Can you see my abilities

(c) Original Artwork by Debbie Chilton 

When people see me rolling down the street the make assumptions.  Don't tell me otherwise because I am guilty over the same thing.  A large of weight (the 'fat' word often followed by lazy comes to my mind.) struggling to walk towards Macer's in the food court . . . only the keep walking and order at subways.  Our eyes make many judgments. But as I have just illustrated, judgments are often incorrect.  Our eyes often see disabilities that registered in 'our mines' and Aline with other memories to form conclusions. Physical disability = intellectual disability, not so true in my case. 

People can see I clearly have disabilities but my true abilities are hidden.  Not many people in the community would assume I was a writer and artist and ever few would twig I have an Art's Degree.  Just making a general observation here that may be correct or incorrect. My piece of artwork above asks, ' can you see my abilities'?

I've not posted about my artwork or progress of leadership goals for a while.  Been so busy working on achieving them.  I have continued to spend one day a week on creating my art however a large portion of my week is spent developing my ArtISability program. 

   ArtISability is a professional development program I am developing for people with disability living in the Ipswich regional. Artist with disabilities have obstacles other artist don't face in a very competitive industry. Such as phsyical access to venues, art space, travel, finding accessible accommodation, access to training and workshop do to intellectual impairments, hearing impairments, visual impairement and reading written materials and all this is before we begin to deal with the assumptions others make about our disabilities.

One of the main focus of artisability is getting the creative space right.  The difficulty in locating accessible accomondation and art space in Ipswich is challegenes, which is something that tells me the huge need I will uncover for the program as physical access it the tip of the iceberg.  How do I move forward to create an accessible market place on graduation from the program. 

I also need an accessible art gallery to exhibit the work.  Then theres' all the everday challenges that every artist has as the begin.  My employment (earning money) vs my passion art work/life balance even as a arts worker this is a challenge, finance, marketing travel and training all need to be juggled in their too.

Training and learning support is the key component of the program, accessing training is differcult enough, without the access issues, learning support need for those who can't read or write or hear.  A spech impairment itself brings access issues.  So the program in focus around providing accessible training with the phsyical and learning support people need in place.  Things like accessing a support worker without having the burden of the cost.  Just trying to level the playing flied. 

As an artist with disability I know the reality of these challenges which is why I am setting up a facebook page to promote my work.  e 

     Doodles & Dribble

People can read about my work, view my work, find out where my work is on display and even purchase my work.  For now I am doing much of my own design work, so lagging a bit on the computer tech stuff but overall I am building some monment.  At present I have some work in the Ipswich show and next month I am off to Tassie for my first art show.  

From previous posts you have read my advocacy work and I still have six months left in the leadership program. . . 

If you can share the link to Doodles and Dribble with your friends and family I be beautiful for the free advertising. Oh an if you know any artists with disability living in Ipswich Queensland please tell them about the ArtISability program.  They can email me for an application form.

Cheers,

Debbie   

TOGETHER BIG THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

Though networking with others Marlena makes her jump!

Leadership is not about me!

Leadership is not about me or my recognition. Leadership is about the network and the team I gathering around me.  It about selecting people like Marlena who I can draw from, be inspired, gain encouragement, confide in, to partnership with.  In the past I would say, there's no I in team! As you probably noticed there is no 'I' in the word leadership either, nor is it possible to be a leader if there's no team,  (formal or informal) to connect to.

One of my passions is to raise community awareness about the achievements of people with disabilities to showcase what is possible when stereotypes are challenged! One reason for this is to provide role models for other people with disabilities.  To challenge them to stretch themselves.  It is not possible to do this on my own, I may be an inspiration to my friends, but there are so many different types of disabilities with varying degrees of severity (which I am still learning about), that I can't be a role model for every person with a disability in Ipswich.  

The other aspect, is we need to promote acceptance in the general community. While transport access, physical access and educational access are all important to address. Our biggest barrier still remain community attitudes based around misconceptions of the true capabilities of people with disabilities whether they are physical, intellectual, behavioural, sensory, communication, or psychological people with disabilities can all participate in the community given the right type of support. Day centres and respite are about the careers needs not about providing activities for people with disabilities. Yes, they have a role to play but they should never become the focus of clients lives. We need to challenge the mindsets of decision makers, business owners and employers in order to create a social inclusive community.   To that needs a whole mob of people not a single leader with a vision. 

We need leaders like Marlena who model determination and courage in the face of opposition and resistance to keep knocking until the doors to access all areas are open.  Just as Marlena's sky diving jump today was not possible with out a network of friends and supports around her, my leadership dreams are impossible until I form a team around me.

We in this together!

Debbie           

Life Without Limits!

