We want to just start this blog post by saying how proud we are of all of our team members who come together to make the International Day of People with Disability a special few days in the Enable WA calendar every year. Thank you!
The International Day of People with Disability is happening this weekend on December 3rd. This day is celebrated each year, recognising the achievements of people with disabilities, and encouraging businesses and communities to bring more accessible events and activities to Western Australia (and the world!).
These events create opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families and Support Workers to connect, share experiences, and build a support network. By fostering a sense of community, we contribute to breaking down social barriers and creating a more inclusive society.
In 2021, we ran a series of FREE outdoor movie nights at our Bunbury, Manjimup, Busselton, Perth and Mandurah regions.
In 2022, we ran a Come and Ride Day with Karting2Live at Hi Voltage, a Come and Sail Day with Sail Into Life in Bunbury, AND helped towards the Art for Inclusion Exhibition - it was a big couple of days!
Which brings us to.... (drumroll please!).. 2023!
This year we are jumping on board four events for the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), thanks to the $1,000 grant we received from The Department of Social Services' International Day of People with Disability department.
November 25th: Play in the Bay
To start with, our Lower South West team members and Participants have been working on bringing Play in the Bay to Busselton residents.
Enable Participants Travis and Nina, and Support staff Matt, Debbie and Andy made it into the newspaper, and our Coordinators Terese and Mark are both strongly involved in the working group for this project.
Make sure to keep November 25th free between 9:30am-1:30pm and head down to the Busselton foreshore to celebrate in a range of inclusive activities for all, along with SWAN - South West Autism Network, Advocacy WA, City of Busselton - Local Government, APM, WA Disabled Sports Association Inc, and SUP Life Busselton.
December 3rd: Dalyellup Community Christmas Festival
Our Bunbury and Therapy teams are holding a sensory stall at this year's Dalyellup Community Christmas Festival.
We're also bringing the Enable WA Accessible Events Trailer to the festival, to encourage other local event holders to increase the accessibility at their own events.
Thank you to Sam and Matthew for helping pull this together! If you're coming along, you can experience activities and events between 3pm - 6pm, including wheelchair basketball, the Water Corp Water Slide, free -tri-shaw e-bike rides from Cycling Without Age, lucky ducks and the LotteryWest Sensory Inclusion Zone, and so much more! After 6pm, find a spot on the lawn for an evening of Christmas carols, performances and a visit from Santa himself!
More info: www.dalyellupcollective.com.au
December 4th: FREE Manjimup Christmas Movie Night!
We've partnered with the Shire of Manjimup and TJK Events to bring our Lower South West Participants and families a free movie night.
2021's Outdoor Movie Night in Manjimup was such a great success, we're running it again!
The public have voted for which movie they want to see (via our Facebook), and the winner was How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
TJK Events are bringing Food Truckin' For a Cause to the event as well, with burgers, skewers, candy, snow cones, donuts and more! A percentage of the proceeds raised from the food trucks will be donated to the Manjimup Family and Community Centre.
December 9th: Opening Night for Art For Inclusion Exhibition
The Art For Inclusion Exhibition is back!
Opening Event - 2pm, Saturday 9 December Exhibiting - from Thursday 7 December to Tuesday 12 December
This is Art for inclusion’s third group exhibition and is put on to show the art created by two classes running over the entire year. The classes feature artists of all abilities, engaging in an all-inclusive community activity, which is non-structured, safe, fun and friendly. Most artists come with their carer or support worker, and they make art together and feed off one another’s creative energy and enthusiasm. There is total freedom given to the artists to freely explore their talents, which develop weekly. No boundaries are set on what they create. We often have people attend with no experience, and within weeks they’re discovering talents they have never explored.
Most of the week the Participants are supported in the community to do activities and are assisted to do daily tasks. These classes reverse the roles, a morning where nobody is in charge, with time to interact and learn from everyone who attends.
"We are so lucky to hold our classes at Stirling Street Arts Centre, which is a fantastic community arts centre, and we are surrounded by many other highly talented and skilled art groups of all disciplines. We are able to see what the other art groups do, and really feel privileged to be amongst such amazing creatives. We feel part of a bigger arts community. We celebrate together, making each week, and “it’s not art like we know it”."
- Ross Vaughan, Art for Inclusion Director.
We love being able to bring these events to the Enable community, and can't wait to see you all. If you want to know more about IDPwD, click here.