Image description

Mikey is wearing glasses, a cap and a 'Together for Te Tiriti' t-shirt. The background features a broken chain and different textures ripped up. Design: Becki Moss

Mikey Brenndorfer and the importance of disabled mates

Mikey Brenndorfer (he/they) is a nurse practitioner and motorbike rider. Mikey acquired his disability later in life but grew up with a disabled parent and had many disabled friends prior to becoming disabled, all of which shaped the way he adjusted to needing mobility aids.

Custom Club is a six-part video series about mobility aids and the liberation they represent, produced by Becki Moss and created in partnership with Independent Living.

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Read the the transcript of the video of Mikey below.

[Becki: What would you say to your younger self who might have been reluctant to use something like this?]

Mikey: I grew up with a Mum who had Polio, and so I already saw someone go through the, change in mobility as they aged, due to like, you know, Polio, and making the decision when she was in her late 20s and 30s to start using a walking stick, and how that meant that I had a Mum who could now keep up with us and could join us at Disneyland and all of the things, you know, on the, on the holidays.

So for me, psychologically, the concept of using a walking stick when I needed it, it wasn't it was just, okay, Mum can I borrow your stick? You got heaps.

Like having mates that disabled mates who are, you know, real staunch advocates who would say things like, “look, anyone can become disabled at any point in time. And for the most part, it's not a question of if, it's about when.”

And that just kind of framed it already in my mind that I was like, “all right, well, that was when I guess. And then this is me,I need this thing if I'm gonna be able to continue, you know, getting around like I do.”

I do often in my work see people who I'm like, “okay, I don't know if anyone's talked to you about you can use a mobility aid. And I think it's going to make your life a lot easier.”

Image description: Mikey stands in a courtyard surrounded by green ferns. He wears a denim vest, cap and red boots, holding a colourful cane.

Image description: Mikey sits on a motorcycle in a dimly lit garage and is holding his cane. A purple helmet is on the bike, and pipes run along the ceiling.

Image description: Mikey is wearing glasses, a cap and a 'Together for Te Tiriti' t-shirt, standing in front of green foliage.

This series was produced in paid partnership with Independent Living.