DSA Director finalist for Western Australian of Year

Down Syndrome Australia News

1 May 2017

Congratulations to our DSA Board Member Catia Malaquias for being a finalist in the Western Australian of the Year awards. Catia is a long standing advocate for inclusive education and representation of people with a disability in the media and advertising.

Catia has made an important contribution to the representation of people with disability in mainstream advertising through her organisation Starting with Julius. She has worked with large Australian retail giants including Target and Kmart to ensure that their advertising is representative of Australians including Australians with a disability. She has also worked tirelessly to achieve recognition of the evidence-based benefits in student outcomes of students with disabilities being educated together with their same-age peers including through her work as co-founder of the School Inclusion Parent Network (SIPN).

We are very fortunate to have Catia as a board member and congratulate her on this honour.

Image description: Photo of Catia and son, Julius,
Playing with dinosaurs, taken at Target Australia
photoshoot.

Australia Day award

Congratulations, Robert Strike, on your award, and on your leadership.

Robert Strike appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for disability advocacy
Heath Parkes-Upton, Parramatta Sun, 26 January 2017

Born with multiple physical and intellectual disabilities, Robert Strike was told as a child that he would never lead a full life. 

The Merrylands man has always loved to prove people wrong. 

On Australia Day, the 59-year-old was appointed a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia, reward for a lifetime of advocacy for people with a disability ...

Photographers: My Perspective 2017 entries are open

Entries are now open for the annual UK competition for photographers with Down syndrome, My Perspective, and close on 28 April 2017. The competition is hosted by the Down's Syndrome Association in London and is open to international entries.

These articles are about two previous My Perspective award winners:

• My Perspective winner featured in travel company advert - David Kenward who won the My Perspective photographic competition in 2015 has been featured in an advertising campaign from travel company Expedia.

• Carlos Biggeman muestra el cielo en sus fotos únicas - the article is from the Bolivian newspaper El Deber, but even if you do not speak Spanish, it worth looking at the photo of Carlos's work in his latest exhibition in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Carlos Biggeman, originally from Bolivia, now lives in New Zealand, and was the winner of the 2016 My Perspective award for international entries.

Australian Human Rights Awards 2016

The Human Rights Awards is the pinnacle of human rights recognition in Australia. 2016 is the 30th anniversary since the establishment of the Australian Human Rights Commission, provided an excellent opportunity to celebrate the significant milestones in human rights advancements made over the past 30 years. The Awards ceremony was held in Sydney on Friday 9 December.

Several people with disability and organisations serving them won awards and were finalists. The full list of award winners is here:

Community Organisations Award - Bus Stop Films. For approximately 8 years, Bus Stop Films has provided film studies and film-making opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as advocating for inclusion in the film industry.

• Bus Stop Films takes out Human Rights Award, Inside Film, 14 December 2016

Business Award: Joint winners - Lendlease, Westpac, and the Australian Network on Disability,  a collaboration that led to the Design for Dignity guidelines which incorporate accessibility and were implemented at Barangaroo Tower Two.

Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award, for an individual with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community - Jane Rosengrave, a proud Yorta Yorta woman with intellectual disability and a passionate advocate for people with disability. She has worked in Disability Support for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, speaking up at the Royal Commission. Jane recently appeared on Lateline (ABC TV).

NSW Council on Intellectual Disability posted a photo of Jane with her award today, commenting:

With this year’s Human Rights Day theme of “stand up for someone’s rights today” we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to win the 2016 Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award as Jane Rosengrave! 

Jane has raised awareness of the abuse and discrimination people with disability face by sharing her own story and we say a big congratulations to Jane for winning this award and for her dedication to human rights at the community level!

Catia Malaquias, a disability advocate, lawyer, mum of three and a director of Down Syndrome Australia and the Attitude Foundation was a finalist for the Tony Fitzgerald award. She founded the Starting with Julius project which aims to transform cultural attitudes towards people with disability, by promoting disability inclusion in mainstream media, advertising and education.

10th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations General Assembly

Next week marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations General Assembly. The ground-breaking convention set basic norms, frameworks for measuring progress, and reporting requirements for the political, social, and economic inclusion of the 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide — and has now been ratified by 170 countries. 

