international day of people with disability

With the upcoming International Day
of People with Disability, it’s timely to
raise awareness within our community.
As well as being the Mayor of this great
City, I am also the father of a young girl,
Analise, who has Angelman Syndrome,
a rare and genetic disorder.
Caring for Analise, and watching her
over the years, has opened up my eyes
to the challenges that are faced every
day by people living with disability.
That’s why I believe that everyone
should challenge the way they think
about disability… breaking down
barriers and promoting awareness,
understanding and inclusion of people
with disability.
It’s an opportunity for us to make
positive changes to the lives of the
4.4 million people in Australia who are
living with disability.
I am pleased to say that our Council
is leading the way when it comes to
making positive change. In February
2021, we were the first organisation
in NSW to convene a Disability Abuse
Prevention Collaborative.
The Collaborative is made up of
representatives from the local health
district, local government, service
providers, police, housing and legal
services, all with one goal… to protect
those with disability from abuse,
neglect and exploitation.
It was a proud day when the Collaborative
was showcased at the recent Disability
Royal Commission, as a best practice
example of practical initiatives
happening at a grassroots level.
And just this year, we adopted our new
Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) for
2022-26. The Plan is even more ambitious
than our last DIAP, focusing on going
above the minimum and considering
principles of universal design.
Of course, there is always more that
needs to be done, but I’m proud to say
we are fostering positive attitudes,
creating liveable communities,
increasing opportunities and improving
our processes for people with
disabilities in our City.
We can all do our part to help
grow a more inclusive Australia,
by participating in events that
celebrate and recognise people with
disabilities. To find out what’s on,
visit idpwd.com.au/events
Yours sincerely,