Living Communities

Visit the People with Disabilities website for more information:

Social model of disability - People with Disability Australia Auslan video Audio description Related content About disabilityTrainingResearchProjectsAbout usContact us Latest news Have your say on the changes to the NDIS Thursday 11 July 2024 Joint Statement: Ten Organisations Call for People with Disability’s Access to NDIS Funded Sexuality Services to be P...

People with disability aren’t the problem – but they are the solution.
If disabled people had appropriate support and our society was built to be inclusive for disabled people, there would be no barriers to overcome, and they would be as capable as nondisabled people to live comfortable and fulfilled lives. Our society should be built with the assumption that disability is an expected part of human diversity and to be accommodating for that.
The problem is how inaccessible the modern world is for disabled people. That is what disables people.

Disability Pride Month is not as recognised here in Australia as it is in the US and the UK.
Australia has a greater percentage of disabled people (21%) than the US (13%) but they still struggle to be recognised and celebrated by the community.
It's up to us to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the diverse abilities of disabled people!

Wishing a big Happy Birthday to our fantastic CEO Ben Bullivant from all of us here at Living Communities!
We know how much you love Paw Patrol so hopefully this picture brings you a smile.
Wishing you all the joy for your special day as you bring to each of your staff members and participants all year round.
Thank you for the care you take to ensure everyone feels heard and valued.

The disabled community is reclaiming the word disabled. Words like differently-abled, special needs, handicapped and handi-capable, merely "sugarcoat" having a disability because it makes nondisabled people uncomfortable. This perpetuates the shame and stigma many disabled people feel.
“We just want to change the way people think about the word, and let them know that it’s OK to talk about and it’s OK to have a disability. Not only is it OK, but it's a good thing. My disability certainly brings some diversity to me, that I would be a different person without it.” - Kristen Aguirre
Together we can change the perceptions of what people think of when they think of disability and reduce the shame and discrimination that disabled people face. This is why disability pride is important.
Learn more about how to celebrate disability pride on:
https://youtu.be/LcdwSV-DwJo
and the article on:
https://bit.ly/4bIVbTG

https://youtu.be/LcdwSV-DwJo

#DWORD: Disability is not a bad word Disability Network Southwest Michigan (DNSWM) is proud to launch the campaign. This campaign aims to change the way our current culture views the word...

Let's celebrate Patty Morris-Banjo (of Kuku-Thaypan Yalanji people).
She was a part of the Stolen Generation but has found a pathway back to her cultural identity through dance. She thrived in ballet classes as a child with support from her foster mother but felt estranged from her white and non-deaf peers. Morris-Banjo later established the Deaf Indigenous Dance Group (DIDG) with her late friend Priscilla Seddon. The group has since performed across Australia at various festivals and competitions.
For more information, visit:
https://ab.co/4cxBOhE
&
https://bit.ly/3XZ55gD

Today, for NAIDOC Week, let's spotlight Cathy Freeman (of Kuku Yalanji and Birra Gubba people). She is an Olympic champion, and she has battled with chronic asthma since before her decorated athletic career.
"I feel like it's a shared accomplishment for our communities when we see us doing well, it makes us all proud." - Freeman says.
Over 2 million Australians are affected by asthma, leading to nearly 400 deaths annually. In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the rates of hospitalisation and mortality related to asthma are disproportionately elevated.

Disability Pride Month is important to show the strengths of disabled people and to abolish the shame and otherness they experience.
Despite being an Olympic medal-winner, Elizabeth Wright speaks about her struggles with her disability identity.

A few weeks ago, a stranger laughed at my disability. What I did next took me by surprise It might surprise you, but despite being a medal-winning Paralympian, I wasn’t always proud of my disability, writes national disability affairs reporter Elizabeth Wright.

Check out our column in the July issue of QNews Magazine (page 33) to learn more about our person-centred approach within Indigenous support.

Issue 549 FREE QUEENS BALL OLYMPICS QUEERSWICH All the award winners We profile q***r Ipswich’s annual from Brisbane's big Aussie athletes pride is back bigger night >10 competing in Paris >18 than ever >30 QUEENSLAND ISSUE 549 JULY 2024 DIDO &...

Next week is NAIDOC Week 🪃 (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee)
Starting this coming Sunday, NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
See the NAIDOC Week website for more information on how you can celebrate and get involved.
Learn more about our person-centred approach within Indigenous support, in this month's QNews Magazine.

Meet Tim Lachlan: the q***r Wheelchair Motocross athlete and occupational therapist.
Read about his incredible story in the latest issue of QNews Magazine or on the QNews website.

