Caboolture Disability Support Network

Founded by Matt McCracken, CDSN is an organisation established to support people with a disability. We offer access to information and support groups and we advocate on behalf of the community with issues relating to disability. We seek to address the stigma that some people with disability may experience by having our members, who are themselves people with disability, speak about their experiences. Our aim is to be a strong voice of and for people with disability. Our belief is that through sharing different experiences, we are able to learn from one another. The medical model can only tell us so much. It is through connection with like-minded people, that we can learn more about how to cope with the day-to-day living with a disability. Understanding and coping with our pain, our personality, isolation and sense of grief. The aim of this CDSN is cultivate and nurture a community of friends where we can establish long-term mutually beneficial friendships that lead to us securing a sense of inclusion with our peers - particularly those who have life experience and an understanding of what we are going though. As a group of people with a disability we can expand our voice and stand united - one mind - one vision - one voice. THE CABOOLTURE DISABILITY SUPPORT NETWORK IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL TO COME TOGETHER: TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE TO ACCESS OUR GREATER COMMUNITY TO ACCESS RESOURCES AND SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO ESCAPE ISOLATION AND HAVE MORE INCLUSION TO HAVE A SOCIAL VALUED ROLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THE 8 PRINCIPLES OF CDSN We are committed to a Caboolture that celebrates the diversity of all people and respects the voice and life experience of all its members and communities. We believe that the community is made richer by the participation of all its members. We are committed to the principles of social justice, supporting strategies that assist people with a physical disability, carers and supports who experience exclusion to participate as equals in our community. We are committed to promoting an environment free of racism and ablism and other forms of discrimination – an environment where people feel like they belong. We are committed to welcoming people with a physical disability, carers and supports into our activities and assisting them to participate. We are committed to welcoming people with a physical disability, carers and supports who may experience mental health issues into our activities and assisting them to participate. We are committed to welcoming people with a physical disability, carers and supports from multicultural communities into our activities and assisting them to participate. We are committed to welcoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with a physical disability, carers and supports into our activities and assisting them to participate. We are committed to resolving any issues that would limit the participation of all people and will seek mediation support to the satisfaction of everyone.