We all have our own unique story to tell. In this section people with disability and their families and carers share their experiences of life in their communities.

• Lighthouse Project personal stories
• This is my story – Disability Awareness Week 2016
• This is my story – Disability Awareness Week 2015
• Various

Lighthouse Project personal stories

Through the Lighthouse Project, local government employees with disability and their employers shared their experiences in a series of films and stories. 

• City of Bunbury finance administrator gets the job done
  Ben Green has been working at the South West Sports Centre, in Bunbury, for seven years and has a reputation for being a dependable and hardworking employee. 
• Shire of Gnowangerup job is driving force for cleaner 
  Ryan Kitching, a cleaner at the Shire of Gnowangerup, has been enjoying the independence that comes with having a job.
• City of Bunbury library bookmarks worker’s shelving skills
  Working at City of Bunbury libraries for the past 18 years has given Daniel Wood a wide knowledge of literature. 
• Town of Victoria Park customer service officer gives top service
  Bodie Huts, a customer service officer at LeisureLife and AquaLife in the Town of Victoria Park, enjoys his job which gives him the freedom to be himself and get the job done at the same time.
• City of Bunbury gains from employee’s reliability
  Jonathan Flower has enjoyed a range of roles at the South West Sports Centre in Bunbury, including supervisory roles.
• City of Greater Geraldton staff member books a solid reputation
  Kaitlin Adjuk has worked at the Geraldton Regional Library for 11 years and still loves being around her colleagues and clients whom she meets at work.
• City of Melville customer service team officer provides warm welcome
  Offering great customer service to prospective City of Melville volunteers is all in a day’s work for Shane Sullivan.
• Shire of Denmark staff prove disability is no barrier to getting job done
  Shire of Denmark employees Luke Dickie, Ryan Harding and Lee Shelley take pride in carrying out their daily tasks, from Luke’s work as a cleaner to Ryan and Lee’s tasks at the Shire’s administration centre. 

 This is my story – Disability Awareness Week 2016

People with disability who work in the WA public sector shared their stories for Disability Awareness Week 2016.

• Disability no barrier to long career
• Competitive tennis, long-distance running, yoga and Pilates are tools to good health for Kalamunda father of four and grandfather of ten, Dr John Byrne.
• Legally Blonde with a difference
  When Maria graduated from law school she wanted to 'pay it forward' and make a positive difference in society. 
• Mateship the key to work success
  The camaraderie of being part of a team makes work a great place to be for the Commission’s Chris Campbell.
• Nav fast tracks career experience
  Nav Jayakumar has undertaken a number of roles at the Disability Services Commission since he began his public sector career seven years ago as school trainee.
• Respect and opportunities in the workplace
  Saying yes to opportunities when they present themselves has seen Andrew Cooper gain a range of knowledge and experience at the Department of Transport.
• Policy research is a girl's best friend
  Research and contributing to policy development is the next step in Erin McGlew's career at the Public Sector Commission.
• Work is part of Chloe's bigger plan
  Chloe Tangaroa had a plan to find a job and get fit – and now she’s doing both. Her job as an Administrative Officer has provided her with new friends and greater financial independence.  

This is my story – Disability Awareness Week 2015

To celebrate Disability Awareness Week 2015, we produced a series of short films that feature people with disability sharing their experiences.

• NZ Paralympian enjoys a new life in WA
  New Zealander Jayne Parsons has been going from strength to strength since moving to Dudley Park, a Mandurah suburb, in 2014.
• Study the best medicine
  Learning is high on the agenda for Claremont teenager Harry Nicholas, who aspires to one day go to university.
• Diversity supports better workplaces
  A diverse workforce, that includes people with disability, makes for a better working environment, according to Business Development Support Officer Tim Hocking.
• Show respect every day, says Ellen
  If Ellen Buswell could tell the world how to treat people with disability she would say to look straight into people’s faces and not talk over anyone.
• A passion for art sparks a quirky business
  Daniel Pavlovic was passionate about art at school but didn’t dream that one day his designs would become the quirky artwork for T-shirts now sought after at markets and retail outlets throughout Western Australia and by overseas buyers. 
• Life’s cycle is busy for Aaron
  Cycling, a supermarket job and voluntary work combine to make life busy, fulfilling and active for Mandurah man Aaron Hillbrick.
• Art and music inspire Audrey’s zest for life
  Audrey Warbie has a smile that would light up a room. While the 53-year-old has an intellectual disability and uses few spoken words, her body language and facial expressions clearly show her joy for life and people.
• Wayne-Carey a delight for his family of eight
  Wayne-Carey brings joy, love and laughter to the Farmer family every day, says his mother Kathleen.
• Australia a sanctuary for Cambodian refugee
  From a refugee camp, on the Thai-Cambodia border, to a riverside suburb in Perth, Chinda Proeung’s life journey has evolved from complex and challenging to fulfilling and rewarding.
• Disability no barrier to long career
  Competitive tennis, long-distance running, yoga and Pilates are tools to good health for Kalamunda father of four and grandfather of nine, Dr John Byrne, 67.

Various

• Busselton business is out of the box
  Business is blossoming for Busselton’s Bec Donald, 46, who has set up a specialty gift box service in her local area.
• Dream volunteer role for history buff
  A love of military history has led to Hayden Claessens, 21, taking on volunteer roles at Albany’s Old Gaol and Museum and the Albany Heritage Park, home to the National Anzac Centre building.
• Eagles lift supporter’s spirits
  The West Coast Eagles football club has proven to be a winner in the 2015 season, in more ways than one.
• Mentor program leads to strong bond
  Brody Williams and Ashlie Guest have forged a strong friendship over the past five months, after taking part in a pilot mentoring program that supports youth with disability. 
• Palaeontology goal digs up crowdfunding interest
  Having a disability is not dissuading Eleanor Beidatsch, 22, from pursuing her dream of being involved in a palaeontology dig in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales.
• People and Communities magazine stories
  While the People and Communities magazine ceased publication with its autumn 2013 edition, past issues provide stories about successes and lessons learnt by people with disability, their families and carers.
• Program delivers leadership skills to people with disability
  A leadership program has given Victoria Park resident Gabrielle Trenbath, 37, a new outlook on life.