Today is International Day of People with a Disability and councils across Australia are getting involved.
Sanctioned by the United Nations, the day aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with a disability, and to celebrate their achievements and contributions to the community.
In Queensland, Logan City Council has launched a sense-based play and learning space in the children’s area at Marsden Library.
Sports and Community Services Committee Chair, Councillor Russell Lutton said the space would facilitate learning through tactile, sound, light and digital equipment to help develop language and fine motor skills.
“For some young people, learning in traditional environments can be challenging for a range of reasons, and sometimes classrooms aren’t the best places for education,” Cr Lutton said.
In Victoria, Surf Coast Shire Council is partnering with Scope Geelong to host a ‘Come and Try’ Balloon Football Day.
Developed some 20 years ago, Balloon Football is a modified version of Australian Rules football suitable for people with a disability.
More than 200 registered players currently play in four leagues across Victoria, with Geelong fielding two teams in 2015 and the sport continuing to grow in popularity.
Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Councillor Rose Hodge, cited another successful example of people with a disability taking on leadership roles in the Shire.
“The recent launch of the reTHINK disABILITY campaign at the Cowrie Market has already shown what can happen when people with a disability have the opportunity to develop leadership and other new skills.
“The six women involved, who graduated from our Enabling Women leadership development program in 2014, continued to work together throughout 2015 to create a high profile community campaign promoting access, inclusion and equality for people with a disability.
“Their creativity and hard work has already started to pay off in terms of breaking down barriers, opening doors and realising a more inclusive society for all people.
“The Balloon Football program offers the potential to have the same effect in a sporting context and is the perfect way to celebrate International Day for People with a Disability 2015,” Cr Hodge said.
In the ACT, Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch has celebrated by joining students, parents, carers and teachers at the opening of the Black Mountain School SixDegrees cafe.
“This year’s International Day of People with Disability theme is Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities; this theme is summed up perfectly by the opportunities provided by the SixDegrees Cafe,” Ms Burch said.
The SixDegrees café aims to develop participants’ independence and social skills in a safe environment.
“It will showcase the skills they have in the areas of industrial art, hospitality, horticulture, hydroponics and sustainability,” Ms Burch said.
“The cafe will be the first social enterprise to be successfully and wholly established on a school site in the nation’s capital. It will be an asset not only to the school and the students, but to the whole school community.”
