You can see the conference here.
We were fortunate this year to attend the Having a Say Conference in Geelong and I was quite unprepared for the scope, the reach and the number of people who attend this event each year. It truly is a celebration of lives lived with difference and dignity. We attended with the crew from Parent to Parent and Allycia loved evey minute of this event. She participated in workshops, contributing to the Banner Art project, a mini olympics, a number of performances and we stepped out to the Red Faces Night at a local night club. The event culminated with a Flower Power themed Dinner and Dance at the Pier - 700 of us danced till we could dance no more. A number of guest speakers and organisations attended and several Art Prizes were awarded for outstanding work. Open mic sessions enable any and all attendees who wished to speak to take the stage and voice their opinions about many different facets of living with disability. The National Disability Insurance Scheme Tribe were there and distributed placards and T shirts to encourage solidarity and commitment in ensuring progress towards the Scheme maintains its momentum. Inspirational comes to mind when I think about the philosophy that underpins this conference however my challenge comes now as I embrace a young woman who has really taken to this idea of independence.....Yikes am I ready? Well I just need to be - Allycia has been inspired to think about how she might like to live her life, her way - complete with a discussion of the decor of her place when she feels she is ready to leave home and be independent - purple walls, red trim and black stars.........she has style!
You can see the conference here.
3 Comments
7/22/2013 10:06:54 pm
I heard about this wonderful event from my cousin as she was a part of this event last year. She was completely fascinated by the rhythm of this event and is compelling me to accompany her this year. I hope I will join you this time.
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AuthorsVeronica and Allycia share some thoughts, ideas and happenings - we'd love to hear some of yours...... Archives
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