Striving for a just and inclusive community for all
Advocating for the full inclusion and active citizenship of the disability community is key to our organisational identity. Aligned with our goal of serving as a collective voice for people with disability, political and community advocacy is a core focus for CDAH.
Creation of the NDIS and ongoing advocacy
CDAH was established in 2012 in response to the creation of the NDIS and the announcement of the Hunter as a pilot site for the scheme. The “NDIS in the Hunter: Getting in Control” event was the catalyst for the creation of a new model of peer-led disability support, ensuring people with disability had genuine opportunities to exercise control and choice, direct their supports and lead the lives they choose. Since 2012, CDAH has worked with peers and members to shine a light on multiple issues that directly impact the lives of people with disability.
Intersectional advocacy
The experiences of our peers are often influenced by more than the challenges presented by with disability. Our peer-led groups reflect the intersection of disability with race, gender, sexual orientation, age and cultural identity and how these interact to create further inequality and marginalisation. Our advocacy efforts have ranged from addressing gender inequality to promoting the experiences of LGBTQI+ members in the disability community.
Political advocacy and stories for change
Over the years, we’ve met with politicians from all levels of government to share the experiences of the disabled community and reinforce the need for more inclusive policy-making. We’ve also worked hard to spotlight the lived experience of peers through our Stories for Change podcast series. Moving away from the typical “tragedy” narrative as told by others, these stories reclaim our voice and allow peers to share their journey of empowerment.
“It is so important this peer support, because it just opens up your mind to the possibilities that are right there in front of you, but you never saw them, because you’ve not met the people who’ve shown it to you. And that’s why I’m saying it’s life changing. It’s completely life changing.”