The past decade has seen real achievements in disability inclusion, with the incorporation of disability rights into the Sustainable Development Goals and other international accords, the creation of national action plans for disability inclusion, the adoption of dedicated funding streams by numerous donors, and a heightened awareness of the importance of disability inclusion ... Devex, 9 December 2016

• Celebrating 10 Years of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – CRPD10

2016 National Disability Award Winners

The winners of the 2016 National Disability Awards were announced at a function in Canberra last night.

Media Release by the Hon Jane Prentice MP, 7 November 2016

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, Jane Prentice has announced this year’s National Disability Awards winners at a gala ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra tonight. 

Mrs Prentice congratulated the 10 winners noting that they have all made a remarkable effort to improve the lives of people with disability. 

“These passionate and hardworking people and organisations have been recognised for their commitment and contribution to achieving greater inclusion and accessibility for people with disability,” she said. 

“The National Disability Awards, now in their 10th year, are an excellent opportunity to honour and recognise the hard work and achievements of every day Australians who are making a real difference to the lives of people with disability.” 

This year’s winners demonstrate a range of outstanding achievements including:

• long-term advocates in social justice, equality and rights for people with disability;

• the development of innovative technology that has the ability to bring function to paralysed or damaged hands; 

• a program that gives people with disability the chance to experience scuba diving in the comfort of their own local pool; and

• a community that strives to make its town more accessible.

The 10 Award winners were chosen across eight Award categories drawn from a field of more than 120 nominations. 

“I would like to thank all the winners for the remarkable work being done to break down barriers faced by people with disability and to make Australia a more inclusive society,” Mrs Prentice said. 

The National Disability Awards are a major part of the Commonwealth Government’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability, marked on 3 December each year.

World Down Syndrome Day 2017: theme announced

From Down Syndrome International:

The theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2017 has been announced: #MyVoiceMyCommunity – Enabling people with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to be fully included in the community.
Tuesday 21 March 2017 marks the 12th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day.

Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

In 2017, we will focus on enabling people with Down syndrome (and those who advocate for them) to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to ensure that they can be included, on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

Working with our global network, the campaign will:

• Explain why it is important for people with Down syndrome and their advocates to speak up and influence local, national, regional and international policy makers. 
• Explain what the key policies are which affect the lives of people with Down syndrome and how they can ensure full society inclusion if implemented. 
• Explain how advocates can get involved – from media campaigns to direct political advocacy. 
• Explain how to empower people with Down syndrome (and those supporting them) to advocate for themselves and provide accessible tools to facilitate this. 

We will be encouraging people with Down syndrome to say #MyVoiceMyCommunity and we will ask everyone to respond to our call by sharing and showing the world how people with Down syndrome participate in the community alongside everyone else. You can take part simply by sharing details of WDSD activities or by photos, messages, quotes or in any way you choose, using the hash tag #MyVoiceMyCommunity as well as #WDSD17.

Our WDSD Global Video Event and WDSD Conference will both explore this important area of focus.

Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the world to choose your own activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

We can share your WDSD World Events before 21 March and your WDSD Stories after 21 March on our dedicated WDSD website in a single global meeting place.

World Down Syndrome Day AwardsDown Syndrome International (DSi) announces awards in voluntary, professional and scientific categories to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March. Going forward, the WDSD Awards will be presented every 3 years, with the next announcement on 21 March 2017.

Please email wdsd@ds-int.org to receive nomination forms and criteria.

NSW Disability Industry Innovation Awards

The NSW Disability Industry Innovation Awards are an initiative of the NSW Government in partnership with National Disability Services (NDS). The Awards were initially launched in 2012 and have been well received and supported by the disability sector for four consecutive years. Following the success of the Awards over the past years, NDS is pleased to call for nominations for the NSW Disability Industry Innovation Awards program for 2017.

The Awards formally recognise and reward excellence and innovation demonstrated by people, groups and organisations that make a difference in the lives of people with disability. The purpose of these Awards is to celebrate outstanding achievements made by non-government, community-based organisations and individuals working in the industry.

Nominations for 2017 awards close 21 November 2016.

All information about categories and the nomination process is here. Easy English and Accessible documents are available.

Calling all writers with a disability

Telescope is an annual writing prize for writers with a disability. It is run by Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre.

Who can enter?

• Anyone with a disability can enter. There are sections for:
• Adults (over 18 years of age)
• Young writers (12-17 years of age)
• Groups

What can you submit?

