Diversity and Disability Alliance

It's a wrap! What a year it's been! Let's take some time out to rest and relax. Our office will be closed from this afternoon and re-open on 2 January 2024.

See you in 2024, re-energised for another amazing year!

Read about CDAH and Diversity and Disability Alliance joint peer research project in the British Medical Journal.

This is HUGE! Congratulations to our peer research team, and all involved :-)

bmjopen.bmj.com

On 28 November, we hosted our Intro to Peer Support Training in Newcastle!

We met with a large group from MAX Solutions, with Naomi from CDAH supporting us. We were nervous at first, but fortunately, we met with people who were very kind, patient, welcoming and curious to learn. We had some great discussions about peer support, and we enjoyed meeting with our peers in Newcastle.

If you are from the Newcastle area and are interested in peer support, feel free to get in touch with us! We’re open to exploring what’s possible up there particularly for peers from culturally diverse backgrounds.

@ Diversity and Disability Alliance

International Day of People with Disability is about promoting the rights and wellbeing of people with disability in civil society. Our event was a day where we, as a community came together to reflect on the barriers and opportunities in society, that either hinder or progress the realisation of our equal rights.

We had peer talks, a panel discussion and some networking. Everyone was open to learning from each other, and particularly learning from the experts in the room, people with lived experience of disability from diverse background.

Great discussions to kick-start positive changes to our communities!

Thanks to all involved in making our event a success 🙌✨️

Today, December 3 is International Day of People with Disability.

is an opportunity to challenge bias perceptions and attitudes about disability to create inclusive and diverse communities.

One of the ways we can do this is by making space for people with disability to share their stories and lived experiences. Taking into account the expertise of people with disability is essential in creating positive change.

Nothing without us.

Share what means to you below, help break down barriers and spread messages of disability inclusion.

Happy International Day of People with Disability!

Join us as we come together to celebrate International Day of People with Disability 2023.

Hear peers share their lived experience, and speak about barriers to inclusion and the social model of disability.

The event will include a panel discussion and peer talks, with opportunities to learn more and ask questions during lunch and networking.

To register click this link https://tinyurl.com/acvd46eb or call DDA on 02 9030 3350

Text from flyer: D + DA. Diversity and Disability Alliance.

To register: https://tinyurl.com/acvd46eb

International Day of People with Disability

Tuesday 5 December 10:30am – 1:30pm.

Fairfield Youth & Community Centre

55 Vine St, Fairfield

Join us to reflect and celebrate this important day with your peers and allies!

For more info, please contact us:

Phone: 02 9030 3350 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ddalliance.org.au

Facebook:

Today peers from DDAlliance attended a community expo held by the City of Ryde Council.

The importance of sharing our work and what we do here at DDA in the community, is something we don't take for granted and we value opportunities we receieve to do so..

We thank City of Ryde Council for supporting us to share what we do, and look forward to bringing back peer support to the peers of Ryde local goverment area.

Our President, Ibby and Vice President Pauline, are at the Future Path Expo, run by Lebanese Muslim Association in collaboration with CORE Community Services and Liverpool City Council.

It provides an opportunity for school leavers, and those that work in the education industry to learn more about peer support, and the important work that we do.

Image Description || Pauline and Ibby are wearing their D+DA shirts and smiling towards the camera. In front of them is a table with an assortment of different D+DA group papers. The DDA logo is shown in front. Behind them are a different rows of different tables from other organisations. || Image Description

Our peer, Nidhi, will be sharing her lived experience as a person with disability being vision impaired

Tune in from 6pm tonight, Link below:

Listen live to Vision Australia radio | Vision Australia Radio

Yesterday our peers from the Eastern Suburbs Peer Café and the Chinese Disability Support Group came together to promote peer support at the St George Migrant Information Day in Hurstville.

DDA connected with local community members who were keen to work with us.

We encourage our peers to go out into your communities and talk about the importance of peer support.

Let’s get the conversations happening!

The 2023 Referendum – the Voice to Parliament Referendum

Diversity and Disability Alliance Position Statement

Diversity and Disability Alliance supports people with disability from diverse backgrounds to have voice, choice and control over our own lives while working together towards the realisation of equal human rights. We believe that people with disability from diverse backgrounds, are the experts in our lives. Therefore, we also believe that First Nations people are the experts in their lives too and should be involved and have a say on the issues that impact on them.

The 2023 Referendum is an opportunity to vote to add a new chapter to the Constitution in recognition of First Nations People. It will establish an independent body called the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice’. This will make sure that First Nations People will always have an opportunity to be involved and have a say on the issues that impact on their lives.

The values that underpin our work is very much in line with what this current referendum is aiming to achieve for First Nations People.

