EXHIBITORS: Organisers and exhibitors of the Connect-Ability expo in Mansfield’s main street last week.

Operators gather to raise awareness about the sector

Written by CATHERINE RITCHIE.

DIFFERENT organisations involved with supporting people with disabilities met in the median strip of Mansfield last week to show their wares and ideas at Connect-Ability - an information sharing forum and expo.

Some of the exhibitors including Central Access, Workways, Upper Murray Family Care and Wellways Mental Illness Fellowship were on hand to give people information, as well as a chance to meet and greet fellow exhibitors.

One of the organisers, Cathy Prior of Rural Access, said the exhibition gave all those involved in the area the chance to share their resources for better results.

"We want to increase awareness in schools, among the individuals and businesses, to help people with disabilities to reach their full potential," said Ms Prior.

"We want to debunk some of the myths and take away people’s fears."

The exhibitors and the general public were informed by five keynote speakers - Franklin Levison, on equine assisted learning, Simone Reeves on managing challenging behavior, Minister for Families and Housing spokesperson Boris Kaspier, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin, and Jenny Caldwell from Very Special Kids.

Mr Kaspier said forums like these gave people like him the chance to not only tell local communities what the national picture is and how it relates to them, but is an opportunity for him to hear what communities have to say.

He said people with disabilities are not just physically cut off from the rest of the community, but often feel excluded because the general public is put off by the fact they look and sound different.

"A future employer might say ‘how am I going to cope with someone in a wheelchair’ even if they have exactly the same qualifications for a job as someone who is not in a wheelchair," said Mr Kaspier.

"But very often there is very little cost involved, or if there are costs involved, there are equipment schemes that will assist employers."