Christmas giving day to benefit children with disabilities

AN ANNUAL Christmas giving day, hosted by an organisation that assists children diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities, will be held this weekend in Geelong for the first time.

Keeley’s Cause was established in 2017 by Ballan locals Sharon Murphy and her then-13-year-old daughter Keeley Johnson.

Keeley, who is autistic, experienced bullying through her schooling years as she struggled to learn the curriculum without the support of technology.

Knowing how valuable an iPad was to her own learning, but with no government funding available to students to assist with the purchase of such devices, Keeley took matters into her own hands.

“Keeley decided that she was going to make it her mission to bridge the gap and make sure that all kids with autism and intellectual disabilities have an inclusive education and communication device,” Ms Murphy, who is also the chief executive of Keely’s Cause, said.

“The iPad isn’t just about the education and communication tool. It’s actually the key to their whole world.

“We’re finding that it’s giving them self-worth because everything they need is in that technology tablet. It’s regulating their meltdowns; it’s lowering anxieties and depression.

“Some of these kids will be our next leaders, so we need to supply them with everything they need because, as Keeley said, they have dreams of becoming someone someday too, despite their disability.”

Ms Murphy said feedback received from the families Keeley’s Cause supports showed how important these tools are to young people diagnosed with autism or disabilities.

“It’s a game-changer for these kids,” she said.

“You’re talking about families that have been struggling for years with their kid’s learning.

“We’re getting emails back within seven to nine days of them receiving an iPad, saying how much that’s already changed their child.

In recognition of this impact, Keeley was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, as its youngest inductee since 2001.

The Keeley’s Cause Christmas Giving Day will be held on Sunday, December 15 between 11am and 5pm at the Federal Mills precinct in North Geelong.

The day will include a charity bike ride and car run, which will start at Werribee’s Highway Lounge at 9.30am, with all money raised supporting the purchase of iPads.

“It’s so that people know that there’s support out there as well for the disability families, [to show] that people actually do care.

“When we all come together, that’s a big, massive thing for disability families and knowing that their world, that is sometimes lonely, isn’t at all.

“We are…doing our best to bring more awareness and create inclusion for these kids.”

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, whether they participate in the charity ride or not, with free entry into Federal Mills on Sunday.

Registrations are still open for families interested in participating in the giving day, with a wide variety of brand-new clothes and other donated goods on offer.

“Some of these families are very lonely at Christmas. They can’t afford presents. They don’t associate with families because they have a child with disability, so we reduce that stigma to make sure that their Christmas is great,” Ms Murphy said.

Visit keeleyscause.org.au