This is why peers at Diversity and Disability Alliance vote ‘YES’ in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

A tip shared by one of our peers at DDAlliance:



If you identify as a person with hidden disability:

When taking public transport, wearing a sunflower lanyard can let staff know that you identify as a person with hidden disability (e.g. identify as neurodiverse, experience anxiety, etc.). Staff will then know to provide you with specific support if you require.



Read more here:
https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/extra-support-for-hidden-disabilities?fbclid=IwAR2a0Q4wlla34uR4Ca2-QDlNaTKyJ2di8tHiil76wKDq2VNG9IoP9nBjQtM

Extra support for hidden disabilities Some disabilities are hard to see, be seen with a Sunflower

The Disability Royal Commission final report has just been released.

We are so grateful to peers, their families as well as the broader disability community for sharing your personal experiences and making such important contributions to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and our right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Peers at DDAlliance will soon hold a Peer2Peer Cafe based on the final report of the Disability Royal Commission. Watch this space for more information.

https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report?fbclid=IwAR1E9EXoCPfPrWlomQgAiQ3b2x7zAfYMIko9dVW1l_h8-y8-8b5BLhikB5s

Final Report The Royal Commission has made 222 recommendations on how to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Diversity and Disability Alliance peers Julie Ibby and Pauline attended able.plus Able Meet event today at Bankstown Sports.

It was a great opportunity to share the work we do with local disability organisations in the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area.

We thank Ian from Able+ for having us!

DDAlliance congratulates all finalists of this years ADSCA awards, but a HUGE shout out goes to our peer George Ayoub, and our staff member Tammy Burnstock, co-founders of Solution Ideas, supported by Diversity and Disability Alliance.

Solution Ideas has been nominated an ADSCA award for Best Community Program.

ADSCA is the Australian Disability Service Conference and Awards, hosted by One Community. It recognises excellence and innovation in the disability service sector across Australia.

To find out more about this project, check out the information on the website link below ⬇️

https://ddalliance.org.au/circle-of-support/

Yesterday was International Day of Sign Languages, and the theme is "a world where Deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere".

We asked our peer Lisa, who regulary joins our CALDeaf peer cafe, to share what a world where Deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere, looks like to her.

"It’s a world where deaf and deafblind people can meet up for catch up, get information or news directly in deaf social events such as CALDeaf Cafe, where churches and schools imbed Auslan into their curriculum and teachings. Peer support is available as it important for positive guidance to create a healthy safe space, improves mental health for positive benefits to accept an identity, to be proud for being Deafblind"

For more information about our CALDeaf peer cafe, click on the youtube link below ⬇️

https://youtu.be/IminH-bQw74?feature=shared

Phone ☎️ 0401 375 253 (SMS)
Email ✉️ [email protected]
Website 🖥 www.ddalliance.org.au

CALDeaf Network A video about our CALDeaf Network

Call out to peers in Newcastle, the Hunter and Central Coast!

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, 4 October, as we explore peer support together!

This FREE event is for local peers (people with disability from multicultural backgrounds) and their family members.

Please share. To register, scan the QR code or contact us.

More info: This fun, interactive session will go through all the basics of peer support, including:

· What is peer support
· What peer support can do for you
· Building the peer movement in your own community
· Skills you need to be an awesome peer supporter!

Hosted by peers (people with disability) from Diversity and Disability Alliance and the Community Disability Alliance Hunter.

Places are limited, you don’t want to miss out!

Date: Wednesday, 4 October

Time: 10am to 4pm

Location: CDAH Office, 202 King St, Newcastle


Call/SMS details

Andrew: 0401 375 253 or [email protected]

Catherine: 0434 423 331 or [email protected]

The Diversity and Disability Alliance team are at Ashfield Town Hall today from 11 AM - 2 PM for the Disability Pride event, run by Disability Pride Sydney.

Image Description || four seated people are smiling towards the camera. In front of them is a table with a table cloth that reads " D+DA" with a sub heading that reads "Diversity and Disability Alliance" beneath. There are an assortment of paperworks and drinks on the table. || Image Description

Today 14 September is R U OK Day

R U OK? contributes to su***de prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues - to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they're in crisis.

We all have a role to play in looking out for those we care about at home, work or in our community.

R U OK? has translated key resources you can use, if you or someone you know would prefer information in a language other than English.

Ask, 'are you OK?' Because a conversation could change a life.

R U OK? CALD translated resources R U OK? is helping to protect all Australian's from su***de, and life changing conversations can happen in any language. Supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, the R U OK? Conversation guides and resources are translated into languages other than English.

Ibby and some of the DDA crew will be at Disability Pride Sydney being held at Ashfield Town Hall this Saturday 16 September. If you're free come and say hi!

