In this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan explains his absence from his podcast.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Thursday, April 13, 2017
0013 Iron Fist, XRCO Awards
in this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan reviews the TV show Iron Fist. He also gives some more thoughts on the upcoming XRCO Awards.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Why I am apprehensive about the NDIS? Part 4
While I consider myself to be honest I have been told I am secretive about my disability. Mostly this is to retain some privacy and dignity. Then there’s the fact that the struggles are so often I don’t have time to dwell on them. Truthfully though I don’t like to admit how bad it can be and personally I find it embarrassing what people with disability have to go through.
I was recently brutally reminded of this when I attempted to get a new attendant carer. Without going into all the details the process is like going all the way with someone before you have gone on a date. There is no getting around it but it does create intense pressure. I know I definitely want it to work out because going through it all is emotionally and physically draining.
So when I was able to find someone to cover what I needed I was relieved. It meant less stress for the week so I would have more time to pursue my goals. My new carer had also shown interest in taking me to the gym and Melbourne Storm games. As much as I wasn't getting too carried away it was nice to be thinking I might have more options for my life in the future. What carers can bring to people with disability lives remains an undervalued part of the role.
Luckily I didn’t get carried away and race out and get a Storm membership. Yes literally within a few weeks not long after arriving at my home my new carer revealed this would be there last shift. That this can happen to anyone highlights a major issue with attendant care. The idea of 2 weeks notice seems nonexistent. People can leave and there is nothing you can do about it.
Making it far worse I had to listen to this person talk about the reasons they were quitting. There were family issues and apparently my place took too long to get too. I thought this could have been worked out before they decided to work with me but what do I know. The most frustrating part though was they couldn’t see my life was complicated and they had just made it more difficult. Not only this I also now had to start all over again, with the fear nothing may come of it.
Needless to say I didn’t sleep well that night with the dark feelings that I was living a life I wasn’t supposed to be coming to the surface. Thankfully while I did have to initiate contact, my attendant care provider was very supportive. They took on responsibility for what happened and were extremely apologetic. They also said the time of the shift would not come from the hours I am allocated. This impressed me because in the past with other providers stuff like this has gone unnoticed.
After we got all through that I had the opportunity to express my feelings. I am with a provider that is new to the disability sector. Given this I have felt that they struggle to comprehend how serious these situations are.
Seeing as how I now had an opportunity to voice my concerns I knew not to waste it and simply said “you’re lucky it’s me”. This has become one of my favourite sayings as it raises my confidence. But I say it to point out that other people will rightly have a more emotional possibly volatile reaction to these situations.
I blame Australian cricketer Steve Waugh most of all for how I deal with problems. When batting his philosophy was don’t give the bowlers a reason to get you out. I adopted that often to my own detriment to life with disability.
When things aren’t going well with carers, my wheelchair etc I usually cope better than the rest of my family. It’s following Waugh’s path whilst recognising ranting and raving is wasted energy. And that character trait alienates people something I have long felt I don’t need. The disability and wheelchair puts off people already, I don’t need to give them more excuses.
Having said all that people with disability shouldn’t be expected to do this. I don’t think a week goes by anymore where I read about depression. Facebook now regularly has status updates listing phone numbers to call if you’re suffering from depression. This is what I explained to my attendant care provider.
To go through what I did is depressing, yet there is not enough done to acknowledge this. I genuinely believe the disability sector does not consider this an issue.
What a challenge that is? Firstly to allow people with disability to admit to feelings of depression without being judged for it. This is finally making inroads to the able bodied community so there is a way to go for people with disability. More importantly though is to get the disability sector to recognise it’s part in all this.
And the casual way the NDIA talks about the NDIS not being financially sustainable doesn’t make it seem that will change anytime soon. Either does the fact that attendant care is not taken seriously enough. And only a couple weeks ago just to receive a basic service I was asked by my local council whether I could drive a car. Not sure how I gave the vibe that I could but why are we expected to be able to deal with all this.
And this is why I can’t get excited about the NDIS. I don’t hear how any of this is improving under the NDIS. It seems oblivious to most of it and appears disinterested in empowering people with disability.
And yet I remain increasingly proud to be disabled. Being a person with disability has given me determination and resilience. The disability sector might not do enough to assist but we do belong in this world. We just need to find more people to understand this.
NDIS planners needing to understand this quicker than most.
I was recently brutally reminded of this when I attempted to get a new attendant carer. Without going into all the details the process is like going all the way with someone before you have gone on a date. There is no getting around it but it does create intense pressure. I know I definitely want it to work out because going through it all is emotionally and physically draining.
