Delighted with his team leader's glowing report on how well he is going in his new share house, Christopher Drummond chimes in to add that he can now make his own breakfast and wash his own clothes.
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These might seem like small tasks for some but for the 25-year-old Lithgow resident, who is now a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant, they are huge milestones.
They are everyday independent life skills he never had the opportunity to do or learn before, and it just goes to show he is more than capable.
"I also get to choose what clothes I wear each day and I help cook and plan the house menu," he said.
"My favourite meal is bangers and mash."
Leanne James, Christopher's Glenray house team leader, said he was living with his mum but since being part of the NDIS, he now has a choice about where he wants to live and the way he wants to lead his life.
An enthusiastic young man, with Cerebral Palsy and Global Intellectual Delay, Christopher's occupational therapist assessed him as being capable of making his own decisions with support.
"So now that's what he does," Ms James said.
"He makes his own decisions and we support him in those decisions and help him to explain them."
Ms James said since Christopher moved into the share house a year ago with two others, she has seen a massive transformation in him.
"He's a more expressive and independent young man now," she said.
"He has gone from nodding his head to answer questions to initiating conversations. He is even willing to come out and tell people what he likes and what he doesn't like, where he would never do that before."
Ms James said that Christopher was well connected to the Lithgow community.
"He works one day a week with Access Industries in its laundry, he goes to the Conservatorium of Music where he attends music lessons, he goes to the gym and he attends a Uniting Care day program four days a week, which he loves," she said.
"Staff at his day program have also commented on how often he says he loves living at the house.
"They've noticed how excited he gets when he talks about cooking dinner for himself and his housemates and how he can use the washing machine to wash his own clothes."
Christopher also enjoys being able to pack and unpack his bag each day, as well as get his own lunch ready.
Christopher is also learning to budget.
"He loves playing his PlayStation so instead of buying games outright he puts them on laybuy and pays them off," Ms James said.
"They love him at the games store, they give him posters so he can put them up around his room."
Christopher said his favourite game was Mortal Combat.
"I just got it," he said.
"When I come back home in the afternoons we have afternoon tea then I go off to play my game for a while."
Through his NDIS plan, Christopher also has funding for regular physiotherapy.
"It's made a huge difference to his mobility... to the way he walks and as a result, he has even lost weight," Ms James said.
As for future goals, Christopher is looking to save up to visit his sister, who lives in Mildura, Victoria.
"I'd like to go on a holiday to see her," Christopher said.
"Mum used to take me but it's a bit hard for her now."
"That's the goal," Ms James said enthusiastically.
"We want to continue to build his life skills and expand his independence so he can live life the way he wants to."
The NDIS provides Australians under the age of 65 with permanent and significant disability, the supports they need to live an ordinary life and to increase their social and economic participation.
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