Community Education Program
What is Community Education?
Yooralla’s free award-winning community education program aims to educate as many Victorians as possible about the issues affecting people with disabilities. The presentation is fun, informative and action packed. ccording to presenter, Peter Johnstone (pictured right) he wants to take the stigma out of disability.
"I try to show the kids that people with disabilities are just the same as everyone else – they just do everyday things differently. I bring along a talking computer to show the kids that someone without the power of speech who still wants to have a chat can still communicate.
"I also want to make them aware that disability can happen to anyone at any time. Like me, people can be born with a disability but they can also acquire one through an accident, ill health or as they get older. According to a 1998 Bureau of Statistics study, 19% of all Victorians have a disability. That is basically one in every five people!
"I give students the opportunity to ask me questions about having spina bifida, using a wheelchair and how having a disability has affected my life. I incorporate a few role-plays into the presentation that are aimed at increasing understanding of what it feels like to have a disability. I also try to emphasise how Yooralla’s range of services has helped me to live a normal life despite my disability. Without Yooralla’s help I don’t know where I would be today. Because of their programs I am able to live in a unit on my own but have support there when I need it. I have also received therapy, used the recreation service to help me go on holiday, and have been gained employment with their help. I hope my presentation enables the kids to take on board just how important an organisation like Yooralla is to so many people with disabilities," said Peter.