Dion and his cheeky dogs are NDIS Ready

Dion Beasley, 25, is a talented Tennant Creek artist who recently launched his second children’s book Go Home Cheeky Animals as a sequel to his first book Too Many Cheeky Dogs.

Last year, Too Many Cheeky Dogs made its way to Buckingham Palace, as part of a gift from the Northern Territory Government to welcome the arrival of Princess Charlotte.

According to Dion's guardian Joie Boulter, Dion is 'mad keen on drawing dogs,' which he has met while living in communities across the Northern Territory. 

Joie said drawing has changed Dion's life. Dion is profoundly deaf, after contracting meningitis as a baby, and has muscular dystrophy.

'I met Dion when he was almost 12. When he came to town he was pretty uncooperative, but drawing was the thing that connected him to others and so we could communicate that way.'

In 2014 Dion started participating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Joie said 'I was very excited when the NDIS started, because it is a needs-based system, which I thought could be perfect for Dion.'

Dion already had wheelchairs and ramps, so his basic needs had been met. But with NDIS funding, he has kept up maintenance on his scooter and he's been able to get even more mobile and keep in touch with his community.

'We are self-managing, so we’ve found someone who can fix the scooter and we can just go ahead and do that,' Joie said.

'That funding keeps Dion moving, and no doubt, down the track, things will change and his needs will change.'

'The staff at the NDIS have been absolutely wonderful and committed to the cause and bend over backwards to help him.'

Dion already has another exciting project on the go, working with a Brisbane media company to turn his ‘cheeky dogs’ into a children’s television program.