Introducing our panellist - Abrahim Darouiche✨
Being diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder at the age of 5, he started to using a powered wheelchair from the age of 15. He is the President of Diversity and Disability Alliance and he is passionate about helping our community to be more accessible for people with disabilities.
Join Disability Pride to hear his stories! Link in bio 🔗

Today, the team at DDAlliance was part of the 'Towards Inclusion: Northern Sydney Multicultural Disability Expo & Panel Discussion'.
Through our stall, we got to meet community members and connect with new allies.
We led themed talks, where peers shared their lived experiences of everyday barriers and opportunities to real inclusion. We co-facilitated and were part of the panel that explored cultural attitudes and perceptions of disability. Here, we also discussed ways that we could work together to support a community that leaves no one behind.

A fun and thought-provoking day!

DDAlliance peers came together for a film making workshop celebrating their love of COSPLAY by working on a short film, - The True Story of Cosplay.

Watch this space for the finished film ready soon!

As peers, we believe in a more inclusive society for everyone. This also means political inclusion and active citizenship.

Below are some useful resources that promote inclusive voting in Australia

You can now access these resources in a number of community languages. Click on the link below to find out more.

https://www.lwb.org.au/news/promoting-accessible-resources-for-inclusive-voting-in-australia/?fbclid=IwAR0Cr2oTLyXNuBGNuliBH3m-fOgjFils-gcUvrWwTmoHbl2xAWeUZLO3mBc

Promoting accessible resources for inclusive voting in Australia | Life Without Barriers Translations in Auslan, Easy English, and Plain Language about the upcoming referendum have been released.

Expressions of Interest

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

Are you a person with disability living, working or studying in Ryde?

Would you like the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills,
have fun and connect with your local community?

City of Ryde is looking for volunteers with disability to join them for a number of events from November 2023 to January 2024.

You will have the opportunity to volunteer at different events during Social Inclusion Week, 16 Days of Activism, International Day of People with Disability and many more.

Please follow the link below or scan the QR code to register your interest.

Registration closes on Friday 22 September 2023.

For more information, please contact Community Development Team via
[email protected] or call 9952 8222.

www.surveymonkey.com/r/EOI_SIV

Towards Inclusion: Northern Sydney Multicultural Disability Expo and Panel Discussion

DDAlliance peers will be presenting and involved in a panel discussing experiences on barriers and opportunities for social inclusion.

Listen to peers share their journeys and lived experiences; raising awareness about barriers and opportunities that people with disability face as we work towards achieving full inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of civil society.

Topics include: advocacy, transport, employment, further / tertiary education, art, housing, community, supports beyond the NDIS, leading my life, faith and belonging at church and transport.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday 30 August 2023
Time: 10am - 2:30am
Cost: Free
Location: Crows Nest Centre
Address: 2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest.

Light refreshments provided.

To book yourself a spot click the link below to register, or scan the QR code in the flyer above. Please note spaces are limited for Peer Talks.

https://events.humanitix.com/north-sydney-multicultural-disability-expo

We look forward to seeing you there!

- The Team at DDAlliance

North Sydney Council
Crows Nest Centre
Uniting NDIS Local Area Coordination
GambleAware NSW
Carer Gateway
Lower North Shore Multicultural Network
The Benevolent Society
YourSide
Mission Australia

Political Inclusion National Summit 2023

• Are you a person with intellectual or cognitive disability? Are you a supporter or an advocate?

• Do you want to help make politics and voting more incusive for people with cognitive disability?

• The National Summit is two days of meetings to talk about inclusion and plan for the future.

► Dates: 14-15 August, 2023
► Time: 11am-4pm AEST (both days)
► Two days, online, in plain and easy language Tickets are free!

With speakers from:
Disability Royal Commission
Inclusion Australia
Deakin University
Rainbow Rights and Advocacy self advocacy group
VALID
Inclusion Design Lab
arUma
Microboards Australia
MittVal - (Sweden)... and more!

Get a ticket for each day you want to come:

For more information: Email [email protected] or call 0412 007 411

Register via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/political-inclusion-national-summit-2023-tickets-662203878627?fbclid=IwAR25E2TSZdW_olenAs_xR4MqwHSzlKR8zLx2_TIy_N4d8lIvQqDnl8X6mVY

Hosted by:
Inclusion Melbourne
University of Melbourne

Sponsors and partners:
VALID
arUma
Queenslanders with Disability Network
Deakin University
Carers Australia
Inclusion Australia
Rainbow Rights and Advocacy self advocacy group
Microboards Australia
MittVal (Sweden)... and more!

Circles of Support- Diversity and Disability Alliance offers free facilitation to support you to set up your own Circle

​“A Circle of Support is a group of people surrounding and supporting an individual to identify and fulfil their dreams and aspirations.” (Julie Magill)

We are a team of facilitators with lived experience of disability. We are here to support you with the decisions you make. Together with the people in your life who care about you. We will help you to start a Circle of Support for yourself, or for someone you know.

