Dare to Ask | We're more than our disability
Complete video transcripts below:
Interviewer: Can you tell me about your condition?
Christie Randell: Ooh. That's a difficult question. When I was 13 years old, I was horse riding, and my horse tripped over its front two feet and fell just down, straight down and landed on my head. I did die and did see the white light and went to the other side and came back, and he told me it wasn't my time. So obviously I'm here to do something, and I'm hoping to be able to motivate other people to not give up and to keep going and be strong. We can do whatever everyone else can do.
Interviewer: What is your passion in life?
Christie Randell: My passion is advocating for people with a disability, having one myself. But I absolutely love riding motorbikes. Having a disability hasn't stopped me from getting out there and following my dreams and my passions.
Interviewer: What does disability means to you?
Christie Randell: For me, a disability makes someone unique. It makes us different. It doesn't mean we're any worse off than anyone else. It doesn't define who you are. You are not your disability. You are a human being. You have your own rights and your own goals and your aspirations just like everyone else. You just need to be strong, focus on those, and you can achieve anything you want to do.
For me, a disability makes someone unique. It makes us different. It doesn't mean we're any worse off than anyone else. It doesn't define who you are. You are not your disability. You are a human being.
Interviewer: What keeps you going?
Christie Randell: Oh, just my passion for life. I've been given a second chance. I don't wanna waste my time here. Life is so short. Live every day as if it's your last and make the most of what you've got and what you can do, not what you don't have.
Interviewer: How important is support for someone with a disability?
Christie Randell: I have seen a lot of people coming in and out of our business, and they have had no support. They don't see a future. They've got no aspirations. There's no bright light to focus on to drive themself towards, and they just don't see a way out. So a lot of them just give up, lock themselves away, and they don't live their life. Having the support that I have found with Castle. The NDIS has also been very supportive. Your family. Potential employees don't look at you as a disability. They can see your support network and the grouping around you, and that sort of opens their eyes to the possibilities that we can do exactly as well a job as anyone else.
Interviewer: What are your future goals?
Christie Randell: I actually am in the process with my husband of planning on trying to start a family. According to my doctor, I need to be fitter than anyone else to have a baby. But I have seen people out there with no arms, no legs, and they've managed to do it. So if they can do it, so can I, and I just want people to know that a brain injury doesn't mean it's the end of the world. You just need to find ways to be able to achieve your goals and to be able to live your life the way you want to. 'Cause if I can do it, so can you.