Dreaming Big Dreams

What do Nick Vujcic,  Marlena May Katene  and Joni Erikson Tada have in common?  They are incredible gifted individuals living life to the full, embracing every opportunity that life presents. Each one has embarked on a quality of leadership the will lead us well into tomorrow.

The fact that each of these three people has a disability does not escape me, as I seek to explore, discover and develop my own leadership style, these are the people I look towards.  For any journey towards geniune leadership is not take alone, but traveled with companions of like minded people. A true leader will surround themselves with other leaders, in the field they wish to work.

Nick Vujcic
"Living life with a purpose!"

 Nick was born with "no arms and no legs." Nick grew up in South East Queensland, but now lives with his beautiful wife in the US. This young couple are now awaiting the birth of their first child.  While Tom Cruise wanted to jump on Oparh's coach, Nick was  happy to give Oparh an arm less hug today.

Nick heads up an International Ministry, traveling the world sharing his stories of being bullied, thinking life would be a whole lot better if he only had arms and legs to keep up with the other kids.  Nick now spends his time speaking to young people telling them, he was wrong and God had much bigger plans for his life.

 From the above picture you woudn't know it but Joni is a quardpeadjic and while on land needs to use a wheelchair for mobility purposes. I first heard Joni's story from my friend Jo Briggs who had become a parpegtic after a horse riding accident. Some time later a shared in my first team role I was interested in becoming a writer. Back then I wanted to write my autobiography. So while I went on to complete my studies in Behavioural Science and further trained as a Christian Youth Worker I read Joni's triliogy of autobiographies.

Joni like my friend Jo acquired a life changing disability in her late teens. Instead of being angry and bitter she used her Christian faith to triumph over adversity. Just like Nick she heads up an International Ministry where as nick inspires young people around the world and has a very strong anti-bulling message. Joni workers with her husband Ken (pictured at the back of the boat) in the disability community.   

Joni and Friends Ministries Family Camps 

In addition to he ministry, and her determination to raise money to purchase wheelchairs so people in third world countries can experience mobility and a full life, Joni is a author, singer and artist. If anyone challenges the limits of her disability and the realm of possibilities this lady does.

Print by Joni Erikenson Tada
Here work can be purchased at
Joni and Friends Store

"Were in this together"

Marlena (in the blue) is no strange to my blog.  It Marlena's and fellow 2012 Leaders for Tomorrow Graduates direct footsteps I am following in. I think in a post last week I used a throw away line, 'The sky is the limit.' Marlena corrected this on facebook today, by reminding up that mans footsteps are on the moon and 'the sky' does not limit us at all.  Marlena in her true leadership style is gather people around her as she continues to build on her leadership.  Currently, she is inviting her facebook friends to write a bucket list with her and she is drawing a circle of people around her to enable her to tick off each item if her list.

On top of her bucket list is . . . a trip to the edge a space, some how though I can't help feeling she will find away to top even that achievement.

To the edge of space and beyond

These are not only leaders in chosen flied but provide witness in my personal quest to challenge and bust the myths that surrounds those of us living with the obstacles of our disabilities. At present Marlena is in a battle to prove herself as a intellectual woman who knows her own mind.  She is the last person who would except tokenism or allow herself to be patronized   Sadly many people refuse to accept that CP is not an intellectual disability. Centuries of carrying this misconception are proving difficult to erode  As Marlena U-tube journalism videos go viral, this wide spread misconception continues to be exposed .

The girl without fear. . .

Marlenea Takes to The Sky

As I embark on my 2013 journey there and achieving my goals there are many obstacles I fear. One is living within my own limitations, something I don't do well.  I find myself wanting to embrace every opportunity and make the most of each day.  Despite living with chronic illness and pain for 20 years it still cramps my style.

While there's no hiding the fact I have cerebral palsy, I do my best to hid my other disabilities and work around them to achieve my dream.  If I think about living sensible I find I can manage my fear. I can hope, I can dream and achieve.   I am by nature a person that like organisation and planning.  Growing up it was these skills that enable my to thrive, however living with unseen disabilities that only my closest friends understand the skills can also be my undoing.  I often know when my dairy looks overloaded, but dealing with it and preventing it is another story.

Often the hardest thing is comparing myself to other people. Look what their achieving they have CP too.  Often it is others with disabilities who don't see what I manage to hide so well who want to push me to do more and play harder. And by comparing myself to them I do myself no favors.

I am confident I can achieve the goals I have set myself for 2013 if I play by my rules and listen to my body and its needs.  While my mentors are going to have their over suggestions I need to be focus in my mind with determination not to let others push my boundaries.  

Yes Marlena is a wonder example of someone who pushes the boundaries and challenges the norm.  However I would do well to remember Marlena is Marlena! She is on her own leadership journey and her goals are very different to mine. Our approaches to life many look very different, but we have similar leaderships goals and values around not being stereotyped and what a world of social inclusion should look like.  So I'll leave jumping out of planes to Marlena, she is after all, a few years my junior and I get on with preparing works of art for my  art exhibition. That way my fears are at least keep at bay.

