Meet Queensland artist Benjamin Hynes. He doesn’t talk much but his beautiful artwork speaks volumes.

Ben, 30, has autism.

He lives with his Mum Kelli, Dad Paul, sister Caitlyn and brother Curtis, at Warner, and is a participant with Holistic Horizons.

Ben’s biggest struggle is communication. He doesn’t speak much, and he has trouble pointing to what he is talking about.

He has been like this since he was a toddler, however, the minute Ben could hold a pencil, he was doing art.

From the age of three years old onwards, while Ben’s communication was challenging, he was showing signs of being an amazing artist: He was drawing pictures of houses, roads, street signs, traffic boxes, and in proper 3D!

Ben’s parents looked for services to help him, but back when Ben was growing up there weren’t any around for children like him.

Communication was, and still is, difficult for Ben and his family and his Mum worries about his future, and the future of other young people living with disabilities like Ben.

She admits that caring for someone with Ben’s needs is a strain and very stressful.

Ben has attended standard schools, special schools, and special education units – including a short time at an autism centre and school – up to the age of 18.

He is now on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and has Holistic Horizons support workers who pick him up and drop him home and give him freedom from his parents and choice to achieve his goals and dreams in life.

Ben’s support workers are usually aged in their 50’s or they are young like him.

Kelli said she loves both age groups as the older ones are more a mother/father figure to Ben, whereas the younger ones are more at his peer group level and do fun things that Ben likes.

But being Ben’s carer does take its toll on the family.

Only the other week Kelli found herself really struggling and unable to cope when Ben lost his wallet.

She said she went into a total meltdown, didn’t want to deal with it and she cried for two days.

Kelli had to call everyone, advise who she was and explain her and Ben’s situation – it was so tiring and stressful.

Kelli was in a complete state of distress – Ben’s other family members and support workers took over to manage this for her as she couldn’t cope.

Kelli said that if she had a voice at the Brisbane Disability Connection Expo 2022 or even at the NDIS she’d like to instigate change.

She would love the government and NDIS to work on getting all young adults with disabilities out of living at home with their parents by the age of 25.

Kelli said it was exhausting to constantly manage a disabled loved ones’ life for so long and she was worn out.

Kelli said she feels like the government was happy to just let family members manage them living at home for as long as they could – until Ben was aged in his 60s and his parents were in their 80s.

“And then we will just die,” Kelli said.

“Then Ben will be totally unprepared and lost living somewhere else.”

Her biggest fear is Ben living with a total stranger and feeling lost.

This is why she would love to see a government initiative where young people living with disabilities, like Ben,were transitioned from home to independent living around the age of 25.

Kelli is trying to organise independent living for Ben, but because rentals are so expensive in Queensland, they are most likely going to look for a rental that Ben can share with his brother, Curtis, 23.

This way Ben won’t need 24 hour/seven-days-a-week support workers, because he can be at home with his brother at night. He would just need the funding for the day shifts or for when Curtis wanted to go away.

Kelli is also desperate to find a good speech therapist for Ben. She is also considering a speech/communication device for Ben in the future.

But despite the hardships, the communication and speech difficulties and the frustration, it’s Ben’s art that shines through and helps him communicate.

Ben has completed a wall mural at the Holistic Horizons Hub at Redcliffe of The Simpsons characters, and other characters, as well as a wall mural in the Holistic Horizons office of dolphins and waves.

Ben has recently won a Lord Mayor’s Art Award for painting a street box in Brisbane and he has been interviewed (with assistance) by The Redcliffe Guide and also had a professional photo shoot with them.

Ben continues to do his art daily, from wall murals, to sketches of houses, to abstract drawings, to cartoon characters, street signs, cement chalk art, and so much more.

He loves cooking and walking long distances, across bridges, visiting buildings, museums, beaches and parklands.

Ben can look at a whole heap of houses on google maps and then draw them all accurately and remember the addresses of all the houses.

He recently drew an accurate picture of his grandmothers’ house and shared it on his Facebook page, called B h art creation.

The Team at Holistic Horizons Support Services are super proud of Ben’s achievements and look forward to him reaching more of his life goals and dreams.

Guests at the Brisbane gala awards next year will get to see one of his colourful pieces first-hand – Ben will be painting a big canvas or piece of art to be auctioned at the Brisbane Disability Staff Recognition Awards 2022, to raise money for charity.

To be in the running to grab Ben’s colourful piece at the awards, you have to be there! Haven’t got your ticket? Register now while places are still available!

Haven’t got around to nominating your amazing staff yet? Be quick before it is too late!

The Brisbane Disability Staff Recognition Awards 2022, presented by Holistic Horizons, will be held on April 29, 2022, as part of the Brisbane Disability Connection Expo 2022.

Holistic Horizons is also the major sponsor for Brisbane’s Disability Connection Expo 2022.

Holistic Horizons is a registered NDIS provider that places emphasis on compassion and self-empowerment. With their motto: Let us help you unlock your potential, Holistic Horizons delivers outstanding support services across Redcliffe Peninsula, Caboolture and surrounding areas. Read more about their services and goals HERE.

*Our thanks to Julie Latcham, social media/communications officer at Holistic Horizons Support Services, for her help in bringing you Ben’s story and photos.