Unlocking potential: support for children with disability

You can watch the full recording here: https://youtu.be/q5n-bQGCdFI

*TRIGGER WARNING* This recording contains a discussion that touches on self-harm and spousal abuse at the one hour mark (around 1:05:00). Listener discression is advised and for support you visit beyondblue.org.au or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

You can read the transcript of the event here.

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Summary

• This event was about targeted foundational supports for children, which are supports for children who are not part of the NDIS. We wanted to know what good support looks like for children, their families and their supporters.
• The event was hosted by Todd Winther, who is a policy expert in the disability sector,  and Sara Gingold who is a writer. They both are people with disability.
• Todd and Sara briefly talked about the recent Federal Government announcement about the Thriving Kids Program, which is a program to support children with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism, but we still don’t know how the program will be rolled out.
• Then we heard from Sarah and Stella Barton. Sarah is Stella’s mother, and she shared her experience of navigating support for Sara at a young age before the NDIS existed. Stella also talked about how important it is to listen to children about how they want to be supported and decisions around their care.
• We also heard from Gretchen Young from SNAICC, which stands for Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care. SNAICC is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. 
• Gretchen talked about the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have access to culturally safe support. Culturally safe support means people feel safe, respected and feel like they belong to a community based on shared ideas. 
• Then we heard from Akii Ngo, who shared their experience growing up without any support. They spoke about stigma and lack of understanding within their culture. They talked about the importance of sharing experiences, even when they are traumatic, if it helps others have the knowledge they need to get the right support. 
• They talked about how important it is to have community. They speak up for themselves because they feel safe and supported.
• The event closed with an invitation to the audience about the next Open Dialogue about how people with disability can prepare and stay safe during weather-related disasters.

Our speakers

Todd Winther
Todd is a political nerd with an academic background in political leadership, party politics, and disability policy who has taught these subjects at multiple universities. He is an NDIS Participant with a severe form of Cerebral Palsy. Todd spends every day of his life fighting for the political and human rights of people with disabilities. It is his mission and his passion. Todd uses his personal experiences and storytelling to empower others and create a more equitable world.

Sara Gingold
Sara is the Editor-in-Chief of DSC’s Resource Hub. She personifies the voice of DSC in her own passionate style and prides herself on her research skills and fact-finding ability. Diagnosed with ME/CFS in 2012, Sara’s lived experience of disability shines through in her work and she is a highly skilled, authoritative NDIS commentator. She began her career overseeing innovative Cambodian education projects and has quickly become an indispensable part of the DSC team.Stella Barton
Stella Barton is a disability rights advocate and Paralympian. She attended Shelford Girls Grammar and also has a Bachelor of Arts from Swinburne University. In 2024 she competed at the Paris Paralympics in the Grade 1 Para Dressage, scoring over 70% in all her events and coming 7^th from a field of 22 riders in her grade. Stella has been involved in activism around accessible public transport and has also presented community radio programs for SYN FM and 3CR.

Sarah Barton
Sarah Barton is a 2010 Churchill Fellow with 30 years’ filmmaking experience. Her first film Untold Desires (1994) about sexuality and disability won the first Logie Award for SBS television and an AFI Award.  In 2003 Sarah created and produced 70 episodes of the award-winning disability community television series No Limits. In 2017 Sarah’s feature documentary Defiant Lives about the disability rights movement premiered at Sydney Film Festival and also screened at the United Nations in New York.  In 2024 Sarah was a member of the Australian Paralympic team as the key support person for her daughter Stella who competed in the Paris Paralympics in para-dressage.  Sarah is currently making a feature documentary about comedian and disability activist Stella Young. 

Gretchen Young
Gretchen is a Gadigal/Eora descendent from Redfern NSW and, before relocating to Melbourne, lived in northern NSW, Bundjalung country, for many years.  She has over 25 years’ experience in organisational leadership roles, including State and National Peaks, human services, community development and strategic reform. She also has extensive program/service delivery experience, including mobilising large staff teams. 

Gretchen joined SNAICC in 2022 and is a crucial member of the SNAICC executive team as the Executive Director Programs.  Prior to working at SNAICC she worked in primary health and community health settings and has led large community-based sector development non-government organisations in NSW for many years.  

Gretchen is passionate about the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.   

About Disability Dialogue

Who We Are

The Disability Dialogue brings people with disability together to talk about issues that matter to us.

Our Values

• We create a safe space for people with disability, their families, friends and supporters
• We believe people with disability are experts in our own lives
• We are led by people with disability

Why This Matters

We want to:

• Generate big ideas
• Find partners to bring good ideas to life
• Improve the systems and services we use

Our Partners

The Disability Dialogue is a joint initiative of:

• DANA
• Inclusion Australia
• Alliance 20
• Melbourne Disability Institute

We are funded through an Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) grant from the Department of Social Services (DSS) and also acknowledge the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.