When I first started working at Enliven Disability a few months ago, I had no idea what to expect. Working in disability wasn’t on the cards when I started doing my studies, but as I came to Enliven, the whole experience has sort of woken me up to a community that’s very overlooked. It’s sparked a passion I never knew I had.
Didn’t realise this job would come with travel adventures
One of the biggest memorable moments for me was the rocket launch trip with Pete recently. Pete has talked about doing this rocket launch for I don’t know how long! So it’s really cool to just see the excitement and build up and be there alongside the journey. I was the driver on the rocket launch trip. I had to be at Pete’s place by 11:30pm and we had to leave by midnight. I had to know where the park-up spot was and where the lookout was because it was dark and foggy. I felt like I needed to make sure I knew where this stop was! I’ve been to Māhia before but not to the specific lookout point we went to.
This was my first rocket launch too! You see this huge flash of lights and it slowly starts making its way up to the sky. It’s pretty epic at first. And then it was gone in seconds! The moment the rocket went up, we were watching it and then, wow, look, boom, it was gone! We didn’t expect the sighting to be so short-lived, so the moment it was over, from that point, we were like, okay, so yeah, now what? But we took the opportunity because Pete had never been to Māhia before, so we showed him around and had sandwiches on the beach.
I think the actual journey and the adventure, going out and doing the drive and making pit stops, is maybe more of the highlight for me. I had such a laugh with Pete on this trip; he keeps you on your toes! He’s spoken about his next travel plans on this journey too, like Egypt, whoah!
When I first started working with Pete, I could tell instantly that he likes to get out and he likes to do things. And then I saw that one of his goals was to go for this rocket launch. I thought, wow! I wonder who gets to support him for that? That’s pretty cool! I never thought that it was going to be me! Working with Pete in general and his experience of the rocket launch has given me a bit of fire under me to just maybe go traveling a bit more for myself because if Pete can organise himself to go traveling, then I can too.
Disability work is an eye-opener
I have to be honest, this was a pretty eye-opening experience because working in the disability sector is very new for me. I’ve never done this work before, and I guess I never really expected that trips like the rocket launch are something that is doable for most disabled people. When I think about these cool events, it’s sometimes quick for me to assume that it’s not doable for someone who uses a wheelchair because not everything is very accessible. This trip was just really eye-opening. For Pete to be committed to something that he really wants to do, and then doing everything that he can and getting all the support he chooses, it’s just taking everything as it comes and making the most of it.
Being authentic at work
When I first started at Enliven Disability, I was very nervous and hesitant. I didn’t want to speak out of turn or say anything wrong because I was very nervous about my use of language. The last thing I want to do is say something to upset someone or make a person feel embarrassed. But then, as I’ve progressed through getting to know the people that I work with here, the students and flatters love a bit of banter. They love a poke here and they’ll poke right back! If anything, I’ve become more open at being myself at this job than I’ve been at any other job. I’ve gotten quite comfortable because the moment it clicked for me that these people like me, I was like, oh man, I love you guys! I could be authentic at work.
To be successful in this job, you need to have an open mind and empathy. You need to be able to understand that the circumstances for each person are unique. Try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you make a call or make a judgment. Every person is different and each person has their own set of support needs. If you go into disability work with preconceived notions of how things are going to go without really looking at what the individual needs, you’re going to set yourself up a bit. This job is about really making sure that the individual is able to communicate what they want and is being understood and steps are being taken to achieve the goals that they have set out to achieve. It’s just making sure you are being person-centred all the time.
Clients model how to lead a good life
Working with Pete has been a huge eye-opener because he’s like a model for how to lead your life. I think he takes every day as if it’s his last day and he lives it up. He doesn’t care what he says. He doesn’t care what people hear or see. As long as he’s being 100% himself and he’s being happy, then I think all of us can take a little bit out of that! Sometimes we all get a little caught up in what people think of us and what people expect of us. When at the end of the day, it’s about us and our personal journey.
Every day I come to work, I take away something new. Looking back at where I stood just a few months back, new at the disability service, my best advice to anyone curious about working here is to shake off any preconceived notions. Shake off any ideas that you had of people with disabilities. Because when you get into work at Enliven Disability, it’s not going to be what you thought it was. Just give it a go! This work has been a huge shift in my life where I finally just found what I would say is my calling. I found the space that I want to work in now, and I would have never done that if I didn’t come here.
Join our team as a Community Mentor
You never know what adventure you might experience at Enliven Disability, or where this job might take you! Apply online today www.enlivendisability.org.nz/careers
Read Pete’s full story: Pete’s long-awaited goal of watching a rocket launch
