A new Geelong youth inclusion team aiming to give “people of diverse abilities” a voice held its first meeting yesterday.
Nelson Park School captain Breanna Deleo joined several other inaugural members setting the foundations for the group’s efforts.
“I’m feeling excited and happy,” the 18-year-old from Grovedale said yesterday.
“It’s just a space where people can communicate, even if they have a disability like me.”
Breanna has mild cerebral palsy in her right leg, although few would suspect it at the pace that she runs.
“Most people, you can never tell if they have a disability,” she said.
She hopes the team can be a platform to share concerns raised by her fellow students, discuss issues like bullying, accessibility and perceptions toward people with disabilities, and help others.
“People talk to me about their issues, because I’m in a position where I can help and give them advice,” she said.
“We can learn different ways to communicate and maybe cook or make blankets for people.”
After four years of learning sign language (Auslan), she wanted to help deaf people have a greater voice too.
Rights Information Advocacy Centre’s Rachael Thompson hoped to build the team members’ advocacy skills and let them guide the group’s direction.
“We’re going to ask the students what they want,” she said.
“I’m really interested to know from them what their priorities and ideas for change are.”
The monthly meetings could also feature guest speakers, she said.
“If they want something, we’ll do what we can to make it happen.”
For details email advocacyinfo@riac.org.au.
Luke Voogt
