It wasn't just Kyal Fairbairn's love of coffee that led to him becoming a passionate coffee cart operator.Of those, less than half have a jobHe turned to running his own business after tiring of being treated unfairly in the workplace because of his intellectual disability.
Starting a small business from the ground up would be a daunting task for a non-disabled person, but for those with a disability, the barriers are even greater.Of those, less than half – 984,200 – have a job.Each disability presents its own opportunities and challenges, whether people are working for themselves or for someone else.Alaister Makinson brings passion and a deep interest to his work. He also brings the challenges that go with being a non-verbal autistic person.
Speaking through his mother Doreen, Mr Makinson said despite his limited verbal communication, he was often too fast to complete his work in conventional workplaces and easily lost interest.They also have to deal with social situations which they can find extremely overwhelming or frustrating.But despite those obstacles, Mr Makinson runs a successful package delivery service, with strong support from his family.
The sisters said in future, they would love to work with disabled Aboriginal artists to add custom-made fabric to their repertoire.The pair — as well as Kyal and Alaistair – are supported by the Valued Lives Foundation which helps people with disabilities start businesses.
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