Explore how CDAH has been instrumental
in driving disability inclusion
It’s easier to map a path to full inclusion when we can see what it looks like in practice. This is why CDAH is committed to sharing our lived experiences to change the narrative and reclaim the voices of people with disability in the Hunter and across Australia.
Why our voices matter
For too many years, people with disabilities have been underestimated and undervalued. Much of this is due to others co-opting and telling our stories through a lens of “overcoming adversity” and seeing “disability as a tragedy.” This has disempowered our community and led to damaging assumptions, affecting our ability to choose where we live, to gain employment and live full and independent lives.
Changing the narrative
As a peer-led organisation, one of CDAH’s main aims is to serve as a collective voice for people with disability and advocate for the rights and needs of the community.
One of the most powerful ways we can do this is to share our lived experience and tell our own stories. This allows us to take back control and promote genuine voice, choice and control over our lives.
Stories for change
Through our Stories for Change series, our peers have reclaimed their voices to share stories based on their very personal lived experience with disability.
Via articles, videos and our podcast in collaboration with Pod and Pen Productions, our Stories for Change series is a powerful avenue for people with disability to own their story, challenge assumptions and reframe disability for the whole community.
“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.”