No Ceilings: Navigating Down’s Syndrome – Ian Hyman OAM & Alistair

We often hope that if our child was born with a disability, there’d be ample support available—not only from governmental agencies but from our own families. But what if your family started to back away or even held some views and attitudes that were nothing short of blunt and dismissive? Ian Hyman OAM is the founder and CEO of Hyman’s Valuers and Auctioneers, but even bigger than that, he is the father of Alistair, a thirty-year-old man born with Down’s Syndrome. As a parent of a disabled child, you might feel guilty for some of the emotions that crop upon first hearing the diagnosis, or at any point of your journey as you work hard to provide everything your child needs, sometimes against all odds. Although he may not readily admit it, Ian’s story is one of resilience, but also one of finding the strength to go beyond supporting his family, having tirelessly advocated for people with disabilities in Australia. He has served on the board of six disability service providers and has raised around $15 Million through fundraising events. His efforts were recognised in 2017 when Ian was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Ian is a testament to the fact that so much more is possible not only with love and determination, but by seizing the power of seeing beyond perceived limitations, whether imposed by ourselves or others. Ian Hyman is just one of A Few Good Men Murray Jones chats to throughout this series. Show host: Murray Jones Murray is the Director of Brisbane Invest, author of the book What Happens If The World runs Out Of Money? and most importantly, a Dad whose kids include his adult son Fred, who was diagnosed with autism within his first few years of life. Murray will tell anyone how his life changed the day he and his wife heard the diagnosis, and how their journey has led them to meet some very special people along the way, through the services they accessed, as well as their voluntary work undertaken not only to improve Fred’s life, but the lives of other people living with a disability. About A Few Good Men: A Few Good Men aims to shares stories of the unexpected journeys men have experienced when raising children with disabilities that need lifelong support. This podcast is our platform to share not just our hardships, but our victories, our stories. It’s where we uplift one another as we build a community of strong, compassionate good men. A Few Good Men is brought to you by Help Enterprises; a social enterprise helping people with disability lead fulfilling and independent lives. Connect with us: To keep the conversation going, please connect with us at afewgoodmen.com.au . You’ll find episode transcripts, resources, stories from fellow fathers and caregivers, and ways to interact with our growing community. A Few Good Men is a Welcome Change Media production.