Dear resident,
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,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
The World Observer Media produces a daily online newspaper, a daily Arabic online newspaper and a monthly printed Arabic/English magazine and a weekly printed Arabic/English newspaper.
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