- New guide leads the way in disability messagingby Danielle KutchelAs advocates look ahead to opportunities to shift narratives around disability, a new guide aims to help them develop defining and persuasive messaging. The By Us, For Us – Disability Messaging Guide – produced as part of a partnership between Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) and Australian Progress and born of a research project into… Read more: New guide leads the way in disability messaging
- “A curated community”: the new social network for those who need connectionby Danielle KutchelLived experience of chronic illness and social isolation is driving the development of a new social media platform that aims to foster community connections. Spoony, which will launch to the wider public in May, is a dating and friendship app specially designed for neurodivergent, chronically ill and people with disability. Founder and CEO Nicholas Carlton… Read more: “A curated community”: the new social network for those who need connection
- Fundraising gala raises millions for autism ‘legacy’by Danielle KutchelColourful crowds descended on Essendon, just out of Melbourne, on Saturday night for Equal Access for Autism’s annual fundraising gala. The dress code was ‘formal with a dash of colour’, and over 1000 guests went all out to show their support for the cause. In fact, colour was everywhere: the rainbow-toned programs adorning the tables… Read more: Fundraising gala raises millions for autism ‘legacy’
- Comedy for all in Melbourne this monthby Danielle KutchelThose looking for an accessible laugh at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) are in luck, with plenty of steps being taken to make sure that the comedy on show is open to all. The festival – one of the world’s best known comedy showcases – has a dedicated accessibility page on its website with… Read more: Comedy for all in Melbourne this month
- Stepping out on a path to inclusionby Danielle KutchelPublicis Groupe ANZ has taken the first step on the path to becoming a disability confident employer. The media and communications agency group recently launched its inaugural Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. Developed in partnership with the Australian Disability Network (ADN), the plan is based on an extensive feedback process with people with disabilities, according… Read more: Stepping out on a path to inclusion
- Forging a new trajectory: leader Debbie Heron joins Life Without Barriers as co-CEO internby Danielle KutchelLife Without Barriers has partnered with the Disability Leadership Institute to bring on a co-CEO intern, providing an opportunity break down leadership barriers for those with lived experience of disability. Debbie Heron, an experienced leader and advocate who lives with a disability, has joined the organisation and will work alongside CEO Claire Robbs. It’s a… Read more: Forging a new trajectory: leader Debbie Heron joins Life Without Barriers as co-CEO intern
- Empowering women with disabilities on International Women’s Dayby Danielle KutchelWomen and gender diverse people with disabilities are willing and ready to lead – they just need workplaces to step up and provide opportunities for them to do so. That’s the message out of the Leading Change webinar, held on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day and hosted by People with Disability Australia. Keynote… Read more: Empowering women with disabilities on International Women’s Day
- Accessible Resort wins Queensland Tourism Awardsby bcooperBIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has won top honours at the Queensland Tourism Awards, including the inaugural ‘Excellence in Accessible Tourism’ category. The family-owned resort is Accessible Accommodation Qualified, QTAB Accessible Accredited, with accessible facilities that cater for mobility issues, while maximising the experience for visitors with differing ages, needs and abilities. Read More in the… Read more: Accessible Resort wins Queensland Tourism Awards
- Artful Art Prize promotes inclusivity through artby bcooperIn 2023 Achieve Australia partnered with Accessible Arts to introduce the Artful Art Prize, a national art competition open to all Australian residents, regardless of ability, age, orskill level. More than just an art contest, this initiative champions inclusivity andproves that talent knows no limits. The Artful Art Prize received an impressive 640 submissions, with… Read more: Artful Art Prize promotes inclusivity through art
- Meet a carer with a big heartby bcooperThere is something endearing about lovingly restored old cars that puts a smile oneveryone’s face. The ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ jalopies with their running boards, the low-slung jazz era open sports cars, WW2 camouflaged jeeps, the white walled tyred 50s limos withfins are all showstoppers. Who can resist turning at the lights to see who is… Read more: Meet a carer with a big heart
- Letting the runway do the TALKINGby bcooperJames Parr is hitting his stride. It’s been a whirlwind few years for the 27-year-old, who changed careers during the pandemic and now spends his days walking the runway at some of fashion’s biggest events for household names like Tommy Hilfiger and Myer. And with every step, he aims to move the world towards a… Read more: Letting the runway do the TALKING
- Q&A with Martin Wrenby bcooperMartin Wren is CEO of Nova Employment with over 30 years of experience in disability employment. He spoke about the challenges and his quest for the perfect workplace. Read more in the Link Magazine
- A shop for chocolate loversby bcooperGerrard Gosens is preparing to be the first totally blind person to swim the English Channel but has found time to tap into the chocolate business and the Willi Wonka movie. Read more in the Link Magazine
- Rise and shine from beds to the boardroomby bcooperEighteen years ago, Clare Gibellini was a store assistant selling beds. Now she is waking everyone up and campaigning for change to ensure people with disabilities are valued,respected and included in every aspect of society. Gibellini landed a job as a disabilitysupport worker in 2003 after realising bed retail was not for her. Read More… Read more: Rise and shine from beds to the boardroom
- Meet the Yellow Ladybugsby bcooperIt all started with a party. Katie Koullas was picking her daughter up from school, when shenoticed another child handing out invites to a birthday party. But Koullas’ daughter didn’t get one. “My heart just broke. To be publicly outcast like that was just heartbreaking,” Koullas told Link. Read More in the latest issue of… Read more: Meet the Yellow Ladybugs
- A carer whose life changed in a split secondby bcooperIn 2020 Kathryn Ware and her husband Kingsley were driving home to Kingaroy from Toowoomba, when in the blink of an eye, life as the Queensland couple knew it wascompletely turned upside down. It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon and raining, when Kathryn took a bend in the road, their car aquaplaned out of… Read more: A carer whose life changed in a split second
- Country Pub takes out All Abilities Awardby bcooperThe Drouin Family Hotel in Victoria has won an inaugural All Abilities Hotel Award that has been introduced into Australian Hotels Association (AHA) awards categoryfor 2023. The hotel seems to tick all the boxes when it comes to disability inclusion.It employs people with a disability, is wheelchair accessible with a raft of accessible features, a… Read more: Country Pub takes out All Abilities Award
- Legally Blind – SA rock band, The Visionariesby bcooperAsk lead guitarist Tim Haggis what music his group can play, and he does not hesitate: “Weplay pretty much anything from rock & roll, Top 40 and classical pieces like A Whiter Shade of Pale’ But rock and contemporary best describes us.” ‘Us’ is also drummer and percussionist Mike Russell and David Lee on keyboard,… Read more: Legally Blind – SA rock band, The Visionaries
- New training program for accessible tourismby bcooperSpinal Life Australia, in partnership with technology group Cérge, has developed the Access Accelerator program for tourism operators in Queensland, to make them more accessible and inclusive for travellers with diverse accessibility needs. The program is launching this month starting with the Sunshine and Fraser Coast regions with a series of workshops and training sessions… Read more: New training program for accessible tourism
- Rallying to a causeby bcooperFrom the start… Chris Astill and Jasmine Dingley are new to the world of disability. A few weeks after saying yes to the Shitbox Summer Rally 2023, Astill suffered a T10 complete spinal cord injury in a paragliding accident. “As we came up for air and began to learn what this injury and diagnosis meant… Read more: Rallying to a cause