Category Reimagining Disability   Show all

  • International Day of People with Disability 2023 – Matt Levy: From Premature Birth to Paralympic Gold

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    International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations observed day held on 3 December each year. The IDPwD program aligns with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

    The United Nations Theme for IDPwD 2023 is ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities.’ This year, we introduce IDPwD Ambassador, Matt Levy OAM, Patron of the Matt Levy Inclusive Futures Scholarship at Griffith University.

    A colour photo of Paralympic swimming champion Matt Levy OAM PLY. Matt is a young man who has cerebral palsy and visual impairment. He stands smiling for the camera and wears a blue collared long sleeve jumper. He has brown wavy hair in a short style and stands with his arms crossed.

    In 1987, Matt Levy was born prematurely at 25 weeks. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and severe visual impairment and has undergone 40-50 surgeries on various vital organs. Matt's determination and resilience led him to a career in swimming, where he proudly clinched gold for Australia at the Paralympic Games.

    Representing his nation at five consecutive Paralympic Games, Matt has won 3 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze medals. His dominance extends further, having graced the pools at five World Swimming Championships, securing an 20 international medals and holding 4 World Records.

    Matt’s contributions to sport were honoured with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2014 for ‘service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In 2015 Matt was named Athlete of the Year with a Disability at the New South Wales Sports Awards and in 2018 he was named Swimming Australia’s Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year. In November 2021, he received a New South Wales Institute of Sport Academic Excellence Award and was named the 2021 Sport NSW Athlete of the Year with a Disability.

    Yet, Matt's achievements aren't confined to the pool. He has earnt a degree in Business Management, an Australian Institute of Company Directors qualification, and an MBA in Leadership. He is a passionate inclusion advocate, motivational speaker and holds multiple board, advisory and ambassadorial roles with sporting, community and humanitarian organisations including Ability Options, Life Little Treasures and BlindSports Australia.

    Since retiring from the pool, Matt has authored 3 books, including: ‘Keeping your head above water’ (2020), ‘Brandon Dreams Big: 7 easy steps to get where you want’ (2021), and ‘Going the distance: Identify and create your own lane to success’ (2023).

    More recently, Matt has turned his hand to philanthropy and supporting young people with disability to achieve their own dreams and goals through education.

    “Education has allowed me to grow and enhance what I've been able to learn and, how I can use my lived experience of disability to influence others. As part of this, it was also my mission to help other people with disability to obtain a university education.”

    To Matt, International Day of People Disability (IDPwD) is “about having a sense of responsibility and belonging. A chance to give people an insight into what we go through on a daily basis. Not to feel bitter, but to help raise awareness of what can be done. I know how hard it is for someone living with a disability, so I wanted to give people opportunities that I was given”.

    As a result, Matt established the Matt Levy Inclusive Futures Scholarship to support students with disability to achieve their potential at Griffith University. Open to Australian, domestic commencing students (full time or part time) enrolled in an undergraduate program, the scholarship provides up to $20,000, payable over the duration of the degree.

    This year the Matt Levy Scholarship supported two (2) commencing students with disability; including Lilje Schluter, who is studying a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

    "Being a recipient of this scholarship has allowed me to afford regular access to psychology and psychiatry sessions. Not only has this greatly aided me in learning and adjusting to my first year of tertiary studies, but the support of the scholarship continues to help me move forward each and every day, which is an invaluable gift".

    Matt Levy's life stands as a testament to determination, inspiring individuals worldwide to overcome adversity and achieve goals. On Tuesday, 27 February 2024, Matt will be the guest speaker at our Inclusive Futures Book Club – Author Talk event, where he will share his story, and discuss his latest book ‘Going the Distance’ with students and guests during O-Week (Nathan Campus). If you are interested in attending, please email us at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au.

    You can also sign up for our newsletter, or keep an eye on our website for announcements.

    Find out more about our Inclusive Futures Book club:

    https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/inclusive-futures-book-club


  • Specialist Disability Accommodation: Brisbane Conference

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    A colourful montage of photos taken at the Specialist Disability Accommodation conference. Photos from left to right: 1: Panelists address the audience, there is a screen behind the keynote speaker showing live captioning and a PowerPoint presentation. 2. An over the shoulder photo of the conference. 3. Guests mingle post event on the Webb Centre balcony.

    It was great to bring together 70 passionate people on 3 November at Griffith University Southbank Campus in Brisbane, to chat all things Specialist Disability Accommodation.

    With speakers and audience members joining us from interstate we welcomed open discussions around some of the hot topics facing the sector at present.

    The event was proudly supported by (Griffith University – Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Just SDA, Just Advisory Services, H’a’fele Australia and Archr Design) and covered important topics such as:

    How to build your own SDA

    • Accessing Appendix H
    • Updates and trends across the sector
    • Best practice design approaches for SDA
    • A personal journey through the NDIS


    A colour photo of Coral Gillet, from Griffith University wearing a technological headset and brightly coloured dress talking to another conference guest on the balcony post event.

    A great day was had by all, with post event celebrations hosted on the wonderful deck at the Southbank campus for some networking, canape’s and drinks.

    Everyone is ready for the next event in March 2024 (Brisbane) and May 2024 (Melbourne).

    More information, please email Justin MacDonald, Just Advisory Services on: pm@justsda.com.au

    Visit the Inclusive Futures Hub to see the impactful work we are doing around Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au

    Contact us: inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

  • Change 2023 Conference: Nothing About Us Without Us

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    A colour photo of the Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability "Nothing About Us Without Us" Panellists. From left to right: Kevin Cocks (seated in power chair), standing at back Jim Hogan, Kelsey Chapman, Sharon Rundle-Thiele, seated at front Prof. Elizabeth Kendall and Brad Kinsela (seated in his manual wheelchair).


