At Able Foods, we like to work closely with our community. Not only is Josh one of our most loyal customers, he’s also one of the stars of our latest photography shoot. Josh is the Customer Experience Officer at Cerebral Palsy Support Network (CPSN), as well as the brains behind the video channel Disability Life Hacks.
In this blog, he tells us about his work at CPSN, his favourite Able Foods meals, and how he hacks them to make them his own!
Tell us about yourself and what your role at CPSN is.
Hi, my name is Josh, and I am the Customer Experience Officer with Cerebral Palsy Support Network. I handle incoming enquiries, so when you call us up you know you are speaking to someone who has lived experience of cerebral palsy and just gets it.
If you are looking for NDIS support, or just want to get linked in with a support group of people who get you, we are for you! Feel free to give us a call.
Working at CPSN lets me help people with the same disability as me get support. Often, once you are seen as no longer a child in the hospital system, you're kind of on your own. So CPSN is somewhere you can turn too.
Why is it important to you to be involved in an organisation like CPSN?
For me, working at CPSN lets me help people with the same disability as me get support. Often, once you are seen as no longer a child in the hospital system, you are kind of on your own, there are no real supports in place, so CPSN is somewhere you can turn too.
Whether it be support coordination, support workers or just calling for general advice, we get to be that help and support, or just a friendly voice to help guide through the healthcare and NDIS systems.
We recently made a video that shares more about the heart behind CPSN. You can watch this here
Tell us more about your Disability Life Hacks series and how it came to be. What do you hope people will learn from watching them?
In addition to my customer experience role, I also host and produce a video series called Disability Lifehacks. In this series, I explore common problems I have encountered and come up against and provide a solution. As I love technology and I believe there are so many use cases for it we aren’t exploring, most of my solutions are technology-based.
Watch: CPSN and Able Foods present Meal Hacks
In the first episode of this brand new series, Meal hacks brought to you by CPSN and Able Foods, Josh uses the Chicken Burrito bowl to see what he can create in the kitchen.
Is there anything exciting you have in the works with your LifeHack series?
Right now, I am working on a brand-new video series to highlight a partnership between Able Foods and Cerebral Palsy Support Network. This will be a series which really puts my cheffing skills to the test to try and add to an Able Foods meal.
You’ve been a customer of ours for many years now. What do you love about Able Foods?
I have been getting Able Foods for about 2 years now and I love the convenience of it. You can pop a meal in the microwave, and you know 7 minutes later, you have a delicious and healthy meal. These are perfect for days where you don’t want to cook and just want a quick and easy meal that is also going to be good for you.
In Disability Lifehacks, I explore common problems I have come up against and provide a solution. As I love technology and I believe there are so many use cases for it we aren’t exploring, most of my solutions are technology-based.
What are some of the challenges you face with preparing meals?
Considering my father was a chef, you would think I would inherit some cooking skills, but sadly not. The best I can do is a toasted sandwich. Although I can’t really cook, I do like to attempt it occasionally, but it takes a lot of time that I can rarely find. It also causes a lot of cleanup and dishes.
While you’re not munching on Able Foods meals, or working at CPSN, what do you get up to?
I love going to see musicals and gigs so if there’s a musical that is out, chances are I have seen it. I also love relaxing with a nice cup of tea and a good book.
What does independence mean to you and why is it so important for people with disabilities?
For me, independence means having the choice to do what I want, when I want to do it, and having the means to do it. I think independence is super important and anything that allows us to keep that independence needs to be shared and that’s what I try to do with Lifehacks.
What are your go-to meals at Able Foods
As shown in the first episode of Meal Hacks, the Chicken Burrito Bowl is my normal go-to for lunch as is the Mediterranean Veggie Pasta. For dinners I often want something more hearty, I have been loving the Chilli con Carne and you can’t go past the Classic Chicken Parmigiana.
CPSN
The Cerebral Palsy Support Network is an NDIS Service Provider based in Victoria. Becoming a CPSN member is free, and provides you access to free support services while letting you connect with the cerebral palsy community.
