Discover how the NDIS will benefit our region

Eurobodalla Shire Council supports and provides services to people with disability and will host a free festival of ideas called Voice, Choice and Control on 12-13 September to explore how the Eurobodalla can create a social and business community that encourages, welcomes and values the participation of people with disability.

People with disability and their families, along with local businesses and service providers, are invited to attend the forum and hear about the local benefits and opportunities that will be provided by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and DisabilityCare Australia.

Mayor, Lindsay Brown says the NDIS is expected to enhance the lives of people with disability in our region.

"It will increase choices for people with disability by providing them with an alternative to traditional formal care and support services and putting more emphasis on linking them to mainstream and generic services," said Cr Brown.

He says council has an advocacy role to support improved equity and inclusion for people with disability. "We can help by building our community's capacity which will make it easier for people with disability to participate in everyday life," Cr Brown said.

Nineteen percent of people in Eurobodalla have a disability. "With their friends and families, the number is even bigger and every one of them is a potential customer, so as a community we need to be responsive." said Cr Brown.

The first day of the Voice, Choice and Control event will provide information and share ideas and stories with families to help them plan for their future," said Cr Brown, adding that the much-loved local band, Ironic Circus, will provide some great music to finish off the day.

The NDIS will also provide economic benefits and opportunities to local businesses, the Mayor said.

"I invite business owners and operators to come to the second day of the Voice, Choice and Control forum to learn more about how they can make their goods and services accessible to all people, including people with disability, and how they can maximise their business."

DAY ONE: Thursday 12 September 2013 Information for people with disability and the community Guest speakers include: Katherine McLellan, Communications Officer for National Disability Service; Barbel Winter from My Choice Matters, Gail Stephens from council's Disability Advisory Committee, Nathan Basha, a 22 year old entrepreneur from Sydney, and Jaquie Mills and her son Ely Dickenson from WA.

DAY TWO: Friday 13 September 2013 Information for business owners and service operators Guest speakers include: Executive Director for the National Council on Intellectual Disability, Mark Pattison, Sharon Piert from Edgewater Gardens, Kathy Godwin and her daughter, Liz Godwin, and Jo and Nathan Basha from Sydney.

More information is availalbe online here: Voice, Choice and Control event. To register to attend, call 4474 1300 or send an email to [email protected].

Voice, Choice and Control has been fully funded by a number of NSW and Australian Government grants.