Right across Queensland during September, STEPS celebrated Disability Action Week – embracing the difference and diversity that enriches our communities. And what an exciting week of celebration it was! From sausage sizzles to “Come Try a Sports Day” STEPS engaged their respective communities throughout the week, bringing smiles and highlighting the value of every person.
The aims of Disability Action Week are to encourage positive attitudes towards people with a disability, improve access and make our community a better place for everyone. During the week, STEPS was out and about encouraging the community to focus on a person’s achievements and abilities. Events highlighted that diversity and difference enrich communities and that people with a disability have much to contribute.
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In Bundaberg, STEPS filled almost every day of the week with a wide variety of events and activities, gaining a good deal of media attention. STEPS Bundaberg office was involved in developing, planning and managing events for the region’s disability sector – a Shopping Challenge, a Come and Try Sports Day, Equity Employer Awards, and to wrap things up, a social day for clients.
Every day, local television, newspaper and radio covered the events, starting with the Shopping Challenge which involved television reporters, radio announcers and newspaper journalists. The seven media personalities were invited to shop at the Hinkler Central Shopping Plaza with a simulated disability, for example, in a wheelchair or vision or hearing impaired. “The feedback from the participants after the event was enlightening,” said STEPS Community Engagement Representative in Bundaberg, Ken Parker. “The challenges set were a sample of every day activities, like buying sausages over the counter at a butcher in a wheelchair, or asking about a holiday at a travel agent for a sight impaired person.”
Equally challenging was “Come and Try Sports Day” where a multitude of sporting activities were offered for sampling. All activities were designed for people with disabilities, and involved local sporting identities to encourage participants. Everything from soccer, basketball, athletics, hip-hop, tai chi, Frisbee, golf and obstacle courses were on offer, with over 100 people attending. The next day, Thursday, STEPS Employer Engagement Consultant, Geoff Dettl hosted employers at the STEPS office to award gold membership to the STEPS Equity Employer Group. Representatives from the two businesses, Rides N Slides and Megatoy Play Systems, attended. The week ended with a social day for STEPS’ participants with a sausage sizzle and a great variety of outdoor fun and activities. “Many questions arose regarding the validity of the decisions of unofficial, self-appointed cricket umpire STEPS’ own Matt Chamberlin,” said Ken. “The majority of umpire decisions demonstrated a strong bias against STEPS’ staff, but overall, the feedback from all the participants who attended was very appreciative.”
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Sunshine Coast
From the small to the spectacular, STEPS staged a variety of events throughout the Sunshine Coast as part of Disability Action Week. At the well-attended Eumundi Markets mid-week, STEPS hosted a showcase of stalls and entertainment highlighting the achievements of people with a disability.
STEPS’ Community Engagement Representative, Kelly Paton, said the event was to encourage communities to become more welcoming and inclusive places. “It’s about the whole community celebrating the skills of people with disabilities and the great work of their carers,” said Kelly. The showcase at the Eumundi Markets, hosted for the first time by STEPS, was formerly hosted by community organisation Spiral, and is in its ninth year. It is a collaboration of Sunshine Coast-based respite, mental health services and employment, including Spiral Inc, Compass, Link-In, Endeavour Foundation and House with No Steps. “The showcase is always a great opportunity to promote the talents of people with disabilities, and includes a range of activities that reflect society – from sports to entertainment and arts,” Kelly said. “We had wheelchair basketball, martial arts displays, singers and dancers, as well as an arts exhibition.” As part of Disability Action Week, all STEPS sites on the Sunshine Coast hosted sausage sizzles, sizzling through over 800 sausages in four days.
