4th National Disability Advocacy Conference - Advocating for Inclusion

When:          30 April - 1 May 2012

Where:         Canberra Rex Hotel, Canberra ACT

Register:      Download a registration form.

The DANA 4th National Disability Advocacy Conference will seek to build advocacy momentum and strategies for achieving community living and full inclusion for people with disabilities in particular by engaging with the National Disability Strategy, the UNCRPD, the NDIS, and other relevant government policy initiatives.

We will do this by asking some critical questions:

• What is the current policy and political context?
• What are people with disabilities experiencing?
• What would we like to see happening?

What can we do as advocates and organizations, as individuals and collectively to get from where we are now to where we want to be?

Dr Christie Lynch from Ireland has been engaged as a Keynote speaker and other possibilities are being explored.

Dr Christy Lynch is nationally and internationally recognised for his pioneering work in achieving integrated employment for individuals with a disability. He founded the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE) and was founder member and first President of the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE).

DANA members and supporters are invited to participate in the development of the Conference Program for one of the six themes by contacting the person listed under the theme of their choice. Three themes will feature on the first day of the Conference and the other three on the second. All will include a mix of presentation, inspiration and facilitated discussion of the issues and strategies. The six themes are:

• A place to call home - Contact Catherine Hogan: phone 02 9869 0866 or email catherine@family-advocacy.com
• Participation in family life (including as a parent) - Contact Christina Ryan: ph 02 6257 4005 or email christina@advocacyforinclusion.org
• Participation in social, cultural and recreational life - Contact David Craig ph 0422 516 245 or email dcraigconsult@gmail.com
• Participation in education and life-long learning - Contact Elizabeth McGarry ph 03 9818 2000 or email elizabethM@acd.org.au
• Participation in employment - Contact Mary Mallett ph 03 6231 2344 or email manager@speakoutadvocacy.org
• Equal rights and justice - Contact Kevin Stone 03 9416 4003 or email kevin.stone@valid.org.au

The Conference Dinner will be held on Monday 30 April 2012 in the Grand Ballroom at the Conference venue.

Some budget accommodation is available at the Conference venue. Please make your own accommodation arrangements but mention DANA to access the rooms reserved for DANA Conference participants.

If you require information in other formats please contact the organizers.