Brandon Tomlin can't talk. He can't walk, and nor can he control the involuntary movements of his limbs, particularly when agitated. He uses an electric wheelchair.
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In many ways he lives what could be called an ordinary life. He likes the films of Martin Scorsese and blues music. And like many of us he has to pay the occasional visit to the bank.
Mr Tomlin has been a customer of Westpac for more than 15 years but he's now been banned from using the branches of any Westpac or associated bank, including St George, Bank of Melbourne or BankSA.
For years, Mr Tomlin, who has severe cerebral palsy, did his banking in person at the Westpac branch pictured here, on the corner of Swanston and Collins streets, in Melbourne.
Image: Google Maps
But, he says, he grew tired of members of staff treating him as if he had a mental illness or an intellectual disability, which he hasn't.
"It wasn't just one person, but many of them."
So he raised the issue with a manager in June using a communication device - a plastic sheet covered with letters that he points to with his eyes to spell out words.
You can see an example below. He had used it previously with staff from the branch.
The bank called in security, who ordered Mr Tomlin to leave.
It is not clear from the letter what, exactly, was considered unacceptable.
Mr Tomlin said he was stressed and agitated, which makes the involuntary movements of his limbs more pronounced.
But he insisted he did not assault anyone.
When Mr Tomlin went to the branch to discuss the letter, the police were called.
Mr Tomlin believes he has been discriminated against on the basis of his cerebral palsy and has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
"In relation to be 'abusive' or 'violent', I cannot speak, I cannot control my voice, I cannot control my limbs - particularly when upset - and I cannot leave my chair," he says.
During our interview in his modest ground-floor apartment in South Yarra, Mr Tomlin uses his hand to control a dial to communicate through his computer, using a special program. Writing a sentence can take him a few minutes.
But he doesn't want to be regarded as some poor guy with a disability.
"That's not how I roll," he says, the pun fully intended.
He believes banning him was the easy option for Westpac, and he wants its staff to have equal opportunity training.
In his claim before the commission, he has also asked for an apology and compensation.
A full investigation is under way at Westpac and it will continue to work with the commission to resolve the matter, a spokeswoman said in a statement.
She said the bank believed all people were entitled to basic rights and freedoms, regardless of their religion, gender, race or any other status.
Disability advocate Julie Phillips said it was disappointing that Westpac had misinterpreted the symptoms of a disability as bad behaviour and not sought advice before taking punitive action against Mr Tomlin.
"Were Westpac expecting Mr Tomlin to leap out of his wheelchair and attack them?" she said.
"Their characterisation of him is embarrassing and completely erroneous."
Despite Mr Tomlin's discrimination complaint, he said society had become far more disability-aware and his experiences were mainly good.
"I wonder if the banking industry are behind the times. [It's] 2016. The world's attitude has grown up towards people with disabilities," he said.
