Lowami's story
Thriving, not just surviving: Lowami’s story
The day that Lowami picked up the phone and called the Disability Gateway changed her life.
“I spoke to a nice man who was very compassionate, kind and understanding,” Lowami recalls. “I explained my situation, they assured me they were there to help and gave me a couple of numbers to call.”
One of those numbers was for an advocacy organisation, who would go on to help Lowami to find a place to live, a job, and the support services she needed.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself, because if you'd told me 10 years ago that I would be gainfully employed, seeing a psychiatrist and living my best life, I would've told you, pfft!”
Lowami has a number of mental health conditions, including schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
Going to therapy and counselling and getting the right medication helps Lowami to manage her diagnoses, which stem from past trauma.
“My moods can change quickly and I can't emotionally regulate,” Lowami explains. “So the skills that I’ve learned through therapy, such as practising mindfulness, allow me to navigate my emotions.”
Today, Lowami lives independently and works in a factory two days a week. Her job brings her a great deal of joy.
“I do different things, sometimes I package products on the factory floor and other times I do administrative work,” Lowami says. “I really like the people I work with, especially my bosses, because they’re truly caring and kind.”
Lowami also has support workers who help her with everyday tasks, such as meal preparation and chores around the home, as well as leisure activities.
“I love hanging out with my support workers,” Lowami adds. “We go to parks or nature spots, eat out at cafes, and just spend time together chatting.”
It’s all thanks to the Disability Gateway that Lowami can look back on her journey and see how far she’s come, from struggling with gambling and homelessness to the happy place she’s in now.
“My advocacy organisation helps me to speak out for myself, manage my affairs and find the support I need, and it’s all because of the Disability Gateway that I found them,” Lowami says. “They’ve really transformed my life.”
| Audio | Visual |
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[Background music playing - soft piano] My name is Lowami. |
Lowami is smiling and speaking to the camera. |
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Three words that I would use to describe myself, I’m a social butterfly, I’m friendly and kind. |
Various photos of Lowami are on screen. Lowami is outside walking and laughing with her support worker. |
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I have borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety and depression, and I have post-traumatic stress disorder. |
Lowami is sitting on a park bench looking out into the distance. |
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I work in a factory, which I love. |
Lowami is in a factory packaging boxes. |
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We have supervisors that support people with disabilities and they make it a joy to go to work. |
Lowami is speaking to and laughing with her supervisor in a factory. |
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My advocacy organization I found through the Disability Gateway. |
Lowami is sitting in her home speaking to the camera. |
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I was at my wit’s end, I wasn’t getting joy in my life. |
Lowami and her advocate are looking at the Disability Gateway website on a laptop. |
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What I got was like a hand out of that cloud that said “Here, I’ll help you”. |
Lowami is sitting in her home speaking to the camera. |
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I wouldn’t have been able to stop gambling and all my other addictions. |
Lowami is sitting on a park bench looking out into the distance. |
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Sorry, I’m getting a little emotional. |
Lowami is sitting in her home speaking to the camera. |
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They helped me so much with that one little act of kindness. |
Lowami is sitting outside speaking with her advocate. |
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[Background music playing - soft piano] |
A closing slide appears with the Disability Gateway logo, the Australian Government logo and the website URL: www.disabilitygateway.gov.au |
| Audio | Visual |
|---|---|
|
[Background music playing - soft piano] My name is Lowami. |
Lowami is smiling and speaking to the camera. |
|
Three words that I would use to describe myself, I’m a social butterfly, I’m friendly and kind. |
Various photos of Lowami are on screen. Lowami is outside walking and laughing with her support worker. |
|
I have borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety and depression, and I have post-traumatic stress disorder. |
Lowami is sitting on a park bench looking out into the distance. |
|
I work in a factory, which I love. |
Lowami is in a factory packaging boxes. |
|
We have supervisors that support people with disabilities and they make it a joy to go to work. |
Lowami is speaking to and laughing with her supervisor in a factory. |
|
My advocacy organization I found through the Disability Gateway. |
Lowami is sitting in her home speaking to the camera. |
|
I was at my wit’s end, I wasn’t getting joy in my life. |
Lowami and her advocate are looking at the Disability Gateway website on a laptop. |
|
What I got was like a hand out of that cloud that said “Here, I’ll help you”. |
Lowami is sitting in her home speaking to the camera. |
|
I wouldn’t have been able to stop gambling and all my other addictions. |
Lowami is sitting on a park bench looking out into the distance. |
|
Sorry, I’m getting a little emotional. |
Lowami is sitting in her home speaking to the camera. |
|
They helped me so much with that one little act of kindness. |
Lowami is sitting outside speaking with her advocate. |
|
[Background music playing - soft piano] |
A closing slide appears with the Disability Gateway logo, the Australian Government logo and the website URL: www.disabilitygateway.gov.au |
You can also look at...
Lowami's story
An Easy Read case study
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This is a story about a person with a disability called Lowami. |
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Lowami has many mental health conditions. |
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Going to therapy and taking medication helps Lowami to take care of her mental health. |
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Lowami works in a factory. |
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Her job makes her very happy. |
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Lowami says that using the Disability Gateway changed her life. |
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The Disability Gateway helped Lowami to find her advocacy organisation. |
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Advocacy organisations help people living with disabilities to speak up for their rights. |
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Lowami likes spending time with her support workers. |
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Some of the things Lowami does with her support workers are:
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Lowami is happy because of the support she found on the Disability Gateway. |