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A quest to find an accessible fish and chip shop has led to the creation of a life-changing app for foodies with disability.  Called EnAccess Maps, the app is taking Melbourne venues by storm, providing accurate information on everything from bathrooms to entrances for those who need it.  It was founded by Sabrina Leung, a… Read more: Foodies rejoice – EnAccess Maps reveals restaurant accessibility 

In 2014, while hiking overseas, Andi Snelling was bitten by a tick.  That single moment changed the trajectory of her life, as she developed multiple tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease.  “The way my body functioned and operated started to really change. It was sort of gradual at first, but then… there was a distinctive point… Read more: Happy Go Wrong lightens the heavy conversation around chronic illness 

This year’s NDIS Annual Pricing Review has angered many in the disability community and sparked another crisis for the beleaguered scheme.  The review was released this week, with the NDIS making a number of recommendations on pricing across the scheme.  Some of the more controversial changes are around reducing price limits for therapy services, ostensibly… Read more: Concern about NDIS therapy pricing changes

Ask Mattie Michael about his business, and his face lights up.  “Cookies!” he exclaims, pointing to a plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip creations. He makes sure everyone at the table has one. It’s clear he’s incredibly proud of what he’s made.  Mattie is the founder of Social Moments, a cookie business based in Melbourne… Read more: Cookie King Mattie brings equity to social moments

Luke Schneider knows that many children with autism have a hard time in school – and he’s motivated to do something to change that.  A psychologist by trade, Schneider was named a 2024 Churchill Fellow and is using his Fellowship to research autism awareness programs for primary school-aged children – programs that are designed to… Read more: Churchill Fellow aims to bring autism awareness to schools

Australia’s new Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Jenny McAllister, says she is trying “not to waste a single day” as she adjusts to her portfolio.  The Minister was in Melbourne last week for DSC’s Annual NDIS Conference and gave a keynote speech looking ahead to the future of the scheme, and her role… Read more: New NDIS Minister sets the scene

The NDIS’ latest quarterly report reveals the growth rate for the scheme has dropped.  This is despite thousands of people joining the NDIS in the first three months of this year.  According to the Q3 2024-25 report, the annual growth rate is now 10.6 per cent, lower than the forecast 12 per cent.  More than… Read more: Quarterly report paints rosy picture of NDIS 

The Australian Government Department of Education has published a new information resource on the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with disabilities and their parents and caregivers.   It talks about students’ rights and what schools must do to support all students to join in and learn. It… Read more: A story for inclusion

This is the second of a two-part interview with Yenn Purkis and Wendy Hill. Read part one here. The first quarter of this year has seen changes at the Disability Leadership Institute (DLI), with two new Deputy CEOs stepping into their roles.  Yenn Purkis and Wendy Hill are familiar names to many in the sector.… Read more: “Loud and proud”: DLI’s new deputy leaders

This is the first of a two-part interview with Yenn Purkis and Wendy Hill. Read part two here. The first quarter of this year has seen changes at the Disability Leadership Institute (DLI), with two new Deputy CEOs stepping into their roles.  Yenn Purkis and Wendy Hill are familiar names to many in the sector.… Read more: Changing the world with DLI’s Deputy CEOs

A dementia diagnosis can cause anxiety and worry, but an Australian invention hopes to make communication easier for families and those with the disease.  It’s called CareWindow. The company was inspired by founder and CEO Zac Bailey’s dad, who developed early onset dementia following a series of stroke-like episodes after a course of radiotherapy. The… Read more: A window to connection for people with dementia

The Federal election has been called and Australians will go to the polls on Saturday 3 May.  That includes Australians with disabilities.  The election was called in the same week that the Federal government presented its Budget, and less than 24 hours after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave his Budget Reply speech – so we… Read more: Countdown to Election Day begins 

A not-for-profit leader is pouring her passion and lived experience into research that aims to improve the lives of young carers.   Madeleine Buchner is the founder and CEO of Little Dreamers, a not for profit that aims to improve the quality of life of young carers through respite, education and mental health and wellbeing programs. … Read more: On a mission to support young carers 

More than 350 delegates attending the first traumatic brain injury (TBI) conference in Christchurch, last week. Delegates came from throughout New Zealand, with 52% attending from outside the Canterbury region. International delegates from six countries also came from afar afield as Japan and the USA. The event was organised by Interpoint Events, who have worked… Read more: Record numbers attend inaugural traumatic brain injury conference in New Zealand

Living with chronic pain can be an alienating experience.  You feel lonely and uncomfortable, and perhaps unable to share that experience with others for fear of judgement. You might desperately want to ask for accommodations to make getting through the work day easier, but feel like a burden if you do.  But the reality is,… Read more: Conversations about chronic pain

When you think of sustainability, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? It’s likely things like recycling, or electric vehicles or solar panels.  Sustainability in accessible technologies are probably not top of mind in that list. But it is top of mind for Tyrex, which specialises in recycled rubber products including access ramps and… Read more: Sustainability in accessibility

Nerida Sleaman said she has the best job in the world. She’s the project manager of Employing 100 at Australian Disability Network (ADN), an employer demand-led inclusion framework. Over the past week, the program has celebrated a milestone as it concluded, having successfully secured jobs for almost 240 people with disability – over and above… Read more: Employing 100 program smashes target as DEI scales up

Parenting is hard work – but add in the unique challenges of parenting while using a wheelchair, and the difficulty increases.   Now, a world-first invention aims to minimise those difficulties by making it easier for parents in wheelchairs or with other disabilities to care for their babies.  Called the Care Station, it’s been welcomed around… Read more: Aussie invention simplifies caring for parents with disability

The Create Space Arts Initiative is working to make the arts more accessible for the neurodivergent community.  It was born from work done at The A List, a national platform that helps autistic and neurodivergent people to find opportunities for social connections. One of the things the team at The A List noticed was that… Read more: Building neurodivergent-led art spaces for all

Gerry Smith’s dream has always been to perform his music on stage.  He was brought up on the classics: the Beatles, Sinatra, early jazz. His father was into instrumentals, so a young Gerry grew up with varied tastes. He attended gigs at venues across Melbourne.  But he never thought he would make it.  Smith has… Read more: Singer-songwriter Gerry Smith lives for the moment on stage