Event highlighting opportunities for people living with disabilities

The event has been running for almost a decade with the intention to recognise businesses and celebrate inclusive opportunities.

Inclusion is all most people want in life and one annual event that has been running for shy of a decade, is celebrating just that.

The Business DisABILITY Awards launched in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs on Monday.

Co-founders Paul Wilson, Kim Stokes, Dave Wallis and Marlee Halter first started the event in 2012.

With an aim of recognising businesses for providing equal opportunities to people living with disabilities, the event also encourages others to follow suit.

“Back when my daughter Jazmyn was nine or 10, I was thinking about what her future looked like for when she left school,” Mr Wilson said.

“It was a real concern of mine so I starting looking at what businesses were out there and what they were doing for people living with disabilities and that’s realistically how the event was founded.”

Now set to turn 18 in the coming months and graduate from high school at the end of the year, Jazmyn’s future is looking bright.

With a passion for animals and meeting new people, Jazmyn has plenty of options in pipeline.

“Jaz does work experience at Vicki’s on Pottinger every Friday and she really loves the salon environment … although she’d be happy doing anything with animals too,” Mr Wilson said.

“I absolutely believe there’s been a really positive shift since we started and there are far more opportunities available now for people living with disabilities.”

Ms Stokes said the co-founders were grateful for the community support received for the growing event.

“It’s so important that this space of inclusion continues to break down barriers and stigmatism,” Ms Stokes said.

“All anyone wants is to feel like they belong and that’s what this event aims to achieve.”

The awards ceremony is on September 9 at The Goods Shed on Russell St.

Running from 6.30pm to 11pm, tickets are $130 for the general public.

The keynote speaker will be Kath Koschel from the Kindness Factory and the MC will be voice of MasterChef Australia Ian ‘Lofty’ Fulton.

To purchase tickets visit toowoombabusinessdisabilityawards.com.au.

Originally published as Event highlighting opportunities for people living with disabilities