Meet Joseph and Ben

Joseph and Ben are brothers who are growing their independence, and keeping active with work, therapies, exercise – and having lots of fun!

Their mum Sheryl couldn’t be prouder as she watches them grow up and come into their own as young men.   

Joseph has a job doing different tasks at an aged care facility, and he really enjoys it. He plays basketball, does hip hop dancing, and rides his bike to and from work with his support worker.

He also likes singing, playing bass guitar, bowling, going to the library, and watching videos – and he has a passion for dressing as Superman.

“I do like superheroes so much,” says Joseph.  

His younger brother Ben works at a hotel three nights a week, does car cleaning and car washes for cash, and likes playing sport and demonstrating his strength through games of tug of war. Like Joseph, he also enjoys singing, playing guitar, and busting out some hip hop moves, and he loves to cook pasta as well.

Recently, Ben got an adorable puppy called Noddy, a lively and energetic new family member who’s brought lots of love to the boys and the wider household.   

Ben’s wanted to have his own place and live independently for quite some time now, so he and Sheryl are exploring accommodation options and piecing together what life outside the family home could look like. On the other hand, Joseph would like to live with his mum forever, because he adores her and wants to be close.

Ben and Joseph have several support workers and are working on building their everyday life skills. Therapies are significant in their lives too, helping them to achieve the goals in their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plans.

“Access to the NDIS has made a huge difference,” says Sheryl. “There’s been a few bumps in the road at times, but they’re in a great place now and have providers they know, like and trust.”

It’s clear that Joseph and Ben’s lives are really taking off – maybe Superman has shown them how to fly!

Finished reading? Check out Hayley's story here.