• There are three categories in Telescope:
• Non-fiction: Including autobiography, essay, historical writing etc.
• Fiction: A short story or part of a novel
• Poetry: For all the poets out there!

Entries close 17th October 2016

You will find further information and an entry form on the Scope Australia website, here.

National Disability Awards Finalists 2016 announced

Message from Karni Liddell, 2016 Patron International Day of People with Disability.

Congratulations to all the finalists in this year’s National Disability Awards.  These Awards recognise the achievements of people and organisations that have improved the lives of people with disability. This year is the 10th anniversary of the Awards and what an outstanding group of people and organisations have taken part. 

Finalists announced for the 10th National Disability Awards

22 September 2016

The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, today announced the 22 finalists in this year’s National Disability Awards.

Now in its 10th year, the Awards recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals, businesses and local governments to improve the lives of people with disability.

The National Disability Awards are held each year in the lead up to International Day of People with Disability on 3 December. This year, there were 129 nominations across eight categories.

Achievements by finalists include:

Developing innovative, attractive and educational web and sound applications, tools and programs that enable children with vision impairment to acquire essential digital skills.
Creating inclusive opportunities for people with disability, injury or medical condition to experience freedom of movement in a weightless environment.
Raising the profile of justice issues faced by people with disability.
Increasing participation in and access to the arts for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Facilitating employment opportunities for people with disability.

“As a nation that prides itself on supporting the development of an inclusive society, I am proud to see the commitment and significant contributions made by our finalists over the last 10 years,” Mrs Prentice said.

“There have been some outstanding achievements made by those nominated this year, and it is important that we recognise their accomplishments as they raise awareness of issues facing people with disability and their carers.

The Awards’ eight categories celebrate best practice by recognising the valuable contribution individuals, organisations and initiatives have made to improve the lives of people with disability.

In 2016, Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Lesley Hall Leadership Award*
Employer of the Year Award
Excellence in Community Partnerships
Excellence in Inclusive Community Design
Excellence in Inclusive Service Delivery
Excellence in Technology
Excellence in Education and Training
Excellence in Justice and Rights Protection.

“To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the National Disability Awards, I encourage all Australians to look to the achievements of our disability champions spanning the past decade and learn how we can work together to reduce social discrimination, to innovate and to bring about change for people with disability.

“I am confident that the work of our National Disability Award finalists will inspire others to realise the importance of making our communities more inclusive.”

The 2016 National Disability Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on Monday, 7 November at Parliament House in Canberra.

• The list of finalists is here.

2016 Trevor Parmenter Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2016 Trevor Parmenter Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jim Simpson, Senior Advocate with NSW Council on Intellectual Disability on 29 August 2016 at the University of Sydney

The award recognises his longstanding contribution as an advocate in improving the lives of people with intellectual disability, especially in the areas of health, mental health and justice.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises a lifetime contribution to improving he life of people with disabilities in regards to:

• Systems Change

• Transfer of knowledge

• Advocacy

• Any other relevant areas ... Centre for Disability Studies, University of Sydney

Jim Simpson is a highly regarded, highly skilled advocate for people with intellectual disability. Down Syndrome NSW joins in congratulating him on this well deserved recognition of his work over many years.

News from Down Syndrome Education International (2)

Professor Sue Buckley receives Education Award from National Down Syndrome Congress Down Syndrome Education International, 24 July 2016
DSE’s Director of Science and Research, Professor Sue Buckley OBE, has been presented with the National Down Syndrome Congress’ Education Award for her work improving education for children with Down syndrome.

Professor Sue Buckley OBE was presented with the National Down Syndrome Congress’ Education Award “for improving the lives of children with Down syndrome by developing innovative research-based education techniques.”

The award was presented at the Opening Plenary Session of the National Down Syndrome Congress’ 44th Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Presenting the award, NDSC’s President, Marilyn Tolbert, recognized Sue’s distinguished career serving people with Down syndrome and their families worldwide through research and support services, including the earliest research showing children with Down syndrome could learn to read and – more recently – the first randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention designed for children with Down syndrome ... read more here.

Arts news (1): vote for short films; perform or present at conference

From 'About' Focus on Ability Short Film Festival:

For the 8th consecutive year NOVA Employment is running the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival. The festival is aimed at raising awareness of the abilities of people with a disability. 

