AMIDA NEWS Print Post Approved P.P 100000326 May, 2015 AMIDA (Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation) is a disability advocacy group that works on housing issues. This means we speak up for people with a disability or help them to speak up for themselves about problems they have with their housing. Des McIntosh (18th August, 1953 – 7th February, 2015) AMIDA is sad to inform you that one of our most active and long term members, Des McIntosh passed away in February this year. AMIDA and Reinforce held a memorial for Des on 30th May and it was a chance for his old friends and colleagues to reminisce about him, and talk about his great work over many years. Des was a keen participant in AMIDA and the Raising Our Voices radio show on 3CR and made many, many shows over the 27 years it has been running. Des was attending a day service called Gawith Villa when he first heard about self-advocacy – that is where he met Doug Pentland and Janice Johnston (Slattery). He went along to one of the camps and then got involved in Reinforce in 1981. He was really proud of his work as President of Reinforce self advocacy in the 1990s when they had to work hard to get money to keep the organisation running – he says he did a lot of work to “keep the doors open”. Other happy memories were of the ‘Plain English Less Jargon’ project where he starred in the video and along with Doug Pentland went around Victoria showing people the video. Des said the idea for this project came about because the government brought out the Disability 10 year plan and people with an intellectual disability could not understand it – so they got money to write a consumer version and do the project. He and Doug also did a lot of talks at schools, TAFE colleges and the police training organisation. Going to the self-advocacy conference in Tacoma Washington in 1984 was another highlight for him. While Des has moved around a lot he has always tried to keep in touch with AMIDA and Reinforce and really valued his time with both organisations and its members. He also participated in a ‘come and try radio session’ at a Having a Say Conference where he got everyone in the room to have a go being on the radio by asking them to come up and speak into the mike. Only a few were willing until Des asked them who was the best footy team in Australia. As you can guess everyone wanted a say on that one and Des was in his element talking and joking with everyone. For most of his life Des had a smile on his face and a joke at the ready. He was a stirrer in the best sense, whether it was to get you to laugh or to take notice of an important issue. He was passionate about the rights of people with a disability and he made others take notice and made them change things for the better. We won’t forget you Des but we will miss you. AMIDA has developed a Vision & Mission Statement which was adopted at the Committee Meeting on 12th May: Our Vision AMIDA supports people with a disability as valued members of our community. AMIDA recognises that people with disability contribute to and develop our community. AMIDA acknowledges that people with disabilities have a right to a choice of who they live with and where they live. Further, people with disabilities have a right to good quality housing which is accessible, affordable and non-institutional. People with disabilities have a right to live in the community with access to support to participate and have a good quality of life. Our Mission AMIDA is an independent advocacy organisation which advocates for good housing for people with disabilities. We provide advocacy to individuals, with priority given to people with an intellectual disability, and advocate for change in systems which prevent people from achieving good housing. AMIDA strongly supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability and works to assert these rights and community inclusion for people with a disability. AMIDA has recently made the following submissions : Senate Inquiry into Violence and Abuse in residential settings Senate Inquiry into Adequacy of residential services for young people with disabilities. Senate Inquiry into the impact of Department of Social Services tendering process. NDIS - Information, Linkages and Capacity building NDIS - Safeguarding and Quality Framework Endorsement of the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design call for minimum access features in all new housing. Raising Our Voices Raising Our Voices Radio show on 3CR 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6.00 – 6.30pm Raising Our Voices is now podcast. Go to: www.3cr.org.au and download Raising Our Voices to your computer. Copies of the radio shows are available from AMIDA on CD or audio tape, website www.amida.org.au As thousands of people across the country mobilise against the Abbott government, 3CR Community Radio is asking its listeners and supporters of independent media to join the resistance by giving money to the station during our Annual Radiothon. Every $90 raised pays for one more hour of independent radio. 3CR’s Annual Radiothon is coming from 1 – 14 June! This is your opportunity to join the resistance. With escalating attacks on Medicare, trade unions, Indigenous people, asylum seekers, pensioners and people with a disability, the scene is set for a tumultuous few years and it is more important than ever, that radio stations like 3CR continue to thrive. 3CR is well placed to provide a serious account of what’s happening in the world because our broadcasters are active participants in it. Our broadcasters are West Papuan freedom fighters, CFMEU officials, disability activists and East-West tunnel picketers. Our independence means we are able to provide news and analysis from the ground up, without worrying about what advertisers will think or what the ratings or opinion polls say because the issues we cover on-air are determined by people in the community. This year the Raising Our Voices target is $550 and we are writing to ask you to make a donation to invest in keeping our station on the air. You can make your tax-deductible donation by: • Paying online with credit card at: www.3cr.org.au; • Phoning (03) 9419 8377 or pay in person at 21 Smith St, Collingwood (business hours) • Mailing a cheque or money order made out to 3CR May, 2015 The AMIDA office is usually open: Monday 9.30 - 5.00 Tuesday 9.30 – 5.00 Wednesday 9.30 - 5.00 Thursday 9.30 - 5.00 Please phone AMIDA for an appointment: 9650 2722 Email: amida@amida.org.au Web: www.amida.org.au AMIDA, 1st Floor, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane Melbourne Vic 3000 Phone: 9650 2722 Inc. No. A0016085V Print Post Approved PP 100000326 *Disclaimer: AMIDA does not recommend any product, activity, organisation, service or item – such details are provided within the AMIDA NEWS for general information and interest only. All information contained within is as accurate as possible and is provided in good faith – however it is not guaranteed. AMIDA receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services, and the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services You can offer any comments you have on AMIDA Policy or Newsletter by phone, email or writing: AMIDA, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 Phone: 9650 2722 Email: amida@amida.org.au Web: www.amida.org.au ABN 32993870380, Inc. No. A0016085V May, 2015