George, Julie, Phuong, Maina, Abrahim (Ibby) and Tammy

To find out about our Circles program and meet our team, visit https://ddalliance.org.au/circle-of-support/ or contact [email protected]

Our team at DDAlliance came together to update our resources on introduction to peer support.

We will be facilitating some introduction to peer support in the coming months.

Are you a person with disability or a family member from a diverse background and you would like more information, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or sending us a message via messenger, and a member of our team will get back to you.

Our Introduction to Peer Support training is starting soon…

Are you a person from a multicultural background with disability or a family member and interested to find out about peer support?

Come to the FREE Diversity and Disability Alliance peer support training! This training will be hybrid, which means you have the option to attend online or in-person!

The fun, interactive two-day-sessions will go through all the basics of peer support, including:

· What is peer support

· What peer support can do for you

· Building the peer movement in your own community

· Skills you need to be an awesome peer supporter!

Places are limited, you don’t want to miss out!


Dates: Wednesdays 6th and 13th September

Time: 11:30am-3:30pm

Online + In-person: Zoom video conference or DDAlliance office, Parramatta (details provided upon registration)

To register, fill out the online form; link here: https://forms.office.com/r/gHjCG51TMH

New to Zoom?

We have Zoom Guides available in Arabic, English, Khmer, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese. Click here to access them!


COVID-19 Safety

All in-person attendees will be required to complete a negative COVID-19 test and we strongly recommend the use of face masks.

Call/SMS Rhiannon on 0432 699 580

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.ddalliance.org.au

Register now or contact us to find out more!

City of Canterbury Bankstown has partnered up with People with Disability Australia to deliver information sessions as part of PWDA
Disability Advocacy Futures Program.

Learn about:
• Information – your rights and where you can get help
• Self-advocacy – ways you can solve your problem yourself
• Advocacy – working with you to help you solve your problem
Dicuss issues related but not limited to housing, health, education,
transport, justice, child protection and domestic violence.

When and where
Lakemba Library Friday 11 August, 11am-1pm
Riverwood Library Thursday 24 August, 2-4pm
Bankstown Library Saturday 26 August, 10am-noon
Chester Hill Library Monday 28 August, 10am-noon

Registration essential as refreshments will be
provided. *Limited spots* For further information or enquiries, call our Access and Inclusion Officer on
9707 9857 or visit cb.city/CommunityConversations

Please note that this program is not intended for NDIS providers or community workers.

Our Board members Ibby, Pauline and Mirella attended the Sydney Disability Expo today to connect and engage with organisations within our community to promote peer support and build on the peer movement.

NSW Ombudsman
Council for Intellectual Disability
Uniting NDIS Local Area Coordination

Diversity and Disability Alliance NEW website is now live❗️

Check it out here: https://ddalliance.org.au/

(Shout out to Black Velvet Cakes for the mini cupcakes, they were de-lish!) 🤤

On Wednesday, our second hybrid Peer2Peer Cafe was held at our office in Parramatta. Peers from DDA Women's Peer Group enjoyed getting together to discuss the cost of living; sharing experiences and exchanging ideas and tips on how to stretch the budget!

Got any tips of your own to share?
Feel free to drop it in the comments!

Tonight at 7.30pm, hear from our Circles facilitators, Julie, Maina and Phuong with the support of Tammy and the Vietnamese-speaking interpreter, Han, as they talk about what having a circle of support is all about. Hear their stories and experiences in the incredible work that they do.

Be sure to tune in. DONT MISS IT

https://www.youtube.com/live/yUAn1SxlAm0?feature=share

Listen to CripChat Australia : https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/drRP0KDABBb and tune in tonight at 7:30pm AEST on the topic of What a Circle of Support can do for you?

Across Australia this week, we stand in solidarity with our First Nations Members and community to celebrate NAIDOC week.
This year's theme is ‘For our Elders’. This is important as the struggles of our First Nations Elders help us move forward today. The equality we continue to fight for is found in their fight. Their tenacity and strength have carried the survival of First Nations people.
To our First Nations members, now is a great time to connect or reconnect with your elders and old people on country or in your local area.
The connection, guidance, and knowledge you could gain will help you make informed decisions this year and into the future.
We all have decisions to make, big and small, and everyone, including people with disabilities, has the right to make their own informed decisions.

learn more about events happening in Sydney this week here: https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events



[Image description:
Poster of 4 different Aboriginal Elders around the text 'for our Elders'. At the bottom of the poster the text say "For Our Elders, Bobbi Lockyer. Where there is knowledge there are our Elders. Our Elders paved the pathways for us, taught us our knowledge, our history, they passed down their art, stories and wisdom. Our Elders are the foundation of our communities and role models for our children. With this poster I wanted to showcase how important our Elders are in passing down traditions and culture to our children and future.”