Community organisation
This category recognises not-for-profit, community-based organisations that have consistently and over a substantial period of time:
- promoted community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with a disability
- supported people with a disability to be involved in their community
- improved community access for people with a disability.
Awards were presented in the following two sub-categories.
Disability organisation - sponsored by Randstad
This award recognises an organisation whose charter is to provide services to the disability sector.
Award recipient: AEIOU - for Children with Autism
AEIOU Chief Executive Officer, Alan SmithAEIOU is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing early intervention and learning programs for children aged 2½ to 5 who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. There are currently five centres in Queensland helping more than 100 children and their families.
AEIOU strives to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential and transition into mainstream education. This is done by helping children develop the necessary skills to communicate, socialise and adapt to their unique sensory processing issues.
Children are supported full-time by a team of speech pathologists, occupational therapists and early childhood teachers who create an intensive individual program to meet the specific needs of each child and family. AEIOU recognises that families are the key people in supporting a child's development, so working closely with a child's parents and siblings is an integral part of the program.
Children with autism who successfully transition from the AEIOU early intervention program to mainstream primary schooling eliminate the need to access special education services.
Through increased awareness and fundraising campaigns, AEIOU endeavours to provide services to as many Queensland children as possible and will continue to expand services to all families regardless of cultural, social or economic background.
Community association - sponsored by Ipswich City Council
This award will be presented to an association or organisation whose core business is not directly disability related but has introduced measures to promote the social inclusion of people with a disability.
Award recipient: Disabled Surfers Association of Australia Inc - Gold Coast
Disabled Surfers Association of Australia Inc representative, Ross BattyDisabled Surfers Association of Australia provides opportunities for people with a disability to experience the sport of surfing. With the motto 'Surfers helping surfers', the organisation not only offers the experience of riding the waves but also providing social access and inclusion to people with a disability.
The organisation exists on the goodwill of volunteers who run surfing days once a month during summer at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast, helping people with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability to enjoy surfing.
The organisation places great importance not only on surfing but also the social aspect of being part of a group. At the end of the day's surfing, volunteers, participants and family members enjoy a barbecue together, offering opportunities to make genuine friendships.
People with a disability are not the only ones who gain from being part of the group. Gold Coast association president Craig Castles says being involved in the program changes the lives of volunteers and once they have volunteered it's hard for them to stop.
Last reviewed: 01 October 2009