A FREE celebration is set to take place next month with the aim of encouraging the region\u2019s disabled community to take pride in themselves.<\/p>\n
The event will be held in the Ballarat Town Hall\u2019s Trench Room and is being organised by staff at disability support service Valid.<\/p>\n
The non-profit\u2019s community development worker Mark Thompson said it\u2019s about connecting people based on their shared experiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about bringing people together to celebrate disability pride,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s only new in Australia. This event started here in 2018 in Adelaide.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be the first disability pride celebration ever run in Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The disability pride flag will feature in the event which bears six diagonal streaks of colour against a black background which represents mourning for those who\u2019ve experienced ableist abuse.<\/p>\n
Each colour represents a different disability with gold for neurodivergence, green for sensory, white for invisible or undiagnosed, red for physical and blue for psychiatric disabilities.<\/p>\n
Guest speakers are to include NDSP Plan Manager\u2019s Christine Shearer, Anita Aherne from Living on the Spectrum, Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, and Annecto\u2019s Ashley McNeight.<\/p>\n
Taking place on Friday 14 July from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, the event will coincide with Disability Pride Month which was established in the US in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n
Mr Thompson said he encourages everyone to get involved in bringing disability pride to the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is open to anyone with a disability,\u201d he said. \u201cJuly 26 is the official day when disability pride started but we\u2019re holding ours a bit earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Free afternoon tea will also be provided, and booking is encouraged for catering purposes via 0418 573 702 or mark@valid.org.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A FREE celebration is set to take place next month with the aim of encouraging the region\u2019s disabled community to take pride in themselves. The event will be held in the Ballarat Town Hall\u2019s Trench Room and is being organised by staff at disability support service Valid. The non-profit\u2019s community development worker Mark Thompson said […]<\/p>\n