Embracing diversity for people living with cerebral palsy

Each year on October 6, people around the world come together to celebrate and support those living with cerebral palsy.

The day is about embracing diversity and helping to create a more accessible future for everyone. To celebrate this year we chatted to one of our long term customers Dale to hear what she has to say about her dreams, how technology has the potential to support her goals and more!

Dale loves coffee, shopping, going to concerts and living life to the fullest. She has cerebral palsy and has been accessing Northcott’s services for over 40 years – ever since she was 3 years old! She says, “I’ve been here for so long and I’m not about to go anywhere! Northcott is my comfort zone.”

She went to the Northcott School back in the day and now accesses Northcott’s day programs and therapy services. She is at Northcott almost every day and the days she’s not there she usually spends time with her mum, getting coffee and watching movies.

Dream job

Dale’s dream job is to work as a travel agent. She loves travelling  and has visited America, England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, France, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Germany, Russia, Sweden and many more countries!

However due to the barriers in society she feels like getting a role as a travel agent would be really difficult.

Dale is the type of person who doesn’t let her disability define her. It’s just one part of who she is not all of her.

Dale believes that improving assistive technology could provide her with the extra support she needs to be a travel agent. Assistive technology like voice to text devices and accessible office equipment could give her that extra bit of support to perform the job. She says “I know that there are accessibility barriers, but I know I can overcome them especially with improved assistive technology. I just want to show an employer what I can do.”