YES, it is a perfect time to celebrate!

As our friends at Channel magazine celebrate their 100 publication, we at YES are also celebrating.

15 years ago the combined Rotary Clubs of the North Shore partnered with community to build a “hub” that could house organisations committed to providing services to people with disabilities; a purpose-built facility that belonged to the community.

I have had the opportunity to reflect on the impact that we have made and the changes that have occurred in both the sector and the community. What a journey it has been – from breaking a world record, to anti-bullying workshops, to breaking down silos and forming a working collaborative impact model with other services providers, to running nationwide services such as Carabiner mentoring for young people with disabilities, and providing the community with up to date relevant disability information.     

Amongst all the events, workshops, projects and everyday information sharing, one thing stands above the rest, and that is people. The people who have dropped in because they had no idea where to go or how to access services, the families that just needed extra support to get to the next step. The young people that could not find services and found filling out multiple forms too hard, the isolated people, the people who just needed information, the young leaders that have emerged from our youth engagement group that co-design, co-create and co-facilitate many of the services and projects here at YES. The people who call and drop in for a chat, the services that call the YES building home and the people who have supported and funded our services.

Yes, this is the perfect time to celebrate and as we celebrate we continue to have firsts (the first youth with disabilities conference, “I Lead”, and "Voyager Re-Imagine” a photoshoot and exhibition celebrating diversity and inclusion), know that we are celebrating YOU, all of YOU, there is nothing more important in the world than people.   

These are a few photos from the last year, visits from Ministers, commissioners, directors and of course people with disabilities planning front and centre.


By: , YES Disability Resource Centre News: with Sonia Thursby (CEO)
sonia@yesdisability.org.nz

Issue 100 July 2019