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This article was published on Monday, 19 November, 2018. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Celebrate International Day of People with Disability

Greater Shepparton City Council along with a number of partners is running an event to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

The theme for this year’s event is “Access & Inclusion in Sport and the Community”.

Greater Shepparton City Council is proud to be involved in International Day of People with Disability. To celebrate the day, an event will be held at Shepparton on Monday 3 December.

The event will feature ‘Para Sports Come N Try’ opportunities, Access All Areas Film Festival, along with a guest speaker; Nick Morris O.A.M.

Nick holds a degree in Human Movement. Nick is an accredited accessibility consultant with the Accessibility Consultants Association of Australia and has qualifications for both the secondary and vocational educational sectors. In 1996 as part of the Aussie Rollers, he won a Paralympic Gold medal in Atlanta. In 1997 Nick was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his services to sport. After consulting on the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics, Nick was invited to become the inaugural expert accessibility advisor for the International Paralympic Committee which he did from 2004 – 2012. This required him to mentor organisers of Commonwealth, Asian, Pan American and Paralympic Games as to how to create accessibility within their cities. Nick has also been on ABC TV program “New Inventors” as a Judge and is currently a judge for the Australian Event Awards. Nick is an educator who has provided technical, motivational and structured presentations to a variety of clients. The messages vary from managing adversity to realisation of potential through to how to appropriately apply AS 1428 series and the DDA.

Nick, along with representatives from Expression Australia and Vision Australia will also be running a forum that highlights the need to create an accessible community for all. The forum will focus on designing and building accessible streetscapes and buildings. The forum will also provide insight into developing accessible communication methodologies for local government and local service provides.

The event also offers a number of all abilities activities, including wheelchair basketball, Blind Soccer, and all abilities table tennis along with a free BBQ cooked by Mooroopna Lions Club. There will be a series of short films being shown. The films are part of the Access All Areas Film Festival.

Greater Shepparton City Council will also be launching their recently completed Mobility Map Project.

Council’s Director Community Kaye Thomson said International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), is a day dedicated to placing greater emphasis on the celebration of abilities and achievements of people living with disability.

“It’s a great opportunity for bringing together individuals, businesses and community organisations to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions, skills and achievements of people with disability,” Ms Thomson said.

“I encourage individuals and organizations to come along and celebrate this important day."

This event is a partnership between many local organisations including Council, Mooroopna Lions Club, Family Care, and Aquamoves, Expression Australia, Valley Sport and Morris Goding Access Consulting.

Greater Shepparton’s International Day of People with Disability celebration will be held in the Shepparton Sports Stadium from 10am-2:30pm.

For more information contact Council on (03) 5832 9700.