Gretta has a Bachelor of Arts that she finished in 2019. She lives independently in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) that she’s been able to access through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). She hires and manages a team of carers, and has secured two jobs through contacts she's made. Rewind eight years, and her life today was just a dream.
If you like this blog in Gretta’s words, you can follow her journey at On Our Own Tracks.
A dream… What does this word mean to you? A hope that your life was completely different or something on your bucket list that you’re hoping to achieve in the future? Whether it’s a recreational activity like skydiving or a goal that you have been wanting to achieve for years like attending university, I’m sure that all you want to do is to achieve this dream as fast as possible.
Hi my name is Gretta and I am a thirty year old woman from Western Sydney. Growing up with severe Cerebral Palsy always meant that journeys to achieve my own dreams seemed to be much longer than my abled bodied peers. When I was around the age of twelve these dreams included one day being able to attend university, and to be living independently in a location that would be close to a town and have substantial work. As I sit here eighteen years later, I am proud to say that I have achieved these dreams, which really has turned them into goals.
By looking at all of these three goals and how I have achieved each one of them, the interesting thing is that every single one has been achieved in very similar ways. The first way is the biggest lesson I have learned and that is patience. The most recent example of this was finally moving out of home. When I thought about this goal when I was younger, I was hoping to be living independently by the time I was 21. Although this goal took me an extra 8 years to achieve, I now recognise that this time and the steps I went through were extremely necessary, as they helped me achieve the skills and lessons I needed to be able to live independently as a mature adult. The other reason that I now feel that this is worth the wait is because I am now in the most perfect situation for me, as I live in a highly supported apartment with access to 24/7 hour care onsite.
"Although this goal took me an extra 8 years to achieve, I now recognise that this time and the steps I went through were extremely necessary, as they helped me achieve the skills and lessons I needed to be able to live independently as a mature adult."
Gretta
As well as being able to live independently I’m also able to manage my own NDIS package. Along with organising all of the payments for my plan and the services I use, I am also able to hire and manage my own team of carers, which is sometimes challenging but worth it as I absolutely love it and definitely have the best carers. Having my amazing team behind me including my carers, family, friends and support professionals, I feel like I am able to live my life my own way just like everyone else my age.
So, if you are anything like I was about fourteen years ago, imagining your life when you are an adult, living your dreams you are obsessing about right now, I encourage you to keep aiming for your goals and don’t worry if they take longer then you expect you will get there in the end.
Hey I’m Gretta, I’m a thirty year old woman from Western Sydney. I also have a tiny bit of Cerebral Palsy affecting my movement and ability to talk. Despite this I love my life and love doing thrill seeking activities such as skiing. I also have a blog called On Our Own Tracks.
