Tim Marks, PDA TAS Director, recently had his beach wheelchair delivered.
In this 2 part video on PDA’s YouTube channel, he shows just how easy it is to use, put together and dismantle.
Did you miss our recent webinar presented by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or do you just want to watch it again?
Well you’re in luck because it’s now available to view on the PDA YouTube channel.
Presented by Director of Engagement, Fran Vicary, this webinar talks about the role of the Commission, its mission to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services and the rights of an NDIS participant. Thank you to Fran Vicary and the the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for presenting this important and informative event.
Whether you’re currently accessing the NDIS, a service provider, working in the disability sector or just interested to learn about the Commission, this webinar will give you a comprehensive insight into the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
You can view it by going to:
Whilst you’re there make sure that you subscribe to our YouTube channel.
We hope that you find this webinar informative and encourage you to fill in our short survey. It will only take you a few minutes and will greatly assist us to bring you more webinars in the future.
To access the survey, please go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2JV7MFB
PDA’s Ambassador, Dinesh Palipana OAM, helped to narrate this piece that recently awarded a Special Prize on Health Innovation in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s “The Health For All” Film Festival.
The Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures team submitted a documentary about the incredible work being done to improve accessibility and inclusion through technological advances and retraining society’s views.
A great watch. Congratulations to all those involved.
You are invited to PDA’s next informative webinar, “NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission: what does it do for you?” on Wednesday March 23rd 2022:
6pm NSW/VIC/TAS/ACT
5:30pm SA
5pm QLD
4:30pm NT
3pm WA
Captioning and Auslan will be available for those who require it. Please email promotion@pda.org.au if you would like to access these services.
In her role as Director Engagement, Fran Vicary will talk about the role of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, its mission to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services and your rights as an NDIS participant.
Whether you’re currently accessing the NDIS, a service provider, working in the disability sector or just interested in learning about the Commission, make sure that you join us for this very worthwhile webinar.
If you have a question that you’d like Fran to answer, please email promotion@pda.org.au or ask a question via the online chat during the webinar.
To register go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZFpu_SJLSrqFyHIu4Mfw7A
Please feel free to share this invitation with others in your network. You do not need to be a PDA Member to attend. However, if you’re interested in signing up for our FREE membership, you can join our community by going to:
pda.org.au/membership/
Thank you to Fran Vicary and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for presenting this important and informative event.
LifeRAT (http://liferat.com.au) is a community group recently brought together to provide FREE Rapid Antigen Tests to Australia’s disabled community, and to overcome cost and supply issues and the difficulties and concerns experienced by PWD in trying to access RATs.
PDA’s Ambassador, Dinesh Palipana OAM, in conjunction with Scott, Tim and Tyler from Able Digital Wellness (http://abledigitalwellness.com.au) and Rob from Lovehoney (www.lovehoney.com.au), put together this project to ensure that people with disability are provided with free RAT testing so that they “can get back to living”.
Supported by partners that include Australia Post and Mainfreight, people with disability can register to take part in this incredible project by going to:
http://liferat.com.au
As part of his logistic involvement in the project, Lovehoney’s Rob is also interested in employing people with disability to be involved in the distribution of the RATs.
If you are a person with disability looking for employment and you’d like to be involved, please email Rob directly via rob.godwin@lovehoney.co.uk.
Rob has been doing a lot of work on inclusion with Lovehoney, including his involvement with ambassadors Dylan Alcott and Chantelle Otten Sex Therapist.
For more information go to:
www.abledgitalawareness.com.au/about-us/
Whether you’ve experienced issues voting remotely or in physically accessing polling stations (such as available disability parking, building access), availability of accessible polling booths for wheelchair users and those requiring other assistance (eg. Braille, Easy English, sensory requirements), PDA wants to hear from you.
With your help we hope to improve accessibility in Australian elections, so that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to participate in the same way as everyone else.
In a democratic society, voting is something that is generally taken for granted. However, for an increasing number of people with physical disabilities, local accessibility to vote is not guaranteed.
Following the announcement of an election, a list of polling places are made available by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Within this list, each polling place is given a rating around accessibility to assist people with disabilities or mobility restrictions (i.e. wheelchair accessible, assisted wheelchair access, or not wheelchair accessible).
However, previously available statistics taken from this list showed that of the expected polling places outlined on the AEC website, as few as 3% of polling places will be fully accessible at the next Federal election.
These grossly inadequate numbers contravene the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 which states that electors are entitled to vote on election day at any polling place in their electorate.
So why should this inexcusably inadequate availability of accessible polling booths be tolerated?
Why should people with mobility disabilities be given no option but to travel (often long distances) outside of their local areas to vote or be compelled to vote outside polling stations or lodge their votes via post or telephone?
All Australians should be given the opportunity to engage in our democratic processes equally and with fair consideration.
We really want to hear about your personal experiences in voting at Australian elections (whether local, state or Federal) so that we can have a better understanding as to whether or not enough is being done to make our elections accessible.
We’ve put together a QUICK but IMPORTANT survey around this issue and encourage you all to participate, so that we can ensure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process.
Please go to the link below and take part in the survey BY 5PM AEDT MONDAY 14th MARCH 2022 and let’s make sure that everyone’s votes are counted at our upcoming elections.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JVYDNNG
Today, on International Women’s Day, PDA’s SA Associate Director Krystal Matthews’ NDIS story has just been shared.
“There are a lot of different issues that affect women with disabilities and there are a lot of particular issues that affect parents who have disabilities.
It’s not easy, it’s not easy for anyone to be a mother, but the fact of me having a disability does not make me a bad mother.”
Check it out:
Today is International Women’s Day – a day for women (and men) worldwide to combine voices and share the message of equal rights for women.
Everyone has the right to be recognised equally without distinction or discrimination of any kind.
“Women’s rights are human rights!”
This very important day highlights the celebration of all women, in all their diversities – embracing all facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity or disability.
Today is a celebration of all women who came before us, those with whom we now stand united and for those who will follow us.
Throughout history, women have come together to protest against the injustices they’ve faced, to support other women and to advocate for their rights and equality.
Since the establishment of International Women’s Day on the 8th March 1975, women have used this day of recognition to come together in solidarity to celebrate the achievements of women and to step on the discrimination, harassment and systemic barriers to equality and truly untethered success.
For more information head to:
www.iwda.org.au/take-action/international-womens-day/
Well worth the read.
www.tasmaniantimes.com/2022/03/international-womens-day-for-a-woman-with-disability/
Written by and starring Melanie Hawkes (and her dog Upton)
Growing up with three younger brothers, my parents were busy all the time. I either had to learn to do things for myself, or wait a while for someone to help me – not ideal. With hands like mine, sometimes it was a challenge to find ways to do things, but it has made me more independent. There’s no better feeling than being able to achieve something previously thought impossible.
I only have the ability to bend my little finger on each hand, but can grip things between some fingers as well. Tasks I can do include feed myself with ordinary cutlery, write, type, knit, cross-stitch and prune my bonsais with scissors. What I can’t do with one hand I can usually do with the other, and if not, I use my teeth. ** Disclaimer: don’t try this at home. I look after my teeth by flossing and brushing every day and regularly visiting my dentist. **
Here are some videos of me doing some everyday tasks. It might be slow and frustrating to watch, but I am proud that I can do these things when nobody is around to ask for help.
You can watch my videos below or by going to the PDA YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMyTzhTbs2oLH-WZR18zX2Q). Whilst you’re there please check out our other videos and subscribe.
I hope that you enjoy watching my videos.
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