Empowered Lives: A Platform demanding Change for Victorians with a Disability


Empowered Lives: A Platform demanding Change for Victorians with a Disability

All people deserve the opportunity to have a dignified and normal life. People are happiest when they are able to freely access the community, have fulfilling relationships and be capable and contributing members of society. Many Victorians with disabilities continue to experience structural and attitudinal barriers that rob them of these opportunities, despite the promises of the NDIS to deliver them the dignified and normal lives that they are entitled to. It is an election year in Victoria, and it is time to call for action.

Victorian Council of Social Services, as a part of its Collaborative Systemic Disability Advocacy Project, brought together all the Disability Advocacy organisations in Victoria to discuss what their top ten asks for the Victorian Government to consider in the fast approaching November election- here is what is needed to make a change.

When

Friday 14th September, 2018: 11:30am - 12:30pm

Where

The Hall

Speakers

Bryce Pace, Autism Advocate

Bryce Pace is an up and coming advocate for acceptance and inclusion. He was diagnosed with autism at the age of nine and has experienced firsthand the tribulations of being labelled a disability student within the primary school system.

Photo of Bryce Pace, Autism Advocate

Victoria Strachan, Diversity Field Officer Coordinator, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)

Victoria is co-ordinating a two year State Government funded project “Improving the Accessibility of Greater Geelong and the Bellarine, an an initiative developed by AFDO Diversity Field Officer Service in conjunction with Deakin University.

Photo of Victoria Strachan, Diversity Field Officer Coordinator, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)

Susan Arthur, President, Reinforce

Susan is 33 years old and passionate about helping people with disabilities. She is currently a volunteer as a self-advocate with Reinforce where she is in her second year as elected President. Her passion is to make the world a better place for parents with intellectual disabilities and hopes that one day parents with I.D. can keep their children with the support they need. Her passion grew from her grandmother who also was very passionate about people with disabilities not living in institutions and all the other areas of human rights. Susan also runs a new group called The Powerful Parents Self Advocacy Group.

Photo of Susan Arthur, President, Reinforce

Session Summary

All people deserve the opportunity to have a dignified and normal life. People are happiest when they are able to freely access the community, have fulfilling relationships and be capable and contributing members of society. Many Victorians with disabilities continue to experience structural and attitudinal barriers that rob them of these opportunities, despite the promises of the NDIS to deliver them the dignified and normal lives that they are entitled to.

Before introducing the Empowered Lives platform, Julie Phillips from Disability advocacy victoria announced the launch of the newly developed online course ‘Introduction to disability advocacy’. This is now available free of charge to anyone through the DARU website. As part of the course, DARU commissioned the Disability Discrimination Legal Service to produce a new resource called ‘taking action on disability discrimination’.

 

 

It is an election year in Victoria, and it is time to call for action.

Victorian Council of Social Services, as a part of its Collaborative Systemic Disability Advocacy Project, brought together  disability advocacy organisations in Victoria to discuss what their top ten asks for the Victorian Government to consider in the fast approaching November election.  This platform outlines what is needed to make a change.

 

 

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