My name is Brent Dopson, and for a long time, something felt like it was missing. I’d done plenty of study, but I could never shake the feeling. I was looking for an opportunity, a community, but people just wouldn’t give me a shot. The biggest barrier I faced was just getting a chance to prove what I could do.
Before joining my current team, I had experiences that made me feel worthless. I remember going on trips to the tip and being forced to stay in the car, not allowed out. I was treated like I wasn’t capable. It’s hard to build a sense of purpose when you’re always left on the sidelines. It’s why getting out of bed in the morning started to feel pointless.
That all changed when I was finally given a chance.
Now, my week is completely different. I get picked up and taken to the work yard, and in a good way, I never know exactly what the day will hold. One of my first days, I was able to do a tip run. It might sound small to some, but for me, it was huge. Learning to do up ratchet straps since I had my accident, being trusted with the task, and not being told to stay in the car—it was everything. It was the first time I felt genuinely included.
My favourite part of my job is just that: being part of the team. Everyone is easy to get along with, and we can have a chat while doing flyer drops. They enable me to do my job in a positive way. It feels like being part of a unit again, a feeling I haven’t had since an accident I had back in 2020. That feeling gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. Instead of sitting at home, I feel happy.
This role has definitely given me more confidence and reinstalled my faith in myself. For me, purpose feels like planning out my week and scheduling things around my work. It’s having a reason to get up. I’ve also learned to be proud of my journey. I once started a course at university and had to recognise it was too hard for me. Instead of giving up, I enrolled at CIT to study mental health, which was a better fit. It was a big moment of proving to myself that I could find the right path.
If I could give one piece of advice to another person with a disability looking for a role, it would be this: if you’re interested in something, give it a go. You’ll never know what you can do until you try.
And to any employers or organisations out there, I wish you knew that we are more than our disabilities. We are people who want to contribute. All we’re asking for is a fair go.
Everyone has difficulties, whether they have a disability or not. It can be hard not to give up, but if you push through, you will be rewarded. I’m proof of that.