Written by Patrick Eadington, genU client and disability advocate

I have lived with a physical disability my entire life. For as long as I can remember, disability has been part of my story – but it has never been the whole story. 

From an early age, I made a quiet decision: my disability would not define the limits of my life. Instead, it would become part of how I navigated the world, discovered my strengths, and found joy in experiences that many people never stop to consider. 

I have always been curious, adventurous, and willing to say “yes” to new opportunities. Over the years, that curiosity has taken me skiing down snowy slopes, abseiling down rock faces, parasailing high in the air on an old air strip within the Midlands, whitewater rafting through rushing rivers, and even camel trekking. Each experience came with its own challenges, but also with immense satisfaction. They reminded me – again and again – that capability looks different for everyone and that adventure is not reserved for one type of body. 

Alongside these personal experiences, community has always been at the heart of my life. I have been deeply involved in the disability sector for many years, not just as someone with lived experience, but as an active contributor and advocate. I’ve had the privilege of sitting on numerous boards and committees, including as a Board Director of Li-Ve Tasmania, the Hobart and Glenorchy Advisory Committees, and the Premier Disability Advisory Council, and the NDIS Transition Options Reference Group. These roles were never about titles. They were about making sure lived experience had a seat at the table and about influencing systems, so they work better for the people they are meant to support. Today, I continue this work as a member of the Governance and Client Experience Committee of genU and Advocacy Tasmania.

In 2022, I was honoured to receive the Order of Australia Medal. It was a humbling moment-one that made me reflect not just on my own journey, but on the many people, conversations, and collective efforts that have shaped the disability community over the years. The medal symbolises something bigger than me: recognition that lived experience matters. 

Education and storytelling are also central to my work. I am regularly invited to speak at TasTAFE to students studying their Certificate III in Disability, sharing real-world perspectives that go beyond textbooks. For the past four years, I have also spoken to graduating doctors at the University of Tasmania’s Faculty of Medicine. These conversations are especially meaningful to me. They are opportunities to help future professionals see disability not as a problem to be fixed, but as human experience that deserves respect, curiosity, and partnership. 

Building on this passion, I developed my own training program made up of 13 core modules. The goal is simple but powerful: to educate, challenge assumptions, and expand the way people think about disability, inclusion, and capacity. 

Outside of advocacy and education, I make space for joy, and lots of it. Music plays a significant role in my life, and I am an avid attendee of concerts and festivals. Over the past decade, I have seen incredible artists live, including Tones and I, Hilltop Hoods, and the Kid Laroi. Being part of a crowd, feeling the energy of live music, and sharing those moments with others is something I truly cherish. 

Most recently, I have embarked on a new chapter by starting a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Tasmania. I have completed Painting 1 so far, and I loved every moment of it. Art, particularly painting, has become one of my greatest passions. It offers me a space where I can be completely present, immersed in the moment, and connected to my abstract, creative mind. Through art, I do not need to explain myself; I simply create. 

Alongside advocacy, creativity and community, housing has been a significant part of my journey and I’m very excited about my next chapter. 

For a time, I lived in a nursing home — a place that met my care needs but never felt like home. I then moved to Oakdale Lodge, which gave me greater stability and independence. Now, I’m preparing for what feels like the most meaningful step yet.

Derwent Place in Rokeby will be my first real home — a place where I can live independently, make my own choices, and be part of a community, with the right support around me. With Supported Independent Living (SIL) provided by genU, this next chapter represents more than a change of address. It represents dignity, autonomy, and the freedom to live life on my terms.

I’m excited to finally put down roots in a place that reflects who I am and how I want to live.

Living with a disability has shaped me, but it has never confined me. My life has been rich with experiences, challenges, achievements, creativity, and connection. If there is one thing I hope people take from my story, it is this: disability does not diminish potential. With opportunity, inclusion, and belief, both from ourselves and from others, there is no single way to live a full and meaningful life.