Disability group wants to change the status quo

By Jemma Jones

Nov 26, 2024

**Kyabram’s What We Can Do group is hosting an event on International Day of People With Disability to show people in the community that they can do what they want to do with or without a disability.** Photo by Jemma Jones

Members of a Kyabram disability group want to show the community what they can do at an upcoming event.

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The What We Can Do group is a peer support network for people with disabilities in Kyabram.

Their mission is to empower each other and demonstrate to the community that people with disabilities are capable of achieving the same things as non-disabled individuals.

To amplify this message, the group is organising an event outside Kyabram District Health Service on Tuesday, December 3, coinciding with the International Day of People with Disability.

Since its formation three years ago, the group has been working to challenge stigmas surrounding people with disabilities through events such as this.

“I think a lot of people in our community are getting better with (disabled people) but then some people (still) need to understand us better,” WWCD group member Kane Park said.

“We want to focus on what we can do rather than what our disability may stop us from doing.”

Mr Park and fellow group member Claire Keating will host the day, which will feature a diverse range of guests including KCLC kindergarten children, a representative from Women with Disabilities Victoria, and Christine Anderson, a local Parkinson's disease advocate.

The event is made possible by a state grant of $14,000 over two years, awarded to the group in May, complemented by support from Campaspe Shire Council.

The event is also running in partnership with the 16 Days of Activism campaign to raise awareness of gender-based violence in our community.

Attendees can look forward to various entertainment, including games, activities, crafts, a smoothie bike competition, as well as gelato and a barbecue.

WWCD group member Debbie Lloyd said she hoped through the event members could have conversations with people and change the way community members viewed disabilities in Kyabram.

“Everyone’s got a voice ... a lot of people with disabilities will go into shops and someone will talk to their support worker ... we want to change that,” she said.

Join What We Can Do group on the KDHS front lawn on Tuesday, December 3 from 10am to 1pm.

For questions, contact disabilityliaison@kyhealth.org.au or call 0434 363 167.