25/03/2026
Words from one of our amazing people…
The most rewarding job of my life. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment everything changed for me through working with people with disabilities. Those early memories that felt so intense and scary are now a little blurred, like they belong to another version of me. That’s what happens in this line of work… you grow, you shift, you become different.
They don’t tell you that when you’re filling out the application. They talk about the hours, the pay, the programs and the strategies—but not about how, if you truly give your heart to it, you won’t be the same person anymore.
They don’t tell you it will be the most incredible job you’ll ever have… and at times, the hardest. They can’t put into words the emotional weight you may carry. They don’t tell you there may come a point where you feel more at ease with people with disabilities than with the wider community. They don’t tell you how deeply you’ll care, or that some days you’ll feel more at home at work than sitting on your own couch. But it happens.
They don’t prepare you for the reactions you might face out in the community. That some people still think it’s okay to use hurtful language. That people stare—even adults. You’ll want to speak up, to help them understand. But often, you’ll realise some things can’t be explained so simply. They have to be felt. And unless someone has had their own experience, they may never fully understand. . Over time, a bond grows so strong that a single look says everything—what they need, what they’re feeling. And more often than not, it comes down to something simple: they want to be heard, included, and loved.
When you take on this role, they tell you you’ll be teaching life skills. What they don’t tell you is how much you’ll be learning in return. I’ve learned to be kinder to myself on the tough days—to remember that tomorrow is a fresh start, and mistakes don’t define me. I’ve learned to slow down, to notice the little things, and to appreciate the quiet, beautiful moments in life.
❤️
