Meet the inspiring Toowoomba locals challenging perceptions of disability
Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes. From facing terminal illness predictions or daily barriers, these Toowoomba disability advocates refuse to let society's shame define their incredible achievements.
“There’s still a level of shame attached to disability in this world, but I’m not ashamed by it in any way, shape, or form,” Rhiannon Anderson, who lives with muscular dystrophy, said.
This week people around the world recognised International Day of Persons with Disabilities, highlighting the challenges people face and the value they bring to society.
Meet some of the inspiring people in Toowoomba who have faced unimaginable adversity and bring value to the community.
Jennifer Helton
Born and raised in Australia, someone like Jennifer Helton shouldn’t have to struggle with language barriers in her home country.
She communicates in one of Australia’s official languages and yet there are few places she goes where she is understood.
Ms Helton, 70, was born deaf after her mother was infected with rubella while pregnant with her.
The condition, known as congenital rubella syndrome, can cause a range of birth defects including hearing impairments, heart defects, and eye abnormalities.
Until she was about nine years old, Ms Helton went to a deaf school before moving to a hearing school where she said she felt very misunderstood.
“For that period I was very unhappy and there was a lot of bullying,” she signed.
“Now I look back and realise it was discrimination, but at that time I didn’t know.
“When they would see me they would put me down, and they called me names.”
Ms Helton’s passion over the years has been teaching people Auslan and said she wishes it was taught in all schools across the country so that more people could communicate with the deaf community in their own language.
Ms Helton retired from teaching Auslan this year but still makes an effort to help anyone willing to learn the language.
* Note: Interviews with Jennifer were conducted through interpretation so some nuances may have been lost in translation.
Dylan Barber
After a rare growth condition ended his athletics aspirations, Toowoomba’s Dylan Barber found a new way to chase his sporting dreams — on the wheelchair basketball court.
“I have osteogenesis imperfecta, which means my bones are fragile and my muscles can be weak,” Mr Barber said.
“I can break bones easily, and I grow faster than my muscles can keep up.”
Despite the setback, a light‑hearted chat with his mum and a teacher’s encouragement opened the door for a new and exciting endeavour.
“Mum joked, ‘I wonder if you could sit in a chair and play basketball because you’re so active’,” he said.
“My teacher knew someone in wheelchair basketball and asked if I wanted to try. I gave it a go and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Mr Barber now plays locally for the Toowoomba Bushrangers and has recently represented Brisbane with the Southern Districts Spartans.
He hopes to one day pull on the green and gold.
“After my diagnosis the doctor said I had to give up running and other sports,” he said.
“Then I found wheelchair basketball and really connected with it. Now I want to represent Australia.”
He said a message he wanted people to hear on International Day of People with Disability was that disability isn’t always visible — or constant.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” he said.
“I was in a wheelchair for a few months because I hurt myself and normally I use a wheelchair part time.
“If you see me in a chair one day and walking the next, it doesn’t mean I’m faking it. Sometimes I need the chair, sometimes I don’t.”
For Mr Barber, it’s about respect and opportunity — on and off the court.
Brodie Bryant
Brodie Bryant feels most at peace surrounded by the sounds of humming machinery, whirring motors, and clanking metal.
The 16-year-old Toowoomba boy said he has often struggled to find his place in the world, and getting through his schooling with autism, dyscalculia, and dyslexia was not always easy.
“I got bullied a lot and it was a real struggle for me,” he said.
“People with special needs like me, need more support and people helping us communicate.”
Brodie finally felt he found a community where he belonged after joining the team at The Better Day Community Care, a disability support group that helps people take control of their lives.
Brodie has been going to The Better Day’s car workshop in Harlaxton for the past few months, where they learn hands-on mechanic skills by flipping old cars.
“I call this pretty much, my relaxing spot, where I can calm down,” he said.
“But I took the long road to find my way here.”
Brodie said it has been really good to meet the other people at The Better Day.
“It gives you a much better understand of other kids, teenagers or even adults that have a disability,” he said.
“Try your best to fit in, in your own way and some people might start to understand you for who you are.”
Brodie finished school a few weeks ago after year 10 and is doing a Cert II in Automotive Vocational Preparation at TAFE.
Rhiannon Anderson
When Rhiannon Anderson was 13 she was told by her doctors that she would be lucky to make it to 19.
The now 26-year-old was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a muscle wasting condition when she was aged just three.
Ms Anderson said despite the challenges she has faced over the years, her disability is part of who she is.
“As much as there are barriers to disabled life there is certainly still incredible moments that I wouldn’t have had in my life without my disability,” she said.
“When you have a terminal illness over your head you sort of take stock a little bit more and appreciate the little things and the awkward moments and the laughs.”
Ms Anderson said days like International Day of People with Disabilities were so important for starting conversations.
“It’s a stepping stone in the right direction for reducing the stigma of people with disability,” she said.
“That starts by getting comfortable and talking about the hard things and the importance of making disability human.
“It’s not about diminishing disability of making it not exist but just seeing us as human being first.”
Ms Rhiannon said there were so many different disabilities in the world, but in a way they were all bonded by a similar journey.
“Even though we are different in how our disability presents and how it impacts us, we all have a common thread,” she said.
“The hardships we have gone through or the anxiety around surgeries, or our lifespan, or fitting in, or self-worth issues.
“We can all find common ground and lean on each other based on what we’ve all gone through in one way or another.
“People are seeing more and more about the amazing work and value that people with disabilities provide in society”
Ms Anderson turned her experiences into a book, sharing her story with the world.
Read more about Ms Anderson’s powerful story here.
Oscar Rochford
Taegan Stevens said as a carer for her son, she thinks about things most able-bodied people never have to consider.
Her son Oscar Rochford has complex disabilities including hydrocephalus, corpus callosum atrophy, cortical vision impairment, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy.
The 12-year-old is wheelchair bound, can’t speak, feed himself or lift his head, but to Ms Stevens he is just like any other typical teenage boy.
Ms Stevens has fought for most of 2025 for donations to buy a car that fits her son’s specialised wheelchair.
With her three other kids, it’s impossible for Ms Stevens to go anywhere with her whole family, and as a single mum this leaves her with very limited options.
With donation support pledged from the Broncos, BDO, and Aussie Kids, Ms Stevens is on her way to getting new wheels, but she said Toowoomba has a long way to go before it becomes disability friendly.
“In terms of wheelchair accessibility, it sucks going anywhere in Toowoomba,” she said.
“(Some buildings) say they are wheelchair accessible but they’ll have a lip to get to the ramp.
“Or when you go in, you can’t get to the bathrooms, there’s a flight of stairs to the bathroom. That is not accessible.”
Ms Stevens spent two weeks with no NDIS support following changes to the system, and she said other people have no idea how challenging that is when caring for someone with complex needs.
Find out more about Oscar and Taegan’s fight for a wheelchair accessible car at thechronicle.com.au/5c366ca6a2491f48ac943d2108c94650 and thechronicle.com.au/981ecc42c62c528a99309617a649b38c.
Originally published as Meet the inspiring Toowoomba locals challenging perceptions of disability
