Celebrating Disability Pride Month with ‘Film and Food’
To acknowledge the occasion with both clients and staff members, as well as creating an event that was informative, engaging and fun, Yooralla’s Employees with Disabilities Peer Network hosted 'Film and Food' at Head Office.
Employees with Disabilities Peer Support network organised an engaging 'Film and Food' day for July's Disability Pride month to highlight the importance of acceptance and accessability for those with disability
Celebrating Disability Pride
Disability Pride Month in July is an important opportunity to highlight the ongoing disability rights movement.
To acknowledge the occasion with both clients and staff members, as well as creating an event that was informative, engaging and fun, Yooralla’s Employees with Disabilities Peer Network hosted 'Film and Food' at Head Office.
Planning a great event
Planning for the event began around May, during group catch-ups. Over the following weeks, the group brainstormed and sourced suitable video content which focused on the disability rights theme.
Over the following months’ meetings, key speakers were confirmed, and a smaller working party was established to catch up separately and work out the specific logistics of putting the event together.
A special day of Disability Pride
The planning paid off, with a memorable event at Yooralla’s Head Office that had the Disability Pride flowing! Clients and staff shared a special lunch, watching a few memorable videos from Disability Busters, that explore the experience of people with disability.
Uli Cartwright, Peer Mentor – Employment, and Jeanette Lee, Customer Rights and Empowerment Practitioner were also generous enough to share their stories and experiences with disability, and about what Disability Pride means to them.
Uli shared that he is in “two minds about Disability Pride”.
“I think that we should be doing it, but I also think it shouldn’t be a big deal…because if we do it, then it becomes a ‘buzz word’ and it means nothing,” Uli said.
Uli’s reflections mirror what Peter Johnstone, a Yooralla volunteer, discussed on International Day of People with Disability. Peter said, “what would be really nice, is if we didn’t have to have an International Day of Disability and like everybody else, our day was our birthdays.”
Rounding out a lovely event, was a heart-warming group rendition of the ‘This is Me’ from The Greatest Showman, a song that is all about being proud of who you are and accepting yourself.
Feedback from attendees as overwhelmingly positive! Alex said “I loved singing the song. Singing makes me feel alive and it feels good to sing with someone.”’
Michelle, a Yooralla staff member said “I thought the speakers were great, informative and passionate. I always love to learn about people’s challenges. It helps us see different sides. My favourite part? Our clients speaking, listening to their journey and how they have embraced their disability.”
A big thank you to Yooralla’s Employees with Disabilities Peer Support network for planning a great event!
Images from the day
Yooralla’s Employees with Disabilities Peer Support network
The Employees with Disabilities Peer Support network is a small and growing group of Yooralla staff who have disabilities, who have created a space for sharing, support, laughs, and collaboration towards inclusion.
The group meet monthly and aim to raise awareness about disability, provide consultation to Yooralla on various issues, and create a more inclusive and accessible workplace. It also seeks to attract new employees with disabilities to Yooralla, support career development, and offer a safe space for peer-to-peer support.