    CHANGE 2023 CONFERENCE

    Empower, Enable, Enact

    The Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability (IFRD) team had the pleasure to lead a session at Change 2023 last Friday, 20 October at Griffith University, Southbank Campus.

    Change 2023 is an annual 2-day conference in Brisbane, Queensland hosted by Social Marketing @ Griffith, especially for practitioners, professionals, researchers and experts with an interest in making change happen.

    In our session - Nothing About Us Without Us – Kelsey Chapman (IFRD Engagement Manager and PhD Candidate) lead a Q&A panel discussion with Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Director), Kevin Cocks, Brad Kinsela and Jim Hogan.

    In this impactful discussion, they candidly shared their experiences as disability advocates and outlined challenges they have experienced in their decades of fighting for inclusion.

    To find out more about Inclusive Futures and the research we do, visit our website:

    https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/inclusive-futures-reimagining-disability

  • Dedicated Deaf Space creates greater community inclusion

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    Griffith University has launched the Deaf Space, a dedicated and safe environment for Deaf students.

    The space is fitted with features like visual smoke alarms and door-bell lights, catering to the needs of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. With a range of facilities, including one-on-one tutoring and private study areas, the Deaf Space fosters community, allowing students to study, watch online sessions with interpreters and gather as a group.

    Moreover, the Deaf Space serves as a base for the Deaf Student Support Program (DSSP), providing services such as professional support, Auslan interpreters, captioning services, access to assistive listening devices and transcription services.

    The initiative promotes accessibility and inclusivity for Deaf students, and many graduates plan to teach Auslan as a second language in Queensland schools, meeting society's ever-increasing demand for interpreters.

    Read article in full:

    https://www.bursar.live/uni-tafe/dedicated-deaf-space-creates-greater-community-inclusion-7154

    For more information, contact Cathy Easte, Student Disability and Accessibility Manager on c.easte@griffith.edu.au

    A black and white photo of Cathy Easte, Student Disability and Accessibility Manager, Griffith University. Cathy is a middle aged woman, she has a sandy bob hair cut and wears reading glasses. She is wearing a white blouse with butterflies, which is significant as butterflies are Deaf. Cathy stands in front of a garden on the Griffith University Nathan campus.Cathy Easte, Student Disability and Accessibility Manager, Griffith Universit



  • Book Club: Sexual Health, Wellbeing and Disability

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    INCLUSIVE FUTURES BOOK CLUB
    A conversation with authors Dr. Marita Heck (author of Secret Forces) and conversation partners     Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten.

    Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University hosted our latest #BookClub event on #SexualHealth, #wellbeing and #disability, with author Marita Heck and conversation partners Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten online, on Wednesday, 23 August on Microsoft Teams.


    Inclusive Futures Reimagining Disability Inclusive Futures Book Club. A conversation with authors Dr Marita Heck (author of Secret Forces) and conversation partners Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten. The image includes a colour photo of Chantelle, a young attractive brunette woman wearing a low-cut spaghetti strap dress and Lisa a young blonde woman with curled long hair wearing a black blazer and blue top. The Griffith University logo (red) features in the bottom right hand corner.
    It is a human right to experience positive     #SexualHealth and wellbeing, yet it is a topic that is often neglected and ignored. Please join us (via our online recording) for an open, honest discussion about challenges experienced by #PeopleWithDisability and how we can increase awareness, education and support.

    Dr Marita Heck (PhD, Master of Midwifery, Bachelor of Nursing Science) is an Adjunct Research Fellow with     The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Dr Heck is further a member of the Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures task force. In this space, Dr Heck is leading a consumer-led multidisciplinary research project in collaboration with five Australian universities promoting holistic sexual health support for people living with a spinal cord injury.

    In addition, Dr Heck conducts research into supporting women living with an SCI in pre-pregnancy, antenatal, birth and postnatal support. Dr Heck is further a very experienced     #clinician working with people living with a disability in the sexuality and fertility, and antenatal, birth and postnatal period in the Australian community. Besides her work in the research and the clinical setting, Dr Heck is a vivid romance novel author and published her first suspense romance novel Secret Forces in 2020.

    Lisa Cox is an Internationally awarded thought leader,     TEDx speaker, #authorand consultant who is working with business, government, Griffith University and others to help create solutions and change social attitudes towards disability. Her work has been recognised around the globe and featured in media like FOX, NBC News, Huffington Post, Smart Company, Vogue and AdNews Australia.

    Chantelle Otten is a Melbourne based Psycho-Sexologist who is passionate about empowering people to feel great about their sexual health, self-esteem, communication and education. With a background in scientific research, sexual medicine, and counselling, she believes that sexuality and self-esteem are an integral part of life, which everyone is entitled to. Good sexual health should always be enjoyable, pain free and without prejudice.

    For those who missed the event, you can access the recording here https://youtu.be/11DP3nz_Tn4 - A full and accessible transcript can be provided upon request.

    For more information about the author Dr. Marita Heck:
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Secret-Forces-Marita-Heck-ebook/dp/B08KTSLM2G

    https://www.sexpositivecommunity.com/


    For more information about Lisa Cox:

    https://lisacox.co/

    https://www.instagram.com/lisacox.co/


    For more information about Chantelle Otten:

    https://chantelleotten.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/chantelle_otten_sexologist/

    If you would like to stay up to date with upcoming events and join the Inclusive Futures book club community, you can join up here: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/inclusive-futures-book-club?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab


    If you have any questions or would like a copy of the transcript, please do not hesitate to contact the team at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au.