Green light for disability centre

By Sarah Schwager
PEOPLE with disabilities in the southeast will finally have their voices heard.
A new advocacy service, the Disability Resources Centre (DRC), will open a Dandenong branch at a forum in Narre Warren next Monday.
The service will cover Casey, Cardinia, Dandenong, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula and Kingston municipalities.
DRC chairperson Graham Smith said the service was important in providing individuals with support to achieve their human rights.
“The Disability Resources Centre is proud to be able to begin addressing the strong need for advocacy support in Melbourne’s southeast growth corridor,” Mr Smith said.
“Our aim is to ensure that all Victorians with disabilities enjoy the same citizenship rights and life opportunities as other members of society.
“Finally, people with disabilities will have access to a service in their local area to help make this happen.”
The DRC is wholly staffed and directed by people with disability and has been providing advocacy for adults with disability for over twenty years
To celebrate the new service, there will be a launch and forum on Monday 19 September at Narre Community Learning Centre in Narre Warren.
The keynote speaker will be Michael Uniacke, Community Consultant in Disability at the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria.
Mr Smith said the forum would allow local people with disabilities to have their say about the issues which affect them, and to start planning ways to resolve them.