Wheelchair Motocross champ’s message to his q***r community When he’s not pulling backflips in the skate bowl in his Wheelchair Motocross (WCMX) wheelchair, you’ll find occupational therapist Tim Lachlan teaching others advanced mobility skills so they can overcome access barriers in daily life. Using his WCMX wheelchair, the 27-year-old can hop up or do...

https://www.nds.org.au/news/governments-ndis-annual-pricing-review-ripping-off-australians-with-disability-and-disability-servic

Government’s NDIS Annual Pricing Review ‘Ripping Off’ Australians with disability and disability services NDS are calling out the government’s Pricing Review for ‘ripping off’ Australians with disability and disability services across the country.

https://qnews.com.au/how-budgeting-helps-empower-people-living-with-a-disability/

How budgeting helps empower people living with a disability The team at Living Communities share how budgeting can empower people living with a disability. Looking after your finances and budgeting your money is an important way to ensure financial stability and empowerment. For those navigating disabilities, financial planning takes on added significance du...

Our latest article is out NOW in this month's issue of QNEWS.
The theme is the End of the Financial Year and offers insights into how you can get the most out of your resources.
Available as a physical copy at various LGBTQ+ friendly establishments and on the QNEWS website.

We are excited to share our latest project.
If you live on the Gold Coast, you may have seen the new bus featuring Living Communities branding, travelling around the city!
We hope this helps us reach anyone who might be in need of disability support services.
Give us a call on: 1300 670 540

We have just finished setting up for the Gold Coast Disability Expo!
Come see us and have a chat at Booth 39!
We are hosting a raffle for a FREE raffle at the event. The winner will receive a $100 JB Hi-Fi Gift Card. To enter, just us leave your name and contact details at our booth.
(winner drawn on Saturday 8/6/24)

The Gold Coast Disability Expo is a FREE event:
at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre,
Friday (7/6/24) and Saturday (8/6/24),
9am - 3pm on both days
(Quiet Hour is 9am - 10am on Saturday).

The Gold Coast Disability Expo is on TOMORROW!
If you missed out last time, don't worry! There will be more copies of "The Adventures of Grayson & Friends - ISSUE 1" available for FREE at our stall.
This is a FREE event open to everyone. It brings together a wide range of products and services to help disabled people live their best life.
- Friday 7th & Saturday 8th June
- 9am until 3pm
- at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre
- FREE

What a sensational event!
Here is a photo from our booth at the Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras last weekend. A huge thank you to the organisers for having us and everyone who came along and made the day special.

Only 3 sleeps until the Gold Coast Disability Expo!
Come along to this FREE event and visit our stall.
- Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of June,
- from 9am - 3pm,
- at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre

Come say hello and join us at the Gold Coast Disability Expo!
My Future, My Choice.
This is a FREE event running Friday the 7th and Saturday 8th of June, 9am-3pm, at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre.
We can't wait to see you there!

Join us TOMORROW for the Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras!
Let's come together to celebrate our incredible and diverse community!
Come say hello to our friendly team, at the Living Communities stall, on Saturday, June 1st, at Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast.
Family-friendly festivities from 5pm to 8:30pm.
Adult tickets are $15, and kid's tickets are $10 available on the Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras website.

This Saturday, June 1st, is the 2024 Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras!
We will be attending!
Come along and join us in celebrating the diversity of race, sexualities, and gender identities at this GLAM-STRAVAGANZA!
This vibrant festival will be family-friendly from 5pm to 8:30pm.
Hosted at Aussie World.
Adult tickets $15 and kids tickets $10.

Today is LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day ❤️‍🩹
It's in our control to end coercive control.
More than 60% of LGBTQ+ individuals are likely to encounter domestic, family, intimate partner violence and abuse during their lifetimes. Despite this, the victims often remain invisible due to extremely low reporting rates.
Visit the DVA Foundation website for resources if you need help:
https://www.dvafoundation.org/get-help/

May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) ✊🏳️‍🌈

Today is for raising awareness of LGBT rights violations and fighting for equality.
Go rainbow to signal your stance against LGBTQIA+ discrimination 🏳️‍🌈

For more information, visit:
https://www.idahobit.org.au/

🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Check out this interview from the Disability Connection Expo! We discuss the launch of the new comic book and future plans for the project.

Interview with Benjamin (CEO) and Leif (Graphic Designer) Interview at Developing Australian Communities Brisbane Expo 2024. Mike talks with Benjamin and Leif about Living Communities and the Launch of our Comic ser...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-01/draft-national-autism-strategy-released/103654488?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web

Autistic people die 20 years earlier than the rest of Australia. Can a national plan turn that around? The federal government has released a draft of its national autism strategy, which aims to improve life outcomes for autistic Australians.

Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day.

To kick off Autism Awareness Month right, today is World Autism Awareness Day! 🧩

People with autism come in all shapes and colours. They have different strengths and different challenges.
We should take some time to better understand our friends with autism and help them feel respected and valued.

Not all disability is visible.

Home Contact Us Contact Us Founded in 2020 About Us Living communities is for people with disabilities where we aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where these individuals can receive the necessary services and support to lead fulfilling lives. Living Communities emphasises independence...