This year we aim it to be the biggest yet with all films entered to really showcase extremely talented people with disabilities. With over $100,000 worth of cash and prizes to be won this is a highly contested competition.

The theme for the competition asks film makers to 'Focus on the Ability' of people with a disability.

• Films open for viewing and voting on Wednesday 27 July 2016

• Follow Focus on Ability Short Film Festival on Facebook

2017 'Having a Say' Conference: EOI
Expressions of Interest to do a presentation or performance at the 2017 Having a Say Conference in Geelong are now open. Presentations and performances are to based on the conference theme: "Lead YOUR Life". If you would like an application please call the office on 9416 4003 or email: havingasay@valid.org.au

• All news about 'Having a Say' is posted to the conference Facebook page

Gymnastic champions at Trisome Games

Gymnastics Australia is keeping us up to date with the Australian gymnasts competing at the Trisome Games 2016 in Italy - and they are doing very well! Congratulations to you all!

Nicholas Zrnic won gymnastics gold for Australia
in the Trisome Games! Here he is pictured with his team mates
 Ashley Khule and Christopher Bunton, who also won medals. 

Beth Hull placed third overall in Rhythmic Gymnastics

Chris Bunton - silver in artistic gymnastics

• All gymnastics results

Thanks to Gymnastics Australia for permission to re-post their photos, and keeping us all informed.

2016 Trevor Parmenter Lecture and Awards

The 2016 Trevor Parmenter Lecture will be given by Professor Tim Stainton on the Nature and ethics of the growing trend towards the elimination of persons with disabilities. 

Visit the Centre for Disability Studies  website for more information, and to register for this event. 

Two awards will be presented:

The Lifetime Achievement Award will recognise a lifetime contribution to improving he life of people with disabilities.

The CDS Excellence Award will recognise contributions to research, education and teaching, advocacy, community contribution or clinical practice.

To nominate someone for one of these awards, complete the nomination form and include 2 peer testimonials before 24 July 2016. All applications will be reviewed by the CDS Selection Panel.

If you require any further information , or if you are having difficulties with the online form please contact CDS: cds@cds.org.au

2016 NSW Creative Achievement Awards

The New South Wales Creative Achievement Awards are a NSW Government initiative to recognise outstanding achievements that raise the global profile of NSW creative industries.

Winners will be announced at an industry event on 6 June 2016, during Vivid Sydney 2016.

Genevieve Clay-Smith, founder of Bus Stop Films,  is a finalist for the NSW Emerging Creative Talent Award:

Genevieve is a millennial with a portfolio career that spans the film industry, not for profit space and advertising. She is co-founder of Taste Creative, a creative agency based in Sydney and she is the co-founder and Executive Director of not for profit Bus Stop Films. She's an award-winning writer/director, was the 2015 NSW Young Australian of the year and winner of the 2014 100 Women of Influence, Young Leader award. She recently took out B and T's 2015 Women in Media award for creative and she has been named by MTV as one to watch.

Many people with Down syndrome work with Bus Stop Films, in all areas of film making.

2016 NSW Carers Awards

Nominations for the 2016 NSW Carers Awards are now open:

The NSW Carers Awards recognise the contribution unpaid carers make in our community and the important role they play for the people they care for. By nominating a carer you know, you are helping raise awareness of the challenges faced by carers while also celebrating their role. Applications will close at midnight on 10 July 2016

This year there will be 10 Awards in total, two for each category outlined below. One of the ten recipients will become the 2016 NSW Carer of the Year.

The graphics at the foot of the Care for a Carer awards page are the links to online nominations:

Nominations open for the National Disability Awards

2016 National Disability Awards

In 2016 we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Disability Awards.

The Awards are the Australian Government’s main celebration of International Day of People with Disability, aiming to honour and recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals, teams and organisations that have improved the lives of Australians with disability and contributed to increased recognition of equality and human rights for all Australians.

This year, nominations are being sought across eight categories that align to the key priority areas for action under the National Disability Strategy - employers, community partnerships, inclusive community design, technology, education and training and justice and rights protection.

Nominations close 5PM AEST, Thursday 30 June 2016.

• All details and links to nomination forms

Media award

CHILD Magazines won a number of international media awards at the Parenting Media Association Awards (US/Canada/Australia) last weekend, including:

GOLD AWARD:  Front Cover – May 2015 issue, CHILD

Congratulations to Karen Miles and the team at CHILD Magazines, and to cover model, Isabella.

