In partnership with its Disability Advisory Committee, Hepburn Shire Council is hosting three events to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. The day aims to increase public awareness and understanding of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
A community talk will be held in Daylesford on Thursday 1 December, with special guest speaker and blind advocate Karan Nagrani.
Karan is legally blind, but if you passed him in the street it’s likely you wouldn’t know. Diagnosed at the age of 11 with a degenerative genetic condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa , the now 36-year-old only has a fraction of his vision remaining. In a few years he will lose whatever little vision he has left.
Karan is also the first openly LGBTIQA+ person to be nominated for Blind Australian of the Year. Karan is dedicated to helping people across the globe understand that blindness is a spectrum and normalise being gay and having a disability.
“International Day of People with Disability is a chance for all of us to challenge the way we think about disability and help Hepburn Shire become more inclusive,” said Mayor, Cr Brian Hood.
Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) member David Moten encouraged community members to come along to the talk or head to a drop-in session at Clunes or Creswick. “We’re hoping to talk to community members about the DAC and promote the experiences of people with disability in the Shire,” said David. “We’ll also be talking to people about the new Disability Action Plan and how it relates to people living with disability, their friends and family.”
A community event for the International Day for People with Disability will be held Thursday 1 December from 2pm to 4pm in the Victoria Park sports pavilion in Daylesford. Guest speakers include Karan Nagrani, Chillout Director Em Ireland and Annabel Pitt from Vision Australia.
Council also encourages you to attend drop-in sessions to discuss ideas for the new Disability Action Plan. A drop-in session led by DAC members Andrew Brown and John Condon will be held in Clunes on Friday 2 December from 10.30am to 12 noon outside The Warehouse in Clunes.
Another drop-in session led by DAC member David Moten will be held in Creswick on Friday 2 December from 1pm to 2.30pm outside the IGA supermarket or inside the Creswick Hup in the case of inclement weather.
