regularly chats with over the phone.

Steven’s journey – with the help of his support worker Rey – goes to show that possibilities can become a reality with persistence and the right support.