Special Development School students stole the show at Bendigo’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability.
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Students showed off their circus skills to the crowds at a performance in Rosalind Park.
This was one of the many successes of the Bendigo event, which saw 21 organisations come together to celebrate inclusivity and access for all people in Bendigo.
Committee chairperson Pam Dawkins said she was “very happy” with how the event went.
She was pleased to see people with a disability and support organisations use the day as a chance to link up and interact.
“The day is about all of us enjoying the inclusiveness of our community, because sometimes we’re so used to segregating,” Ms Dawkins said.
“It’s just trying to break down those barriers and say no everyone can be included in everything we do, we just need to plan better.
“It allowed people with disabilities to try new things and new ventures.
Students “felt amazing” after performing their circus skills publicly according to Caroline Whitfort, Bendigo Special Development School’s Advance coordinator for later years.
The students learn to work with circus equipment as part of a Mind and Movement program in which they use trial and error to find solutions to movement challenges, work together and step out of their comfort zones.
“It’s a way of them learning through fun and it gives them a chance to actually excel at something, because it’s tailored to their abilities,” Ms Whitfort said.
“They were on a high. The whole day they were just fantastic, their behavior, everything was amazing.”
Uber also took advantage of the day to launch its uberASSIST ride-share service in Bendigo, which provides trained drivers for people with different accessibility needs, including people with a disability and senior citizens.
Huntly’s Jessica Stone was the first person to use the service in Bendigo.
Ms Stone who has an intellectual disability and autism volunteers, and works at the council as an inclusive town support officer.
To travel within Bendigo Ms Stone normally uses the bus.
If she misses the last one, Ms Stone gives her dad a call, but she said she can now get an Uber.
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