Disability Pride
10/11/2013
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent and President Rick Neagle have this morning launched d4d’s Upper House candidate team for the 2014 State Election.
“It gives me great pride to launch three Upper House candidates for the 2014 State Election,” said MLC Kelly Vincent.
“These candidates have an extraordinary depth of understanding in disability with either a lived experience of disability or as a parent carer of children with disabilities. They are all ferocious advocates for improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families and passionate about getting a better deal for all South Australians.
“Disability awareness and understanding has grown enormously in the past three and a half years but there’s still a long way to go – I look forward to working with Esther Simbi and her team to see further Dignity for Disability representation in the State Parliament from 2014.
President Rick Neagle echoed Kelly Vincent’s comments.
“With Kelly Vincent elected in 2010, increased state disability funding, and this year’s introduction of an National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), we have seen increased community awareness of disability as a human rights issue in South Australia,” said Rick Neagle.
“But more representation of disability matters is needed if our State Parliament is to reflect the community they represent. Nearly one in five South Australians have a disability so this is not an issue that can be ignored any longer.
The Upper House candidates are:
#1) Esther Simbi, 36, is a qualified human rights social worker with post-polio syndrome. She is the mother of a 3 year old daughter and is a Sudanese woman of refugee background. Ms Simbi has previously worked as a service coordinator and social worker within disability services and has been a volunteer settlement officer for the Migrant Resource Centre. After spending 19 years in refugee camps in Uganda, Ms Simbi migrated to Australia in 2005.
“I want to see people with disabilities have a voice, and access, in our community. For too long the rights of people with disabilities have not been recognised,” said Upper House candidate Esther Simbi.
#2) Garry Connor, 51, is a father of five, including being the parent-carer of two sons with profound autism. Originally a fitter and turner, Mr Connor and his family relocated from Port Pirie to Adelaide five years ago to better access services for his sons. He is a volunteer presenter for Parents Helping Parents and wants to see a better deal for people with autism and their families.
#3 Tiffany Littler, 24, is a graphic design assistant who lives with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Ms Littler lives independently in accessible social housing and sits on a range of disability consumer reference groups. She is a strong advocate for legitimate consultation of people with disabilities to have choice and control in their lives.