Adventure All The Way!

Wow! I thought I have a spirit of get-up-and-go! I have tried to live my life determined that my disabilities would never define who I am and what I could achieve.  And in the main I have been fairly successfully, achieving all my mild stones goals. Like attending university, writing a book,  even living independently and now looking at making my art more publicly available.   However, my very limited understanding of what is possible has recently been challenged.

Sight Seeing in New York

This challenge came from one of the 2012 graduates’ of The Leaders for Tomorrow, “Wild Thing!” Marlena Katene, a young lady that obviously has no time to worry about how others may perceive her; preconceptions of what people with profound disabilities can achieve; what is safe or normal. Make no mistake this is a woman who knows her own mind and sets her own agenda.

Marlena Tackles Human Nature 

My first introduction to Marlena and her journalistic talents was on U-tube Marlena interviewing Rove . Marlena has big ambitions  in terms of her career goals,  such as being the next Molly Meldom, minus the hat of course. I must say given she is still a student  and has already has interviewed the likes of Rove, Snoope Dog & Wynter Gordon, Joel Parkinson, Ricky Martin, Delta Goodrem and the guys from Human Nature, she has already earned respect as a journalist in the entertainment industry and has a huge career ahead of her.

Marlena Chatting with Delta Goodrem

Outstanding achievements for any young woman of 22 years of age, yet astonishingly Marlena has little control over her vocal cords and needs to use her ipad to communication and the frustration the relying on technology to assist this process. However Marlena holds not fears and seems to be the kind of person to jumps in with two feet and worries about technical hitches later.

Yet her journalist interests are only one layer to the life this lady lives at full speed. Marlena is very entrepreneurial  in her outlook on the future and in not way content to sit back and wait for opportunities to come her way.  Currently she runs a jumping castle business on the Gold Coast.  It seems this amazing lady has a huge personality the draws people into a small team around her to get things done.  Not sure how much she pays her staff to lug these huge jumping castles round to birthday parties and markets every weekend. Rest assure Marlena Katene is one Australian with a disability who is not going to rely on your tax payer dollars to support her.

Marlen's latest addition to her castle kingdom.
Burliegh Bouncers
Jumping Castle Hire

While my dreams involve tackling Disability Awareness in Ipswich so people with all types of disabilities can have a voice in their choose life path Marlena is tackling the world head on and holding her head up high.  With people like Marlena beside me I am confident a world of social inclusion is not very far off.

The world is Marlena's playground and her journey just began . . . 

I believe in tomorrows becoming todays. However Marlena my friend I am still not coming skydiving with you next week!  

Leadership Dreams

In December I was fortunate enough to join the Leaders for Tomorrow Program. The program is funding by the federal government. In my understanding it is a prequel to the NDIS. The program is about support people with a disability to embark in leadership roles in sport, arts, culture, employment and government to name a few of the options. 

I  am really excited as I started my leadership dreamings and exploring some goals I like to take a stab at in 2013 and beyond.

Leadership Retreat December 2012

My Leadership Dreams

My leadership dreams center around full social inclusion for people with a disability in the Ipswich region. In my travels I meet many people with a disability who I think could help shape Ipswich into a great city for people to live, work and play, however aren’t given the opportunity to do so. During 2013 I want to gain skills to enable me to encourage other people with disabilities to be more active in our community, workplace and decision making processes.

Not side by side, where people with disabilities have an opportunity to shape their futures, rather where people with disabilities work with others in the community to influence the future directions of this great city.

Big dream huh? That’s just what they are dreams rather than goals. However, while my local community is my target, eventually there’ll be 200 leaders with a disability across Australia working towards similar goals. 

My goals span over a 10 year period, so you’ll be happy to know, I’m not planning to achieve this in 2013! Currently I have 4 goals I wanting to work towards.  Some goals will be completed by 2014 but most won’t.

  

My Leadership Goals

I am hoping my passion for the ‘arts’ will take center stage in 2013, as I work towards achieving my goals! Including working towards my own art exhibition in 2014!

2.   An art retreat to train artists with a disability in the West Morten Area in their area of arts interest.

3.   Working towards Disability Awareness in Ipswich city.

4.   Training and mentoring people with a disability who seek to engage in leadership positions which  will enable them to help shape the future of this region.

While my goals centew around working with people with disabilities in 2013, my dream is this will launch then into main stream community involvements through their own individual interests, whether the be sporting, leisure, the arts, leadership in the workplace, education, advocacy roles, community roles or political.

Of course a large part of my dream is dependent on the introduction of the NDIS.  So as part of my new role is  assisting with Disability Awareness in the Blair.

Looking forward to sharing my leadership journey through out the year.