Let us earn more and keep what we work for. 

All Humans Have a Right to Be Human
The Australian Disability Support Pension (DSP) supports a bizarre, ableist picture of how individuals like myself should live.

I experience many additional disability-related costs. My pension or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding often does not cover these expenses, which results in unmet disability-related needs, which I am expected to fund for myself - but how? 

How can I improve my quality of life if eating and meeting basic human needs and disability related needs must take precedence over seeing a doctor - especially while we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis. My standard of living was largely predetermined when my Disability Support Pension was approved. 

I am human. Why do my disabilities and eligibility for the pension set an automatic baseline for how I live? I believe this comes down to policy, ignorance, and stigma.

Policy change is a long-standing issue, but if we unite to spread awareness, we can cultivate acceptance and break through stigma. Stigma sets a bar of expectations and handicaps my potential. Society runs an outdated operating system, and people with disabilities urgently need some inclusive updates.

Sometimes my ADHD brain wonders how much my quality of life could improve if I won the lottery or could gain full-time employment. I can only imagine the thrill of unboxing brand-new appliances. What would I do first—save money for a new lounge, car, or holiday?

Sometimes people receive surprise inheritances from distant relatives they never knew existed. A surprise like that would give me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience life differently. The chances of this feel as rare as finding a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket.

To catch a glimpse of the other side remains prohibited for people like me. After all, I am a “disabled pensioner,” and to dream big is forbidden.

 
I Am Taking Action
Last year, I became a YouTube content creator, launched my website, and this year, became a Disability Support Worker.

I’m also an active member of online support groups and neurodivergent communities, where I connect with like-minded individuals—passionate people with tremendous strengths who, like me, work hard every day. These courageous people have become close friends and inspire me to be my true Autistic ADHD self.

From my work and advocacy, I’ve learned that my story is one of many. We are not alone. We all deserve a fair go—a world where we can be true to ourselves and have the opportunity to communicate what matters most.

On YouTube, I share my experiences as a neurodivergent person in a world not designed for my brain.

📢 And I’ve taken my message further by launching this petition:

Make the NDIS Accessible and Fair for All People With Disabilities

 
The Bigger Picture: A Broken System
The current Disability Support Pension system traps people in poverty. Imagine working 15 hours a week at $35/hour, only to take home around $280 more per week after base payment reductions and tax. That doesn’t include:

Transport costs just to get to work.

Uniforms, grooming, and professional clothes.
Increased medical needs due to stress, burnout, or worsening symptoms.

Assistive devices, technology, and communication tools.

In the end, many of us earn only slightly more than we would on DSP alone—despite doing significantly more work and taking on more risks.

The reality? Some of us end up financially worse off for working, and burned out or injured in the process.

 
The Emotional and Physical Toll
People with disabilities often mask, suppress, and push beyond our limits to keep jobs—especially those of us with ADHD, autism, or executive function disorders. It’s not just hard—it’s exhausting and unsustainable.

Many of us are underemployed or outright denied jobs due to our disabilities.

We face rigid systems that don’t account for fluctuating health or energy levels.

The harder we work, the more support we lose.

This isn't a supportive system—it's a barrier to building a life.

 
Why Can’t We Dream Big?
How are we expected to dream of home ownership, financial independence, or security when our support is pulled away the moment we try to improve our situation?

Non-disabled people can increase their income and plan for their futures. Why is this life shut off from us?

We don’t want luxury—we want opportunity. We want to be able to:

Save.
Own a home.
Go on a holiday.
Replace our broken fridge or washing machine.
These aren't dreams—they’re basics in a society where everyone should be treated with dignity.

 
Reframe the Language
Let’s stop using language like “losing half your pension.”

We should say:

“Working should add to your income, not take away from your support.”
“The DSP should be a base payment, not a ceiling.”
“Effort should be rewarded, not punished.”
Language matters. Stigma thrives in the way systems and policies describe us.

 
Our Demands
We call on the government to:

Increase the income threshold to reflect today’s cost of living and true working expenses.
Set the income threshold at no less than half the base payment amount to allow people to work without fear of losing support.

Create a stable, non-reducible base payment that everyone with a disability can rely on—regardless of part-time or limited work.

Acknowledge the real costs of working, including health, transport, appearance, and accessibility needs.

Ensure the system accounts for fluctuating capacity, executive function challenges, and episodic disability.

Reference the Disability Discrimination Act and Human Rights law in designing inclusive policy.

Allow people with disabilities to build their future without being penalized for their ambition.
 
Because We Deserve to Dream
The current system doesn’t just restrict income—it limits identity, growth, and hope.

We all deserve to be human.

We deserve to work without being punished for it. We deserve a fair shot at financial independence. We deserve to dream big.

 
Sign this petition if you believe:

People with disabilities should not be penalized for working.

The DSP should support dignity, not discourage opportunity.

All humans—regardless of ability—have a right to build a life worth living.