A Week of Connection, Inclusion, and Community Pride

This year’s International Day of People with Disability was an incredible celebration across the South West, and our team at Advocacy WA was proud to stand beside so many communities as they recognised the importance of access, inclusion, and human rights.

Across a full week of events, activities, and conversations, we joined local celebrations in Busselton, Donnybrook, Capel, Harvey, Dardanup, and Bunbury. Each community brought its own energy, creativity, and commitment to building spaces where people with disability feel welcomed, heard, and valued.

And that was only the beginning.

The Bunbury Access Trail: A Citywide Celebration of Inclusion

One of the highlights of the week was the Bunbury Access Trail, a community wide activity led in partnership with the City of Bunbury. The trail encouraged people to explore local businesses, community spaces, and venues that have taken practical steps to support diverse access needs. Over the week, families, providers, and community members collected activity cards, learned about universal access features, and celebrated what inclusive design looks like in real life.

It was wonderful to see the city embrace access not as an obligation, but as an opportunity to create places where everyone feels they belong.

A Week on the Road

From large community celebrations to smaller gatherings, our team travelled across the region to participate in panel sessions, resource stalls, workshops, and conversations about rights, safety, and self advocacy.

We want to thank:

• The City of Busselton community for a warm and lively welcome
• The Shire of Donnybrook for a creative, community driven celebration
• The Shire of Capel for bringing people together through a meal
• The Shire of Harvey for hosting a strong rights focused event centred around how important parking is.
• The Shite of Dardanup for showcasing local artists
• The City of Bunbury for delivering a full and vibrant community festival

Each event demonstrated the power of local communities to lead change from the ground up.

A Busy Week for Our Community Projects Team

Our Community Projects team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes supporting councils, businesses, and organisations to strengthen access and inclusion across the South West. From event planning reviews to on the day support, from Easy Read resources to sensory safe spaces, the team has been everywhere at once.

Some people collect stamps,our team seems to collect event maps, sunflower lanyards, and conversations how access goes beyond ramps. It has been a joyful kind of busy, and we are grateful for every community that invited us to be part of their day.

Celebrating Community Strength

International Day of People with Disability is more than a date on the calendar. It is an invitation to reflect on where we are, recognise the progress that has been made, and recommit to building a future shaped by inclusion, rights, belonging, and community leadership.

We want to thank every person who attended an event, volunteered time, shared a story, or worked to make their community more accessible. Your efforts create real change.

We look forward to continuing this work with you throughout the year—and yes, we promise to rest for at least five minutes before the next round of events begins.

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