This Autism Awareness Month we sat down with Jessica Otter, mum of 2 and creator of @aussieautismfamily, an account with over 17k Instagram followers, 16k TikTok followers and over 26k Youtube subscribers.
On her social channels, Jess details her experience raising her son Jacob who is autistic and has ADHD. She does this in an informative and, sometimes, humorous ways by using current trends to raise awareness and support.
Manly Sea Eagles announce their partnership with What Ability
– April 2023 –
The Manly Sea Eagles has announced an exciting new partnership with disability support service What Ability.
What Ability is an NDIS provider that utilises professional and semi-professional athletes as support workers to provide community based experiences for people living with a disability, including swimming, bush walks, beach days, indoor activity facilities and holiday camps.
What Ability Media and Community Manager Todd Liubinskas said said the partnership will allow What Ability to bring more happiness to people living with a disability.
“”Manly will play an essential role in helping What Ability build and showcase an inclusive Australia,” Liubinskas said.
“With shared core values and a joint focus on inclusion, we are so excited to team up and harness the power of sport to break down barriers and existing perceptions of the disability sector.”
Manly players Sean Keppie, Tom Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Ben Trbojevic and Karl Lawton are all What Ability Ambassadors. The athletes go out on regular bookings and help to bring happiness to people with disabilities.
To follow this partnership, check out What Ability (@whatability) and Manly Sea Eagles (@manlyseaeagles) on socials or if you’re looking for disability support, head to https://whatability.com.au/services/need-support/ to find out more.
NSW Rugby League announce their partnership with What Ability
– April 2023 –
The NSWRL has announced an exciting new partnership with disability support service What Ability, which will include an inaugural award for ‘Inclusive Athlete of the Year’ to be presented at the 2023 Brad Fittler Medal.
What Ability is an NDIS provider that utilises professional and semi-professional athletes as support workers to provide community based experiences for people living with a disability, including swimming, bush walks, beach days, indoor activity facilities and holiday camps.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said it was a privilege to form a community partnership with What Ability as inclusion and diversity were among the core pillars of the game.
“What Ability is an industry leader in the disability sector, and we look forward to the opportunities this partnership will provide into the future,” Trodden said.
“I would like to thank What Ability for giving the NSWRL this opportunity to be part of the wonderful and rewarding work that they do.”
What Ability Media and Community Manager Todd Liubinskas said: “We are so excited to partner with NSWRL because we can bring both organisations together to really highlight diversity and inclusion in the Rugby League community.”
The Brad Fittler Medal is held at the end of the regular season for the NSWRL and includes awards for the men’s and women’s State of Origin teams, NSWRL Major Competitions and Junior Representatives Competitions, Referees, Rugby League Officials and Volunteers.
Trodden said it would be a welcome addition to have an award for ‘Inclusive Athlete of the Year.’
“The Brad Fittler Medal provides an opportunity for elite players to grassroots volunteers to be recognised for the outstanding contribution they have made to Rugby League that season,” Trodden said.
“It is only fitting that we have an award that acknowledges inclusion as it illustrates what the NSWRL stands for.”
What Ability was part of the recent ‘Inclusion Gala Day’ at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence which brought together 120 participants of all abilities and cultural backgrounds to enjoy a range of fun Rugby League activities and activations.
True Blues Jake and Tom Trbojevic, and Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues back-rower Shaylee Bent, headline a list of Rugby League ambassadors and other athletes who donate their time to provide positive experiences for people with disabilities.
What Ability CEO Belinda Woolford is also very excited about the partnership, commenting on the ‘synergies’ between the organisations. “Partnering with an organisation who shares our passion for inclusivity and embracing the power of sport to break down barriers and existing stigmas, is really special. We can’t wait to see what opportunities arise this year as both organisations work towards showcasing disability and inclusion at the forefront of Rugby League.”
To follow this partnership, check out What Ability (@whatability) and NSWRL (@nswrl) on socials or if you’re looking for disability support, head to https://whatability.com.au/services/need-support/ to find out more.
Hey Sydney! Ever wanted to kick a ball with intensity like Western Sydney Wanderer’s Tomi Juric? Or with style like Keanu Baccus?
Thanks to our friends at Westfield Burwood, we’ve got an exclusive hour during Easter holidays.
This April school holidays Western Sydney Wanderers will host a skills and drills clinic at Westfield Burwood exclusive for What Ability participants. Come down and get involved to learn all of the world game tips and tricks – with a specially tailored session for What Ability.
Our What Ability Day at AAMI Park was a huge success, bringing in over 50 athletes and 200 participants for a day of inflatable dartboard-throwing, soda-drinking, football-kicking fun. And media outlets were all over it!
Popular TV networks were keen to know exactly how these high-profile athletes were choosing to spend their weekend, and found out they were connecting with the community and bringing happiness to people living with a disability.
The Today Show – Weekend
The Weekend Today with hosts Clint Stanaway and Belinda Russell was one of these major programs. The hosts spoke to our What Ability athletes, Collingwood defender’s Brayden Maynard and Collingwood Super Netball’s Kelsey Browne. They wanted to know what the day involved, and it was here that our athletes revealed just how excited they were!
