Hello {and a thoughtful post at A Boy With Aspergers}

Hi everyone. I'll be posting on this blog on Alyssa's behalf for the next few months and I will be doing my best to locate and post interesting and thought provoking information about disability.

Earlier this week I read a post on A Boy With Aspergers which speaks about the experience of being excluded from school, and the impact of this type of exclusion upon kids with disabilities. This is a subject that is very close to my heart because in the priviliged world in which we live we should all have a right to an education. Head on over and have a read...

Farewell

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately I am leaving my work with IDEAS NSW so will no longer be posting on this wonderful blog. I will passing the buck to Emma Doukakis, a very skilled and lovely writer. I have enjoyed sharing with you the stories of many that offer inspiration and understanding while touching the hearts of us all!

I hope that you will be able to share with the world your own story and to really express your experiences, as we all need to come together if we are to see changes and make a difference for the lives of people with disabilities, their families, carers and supporters.

It's been a pleasure writing in this space.

Alyssa

Hon. Kelly Vincent MLC featured in 2010 Made You Look Magazine

Hon. Kelly Vincent MLC was featured in Made You Look Magazine 2010 (part of the Don't DIS My ABILITY Campaign) as an inspirational representative for disability and all things related.

After her election to State Member of the Legislative Council in South Australia, Kelly has rised to the challenge of being one of few politicians with a disability. Taking her place as a Member whilst using a wheelchair for mobility has certainly expressed the colours of political culture as we see them today, finally our political landscape moves away from the greys of the conventional and we start to see the greens, blues, pinks and yellows of a new day and age where anybody can be somebody, if you put your mind to it!

The inclusion of Kelly as a Member is remarkable considering that she is only 21 years old! To achieve such a place in society where your words really mean something, at such a young age is what sets her person as an inspiration. In the disability sector, if we can aspire to follow her words, to have our own and to share these with others to really change the society and it's view about disability, maybe we will start seeing some changes to the stand of equality!

Interestingly enough in the article Kelly states "...this wasn't something I was intending to do with my life. I didn't want to be the youngest member of Parliament of South Australia and the youngest woman elected to any Australian Parliament - I wanted to be Paris Hilton!"

I think I can safely represent Australia here and say that we are relieved that this path was chosen, this world can only handle one Paris Hilton and often that is too much!

Well done Kelly!

Visit the Don't DIS My ABILITY website to download your copy of Made You Look.