You might like to re-visit the CHILD Magazine blog post about the photo shoot, and the article Danceability, from the May 2015 issue.

News from the wider disability community

Disability advocates say schools have an obligation to all students

ABC News online, 31st October 2015

Disability advocates say schools have an obligation to include all students, amid concern an autistic Hunter Valley boy was to be excluded from attending his Year 10 formal.

• Student with autism, Tyran Fennell, excluded from Year 10 formal and camp,  
  Gabriel Wingate-Pearse, Sydney Morning Herald, 31st October 2015

National Disability Awards finalists announced
The National Disability Awards recognise the valuable contribution organisations and people make to improving the lives of people with disability in Australia.

27 finalists have been selected for the 2015 National Disability Awards, from 200 nominations - they are listed here.

The National Disability Awards are part of the Commonwealth Government’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability.

The 2015 National Disability Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 25 November at Parliament House in Canberra.

Australian Cross Disability Alliance: new website

Screen shot of the ACDA home page

From the ACDA 'About' page:

The Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) is a coalition of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs), which are organisations run by and for people with disability. ACDA promotes and seeks to advance the human rights and freedoms of all people with disability in Australia. Our work is grounded in a normative human rights framework that recognises the United Nations human rights conventions and related mechanisms as fundamental tools for advancing the rights of people with disability in Australia and internationally. 

ACDA is the recognised nexus between government, people with disability and other stakeholders. Our key purpose is to promote, protect and advance the human rights and freedoms of people with disability in Australia by working collaboratively on areas of shared interests, purpose and strategic opportunity. 

One of ACDA's current campaigns is 'End the Violence', inviting you to urge your member of parliament to help end the violence against people with disability in Australia, by calling for:

• A Royal Commission into violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in Australia.
• An overhaul of the criminal justice system
• The establishment of an independent national statutory watchdog to protect, investigate and enforce findings regarding violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability

Cultural change needed to address barriers in investigating abuse of people with disability, Senate inquiry told
Nick Wiggins, ABC News, 16th October 2015
There are significant barriers to complaints of abuse and neglect of people with disability being reported or investigated, a Senate inquiry has heard ...

White Flower Memorial e-campaign
This is a site to remember ALL Australians with disabilities who have died from violence and neglect ...

The White Flower Memorial is an initiative of disability rights activists, including Board members of People with Disability Australia (PWDA) to offer remembrance and thanks for the lives of people with disability who have died. In doing so, we collectively throw a spotlight on murder, violence, neglect and other practices which devalue the lives of all of us. We assert the right to life and dignity of the person under article 10 of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability ...

Every day from October 27 until November 25, 2015, White Flower Memorial will remember a person or people with a disability who has died as a result of violence, neglect or abuse.

Congratulations Nathan Basha: Australian of the Year finalist

Australian of the Year Awards

Each year our nation celebrates the achievement and contribution of eminent Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards by profiling leading citizens who are role models for us all. They inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia ... 

... The prestigious year round program culminates in the announcement of the national award recipients in Canberra on Australia Day Eve.

Congratulations to Nathan Basha on being selected as a finalist for the NSW division of the Australian of the Year 2016 Awards, in the Young Australian of the Year category.  T This is Nathan's citation:

NSW State Finalist Young Australian of the Year 2016

Nathan Basha, Disability advocate

A social entrepreneur pushing boundaries, Nathan Basha is living proof that disability does not equal disabled. Nathan might happen to have Down syndrome but, as he says, “that’s not who I am”. As a motivational speaker, Nathan has presented at national and international conferences and political forums, universities and schools to share his insights into the possibilities when people are encouraged to reach their potential.  

An actor, university student, filmmaker and employee at Sydney’s NOVA radio station and Taste Creative, Nathan is also an ambassador for the Living Life My Way campaign. Through his social enterprise, NB* No Barriers, Nathan is focused on engaging with the corporate sector to change attitudes around employment for people with disability. He’s hosted workshops to inspire people with intellectual disability to find their dream job, teaching employment skills and the secrets to writing a super CV. 

 Just 10 per cent of people with intellectual disability are employed in Australia’s open labour market and Nathan is determined to smash this statistic while helping people live their dreams.

• NB* No Barriers 

• Previous posts to this blog, about Nathan Bash are here and here