So when I was able to find someone to cover what I needed I was relieved. It meant less stress for the week so I would have more time to pursue my goals. My new carer had also shown interest in taking me to the gym and Melbourne Storm games. As much as I wasn't getting too carried away it was nice to be thinking I might have more options for my life in the future. What carers can bring to people with disability lives remains an undervalued part of the role.
Luckily I didn’t get carried away and race out and get a Storm membership. Yes literally within a few weeks not long after arriving at my home my new carer revealed this would be there last shift. That this can happen to anyone highlights a major issue with attendant care. The idea of 2 weeks notice seems nonexistent. People can leave and there is nothing you can do about it.
Making it far worse I had to listen to this person talk about the reasons they were quitting. There were family issues and apparently my place took too long to get too. I thought this could have been worked out before they decided to work with me but what do I know. The most frustrating part though was they couldn’t see my life was complicated and they had just made it more difficult. Not only this I also now had to start all over again, with the fear nothing may come of it.
Needless to say I didn’t sleep well that night with the dark feelings that I was living a life I wasn’t supposed to be coming to the surface. Thankfully while I did have to initiate contact, my attendant care provider was very supportive. They took on responsibility for what happened and were extremely apologetic. They also said the time of the shift would not come from the hours I am allocated. This impressed me because in the past with other providers stuff like this has gone unnoticed.
After we got all through that I had the opportunity to express my feelings. I am with a provider that is new to the disability sector. Given this I have felt that they struggle to comprehend how serious these situations are.
Seeing as how I now had an opportunity to voice my concerns I knew not to waste it and simply said “you’re lucky it’s me”. This has become one of my favourite sayings as it raises my confidence. But I say it to point out that other people will rightly have a more emotional possibly volatile reaction to these situations.
I blame Australian cricketer Steve Waugh most of all for how I deal with problems. When batting his philosophy was don’t give the bowlers a reason to get you out. I adopted that often to my own detriment to life with disability.
When things aren’t going well with carers, my wheelchair etc I usually cope better than the rest of my family. It’s following Waugh’s path whilst recognising ranting and raving is wasted energy. And that character trait alienates people something I have long felt I don’t need. The disability and wheelchair puts off people already, I don’t need to give them more excuses.
Having said all that people with disability shouldn’t be expected to do this. I don’t think a week goes by anymore where I read about depression. Facebook now regularly has status updates listing phone numbers to call if you’re suffering from depression. This is what I explained to my attendant care provider.
To go through what I did is depressing, yet there is not enough done to acknowledge this. I genuinely believe the disability sector does not consider this an issue.
What a challenge that is? Firstly to allow people with disability to admit to feelings of depression without being judged for it. This is finally making inroads to the able bodied community so there is a way to go for people with disability. More importantly though is to get the disability sector to recognise it’s part in all this.
And the casual way the NDIA talks about the NDIS not being financially sustainable doesn’t make it seem that will change anytime soon. Either does the fact that attendant care is not taken seriously enough. And only a couple weeks ago just to receive a basic service I was asked by my local council whether I could drive a car. Not sure how I gave the vibe that I could but why are we expected to be able to deal with all this.
And this is why I can’t get excited about the NDIS. I don’t hear how any of this is improving under the NDIS. It seems oblivious to most of it and appears disinterested in empowering people with disability.
And yet I remain increasingly proud to be disabled. Being a person with disability has given me determination and resilience. The disability sector might not do enough to assist but we do belong in this world. We just need to find more people to understand this.
NDIS planners needing to understand this quicker than most.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017
0011 Do we have to ruin everything?
In this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan gives his thoughts on reviewing TV, comics, wrestling etc.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
0010 Facebook status, Tanya Tate, Nightwing
In this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan discusses updating your status on Facebook and the complexities that come with it. He talks about adult industry performer Tanya Tate and how she is making a difference. He also gives his thoughts on the plans for a Nightwing film and discusses his adventures at the All Star Comics Back Issue and Toy Fair.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
0009 Super Bowl, TV, AC/DC, International Wheelchair Day
in this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan discusses the Super Bowl and the new TV shows he is watching. He also talks about AC/DC and International Wheelchair Day.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
0008 Ramon Nomar, Meryl Streep
In this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan discusses why performers like Ramon Nomar are so important to the adult industry. He then talks about Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes speech.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
0007 Rogue One
In this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan discusses the latest Star Wars film Rogue One.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
0006 Nikki Benz, Carrie Fisher
in this episode of The Lachlan McLeod Show, Lachlan discusses the Nikki Benz situation. He goes on to talk about what could be done to improve the treatment of women in the adult industry.
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