In this episode we meet Des Ryan, a champion for access, inclusion and employment for people with disability and recently elected Chair of the Queenslanders with Disability Network.

Des is working on Community Solutions' Regional Advantage project.  The initiative is building employment opportunities for people with disability by working with employers to break down myths about workers with disability, show the many benefits staff with disability can bring a business, and celebrate great examples of inclusion in the workforce.

The project is supported by an NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacility Building (ILC) Economic Participation of People with Disability Grant.

Des is also the long-time organiser of Rockhampton's annual (COVID permitting) Accessible Pub Crawl, when a team of people with disability, community leaders and health and disability sector workers spend a night on the tiles for a practical test of the region's accessibility.

 If you have a story you think we should feature on Choice and Control, please contact our enquiries line on 1300 999 636, or email [email protected].

Useful links

Download the transcript for this episode: https://carersqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Choice-and-Control-2.4-Para-Ice-Hockey-transcript.pdf

Queenslanders With Disability Network: https://qdn.org.au/

The Regional Advantage project: https://communitysolutions.org.au/regional-advantage/

More information about the Accessible Pub Crawl: https://capricornenterprise.com.au/events/the-2019-accessible-pub-crawl/

Choice and Control on the Carers Qld website: https://carersqld.com.au/choice-and-control-podcast/