Beginnings - By Deb
- Cooper Hennessy
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 27
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement.” — Brené Brown
Cooper has always been a heart-person. Friendly, smiley, and genuinely himself, he’s grown up surrounded by people who love him and cheer him on. That sense of connection has shaped so much of his story so far.
Life with a disability has brought its ups and downs, but Cooper has always held a strong determination to be part of the world around him — to be included, to contribute, and to keep going even when some doors didn’t open easily.
After finishing school in 2024, he was excited to start earning his own money to support his favourite things — Dungeons & Dragons, Lego, and gaming. He began with the classic neighbourhood pamphlet run before stepping into a part‑time admin assistant role in a workplace that truly values him. Both roles have helped him build confidence, purpose, and independence.
A new chapter was quietly unfolding in the background: Pin It On Me, a small custom button‑badge venture built with a lot of heart. Wanting to give this little enterprise a real‑world start, we reached out to an organisation that had walked alongside our family for many years and offered to donate badges for their conference, hoping it might be a gentle way to test the waters. When their CEO agreed, it gave us a real boost of confidence to take the next step forward
Pin It On Me was proud to support CRU’s event, Discovering Possibility: How Customised Employment Opens Doors — a gathering built on the belief that everyone has something meaningful to contribute. Customised Employment isn’t about comparing people; it’s about recognising strengths, interests, and potential.
Seeing attendees wearing Cooper’s badges throughout the day was incredibly special. Messages like Everyone Can Work, Build Opportunity, Inclusion is Good Business, See Potential Everywhere, and Customised Employment Champion felt perfectly aligned with what we hope Pin It On Me stands for.
We’re truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a thoughtful event. It was an important step to gain valuable insight of the practical steps needed to bring Pin It On Me to life. The encouragement, the conversations, and the sense of community left us feeling inspired — and hopeful for everything still ahead.
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