Finding Confidence Through Community Participation

My name is Brenton Ponza and I have Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. 

The NDIS helps me to live an independent life, stay healthy, and be an active member of my community. The support I receive for community participation and therapy is very important to helping me reach these goals. 

Community participation helps me get to work, attend meetings, volunteer, learn new skills, and spend time with other people. It helps me build confidence and be part of my community. 

I am proud to have paid employment and volunteer roles. These opportunities give me purpose and allow me to contribute to society. However, if my community participation supports are reduced, it could become much harder for me to continue working. 

I need support to travel, access the community, and participate in activities that many people take for granted. Without this support, my independence would be reduced and I may lose opportunities to work and be involved in the community. 

Therapy is also very important for me. 

Because I have Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, my muscles are tight and my body needs ongoing therapy to stay strong and healthy. Regular physiotherapy and exercise help me manage pain, maintain my movement, and prevent my condition from getting worse. 

One of my NDIS goals is to maintain a healthy, strong, and pain-free body. Therapy plays a major role in helping me achieve this goal. 

If my therapy supports are reduced, I may experience more pain, increased muscle tightness, fatigue, and a decline in my physical abilities. This would not only affect my health but could also affect my ability to work, volunteer, and participate in my community. 

Community participation and therapy work together. Therapy helps me stay physically well, and community participation helps me stay connected, independent, and involved in the world around me. 

Sometimes it feels like the message being sent is that people with disabilities should just stay at home and accept a smaller life. If the supports that help me work, volunteer, contribute, and achieve my goals are taken away, what am I meant to do? Sit at home and watch life pass by? 

I have goals. I have ambitions. I have skills and knowledge that I share with others. I want to continue working, learning, volunteering, advocating, and making a difference in my community. I want to keep building my independence, not lose it. 

Taking away community participation and therapy supports does not just reduce funding. It reduces opportunities. It reduces independence. It reduces the chance for people like me to contribute and reach our full potential. 

These supports are not extras. They are essential supports that help me live the life I choose. They help me work, contribute to my community, stay healthy, and continue building my independence. 

I hope that decisions about NDIS funding continue to recognise the important role that community participation and therapy play in helping people like me achieve our goals and live meaningful, independent lives.

Browse the Independence and inclusion section on My CP Guide to find other relevant resources.