“It’s a really exciting day for What Ability. We can’t wait to have lots of fun! That’s the main purpose of today,” Browne said.
“I just feel like the main thing is bringing a smile to everyone’s faces. It’s a day where they can come out, they can have fun, everyone can enjoy themselves personally,” Maynard added.
7News
7News reporter Mitch Cleary came down for the day to showcase the fun activities and friendships between the athletes and participants.
“[The participants] are having fun and enjoying the time together and building relationships along the way,” Essendon Midfielder Darcy Parish explained.
“Having fun, that’s all we wanna do anyway,” said AAMI ambassador and friend of What Ability, Collingwood Forward’s Sabrina Frederick
Brayden Maynard and Carlton FC’s Caleb Marchbank were also interviewed, speaking about their upcoming games.
9News
Lastly, 9News interviewed Darcy Parish about what being a support worker at What Ability is like. Parish highlighted the importance of making sure the participant is heard.
“We get activities planned on our day job…it’s whatever the participant wants to do,” he informed.
Participants were also interviewed, and asked about what the best part of the day was.
“Being out here and also having fun,” they replied.
This waitlist has now closed. Head to our events page or Instagram account to find out when new events are announced!
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Our first What Ability Day of 2023 happened at AAMI Park and what a day it was!
The day brought the Melbourne community together for a day filled with athletes, activities, fun, smiles and of course, happiness.
What Ability has been active in Melbourne since October 2022, and this was a great chance to see how much we have grown since then.
Over 200 participants and 50 athletes, including Collingwood Magpies’ Kelsey Browne, Collingwood FC’s Brayden Maynard and Essendon FC’s Maddy Prespakis, came down for the day.
Participants had the best time kicking the ball around, throwing the frisbee, kicking at the dartboard and relaxing on the field alongside athletes from the top sporting codes.
Belinda Woolford, What Ability CEO said “Days like this reminds me why putting happiness first for people living with a disability is so important!”
“Seeing everyone having fun and enjoying themselves was such a joy, and it wouldn’t have been possible without our Major Partners, volunteers and our What Ability athletes.”
“Your commitment to inclusion and support for those with disabilities is truly inspiring, and we hope to continue to work together to make our community a more inclusive place.”
The event was even featured by the Weekend Today with Clint Stanaway and Belinda Russell and we are very thankful to be able to share our work in helping to build a more inclusive Australia.
Thank you to everyone involved in the day, including AAMI Park, our athletes, volunteers and support workers. A huge shout out to our Major Partners AAMI, Harvey Norman, Optus, Shaw and Partners & Tyrepower for helping us create an unforgettable day for people living with a disability!
Also big thanks to Soda Stream, My Muscle Chef, O’Briens and Imperial First Aid for keeping us refreshed and safe on the day!
Check out the full photo album here.
With Brad Scott now at the helm, Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish feels his young side is making rapid improvement.
The key Bomber is one of many AFL stars making life brighter for those in need. @bradeningram #9News pic.twitter.com/3BNV1G8kYY
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) February 12, 2023
Hey Melbourne! Our What Ability Day at AAMI Park is happening on Sunday, 12 February and you’re invited!
What Ability Days were developed to help us raise awareness for the sector, provide an opportunity for our athletes to get involved and create lifelong memories!
Starting at 11am and concluding at 1pm, the What Ability Day at AAMI Park is a free disability inclusive event to meet your local athletes.
There are so many fun ways to spend your time at our What Ability Day. You can kick a ball around with our What Ability athletes in our activity zone or kick back and hang out with friends at the chill out zone.
There are only 200 spots available, so sign up here to secure your spot
Not in Melbourne? No problem! Sign up to our event waitlist and keep your eyes peeled for when our next big event come to your state.
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Carlton FC have praised their athletes Brooke Walker and Caleb Marchbank for their support work with What Ability over the Christmas period. In a recent article, the renowned football club wrote about the athletes taking a participant out to IKON park, laser tag and Timezone.
Walker and Marchbank, who both play defense in their respective teams, banded together and used their off-season Christmas breaks to make a difference in the life of a person living with a disability. Brooke Walker has been a long-time athlete of What Ability, happily taking part in our recent support worker campaign and always being up for a fun day out when she’s not on the field.
Carlton FC wrapped up the article by highlighting What Ability’s belief that athletes are perfect for support work, due to the high level of responsibility needed for both roles. At What Ability, we believe athletes have the power to change the world and are looking forward to how these two athletes will spread more Christmas joy next year!
What Ability is in the news again with an ABC feature written by our very own content producer Rebecca Hegedus. This time our jam-packed camps, run by our national camp manager Ashleigh Dresler, are in the spotlight.
The article follows the story of our 19-year-old participant Nina O’Toole as she experiences all the fun our camps have to offer, like riding a jetski and bushwalking. Nina’s mum also talks about how her daughter loves spending time with friends on camp, highlighting how our camps are a chance for our participants to make long-lasting friendships.
One of our star support workers, professional motorsport driver Joey Mawson, also makes an appearance in the article. He expresses how his work with What Ability is being noticed and viewed positively by the people around him.
