Children and Young People with Disability Australia
Promoting equal opportunity and full inclusion for children and young people with disability (0-25 years) across Australia.
![Mum and pre-teen daughter playing together in a park. Both have long dark hair and are smiling at something the mother is holding. The young girl has Down Syndrome. Behind them is a cherry blossom tree full of pink flowers.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/banner_circle_mum_and_daughter_in_park.png)
New workshops and events
CYDA’s DREAM (Disability Representation Employment & Accessibility Mission) Network is currently running workshops and networking events for:
Young people with disability looking for leadership and career opportunities.
Employers with an interest in learning about, or providing, accessible employment.
Book Power
Free webinar! Our 2024 Book Power webinar is a fantastic resource for teachers, parents, writers, readers, librarians, advocates, and anyone interested in disability representation in literature.
Presenters spoke about the history of disability representation in the media, the impact of positive representation, how it’s improving, and where we can do better.
Come join us at team CYDA!
With new funding and projects on the way, it’s a very exciting time to be working at CYDA!
We have 8 new positions available, including 3 positions specifically for young people with disability.
Applications close Sunday 28 July.
AuDHD advocate, Emily Unity, CYDA Youth Programs Manager, Daniel Munter, and CYDA CEO, Skye Kakoschke-Moore, recently travelled to New York to represent CYDA at CoSP17, the annual UN conference on the rights of people with disability.
Know your rights!
CYDA has been working with the Australian Government to develop a series of resources to help students with disability, their families and caregivers understand their rights in the education system.
The resources were co-designed by young people with disability and their families and are available in Easy Read, Auslan and community languages.
![A young South Asian woman with curly black hair, wearing a black dress and cream blazer, standing next to a purple sign with the Australian coat of arms and text that reads: "Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with disability." The sign has First Nations artwork in the corners.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/square_1080_dula_DRC_closing.jpg)
![](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/icon_360_Employment_DarkG.png)
CYDA and the Disability Royal Commission
The Disability Royal Commission into violence, abuse neglect and exploitation of disabled people has released it’s final report.
CYDA calls for an end to segregated education and employment, and the elimination of all restrictive practices against children and young people with disability.
CYDA and the NDIS Review
CYDA has been working with the NDIS Review to make sure the needs and interests of children and young people with disability are represented in reforms. The full list of recommendations from the NDIS review has now been released!
![A photo of a young man with curly dark hair using a wheelchair. He is wearing a grey sweater and a brown beanie. The Disability Pride flag takes up the background behind him.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_Mac_Disability_Pride-768x402.png)
Disability pride can be difficult and messy, and that’s okay
Mac Zamani writes about the complexities of disability pride and the importance of challenging toxic narratives.
![The letters "ndis" in purple on crumpled paper under a magnifying glass.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/featured_1200_ndis_magnifier-768x402.jpg)
CYDA welcomes chance to improve NDIS for children with disability as part of new Advisory Group
CYDA welcomes the opportunity to help build a better NDIS for children with disability and their families as part of a new expert Advisory Group, announced by NDIS Minister Bill Shorten today.
![The letters "ndis" in purple on crumpled paper under a magnifying glass.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/featured_1200_ndis_magnifier-768x402.jpg)
Ten Organisations Call for People with Disability’s Access to NDIS Funded Sexuality Services to be Protected
Ten organisations have signed this joint statement to strongly condemn recent comments made by Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill Shorten regarding the exclusion of sex work and sexuality services from the NDIS.
![](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/icon_230_nobg_Submissions_DarkG.png)
An important part of the work we do at CYDA is making submissions to government and policy makers. In our submissions, we make recommendations for changes to uphold the rights, and improve the wellbeing, of children and young people with disability.
![e-news banner with an image of CEO and four young people sitting at a conference.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/rectangle_1200_enews.jpg)
Sign up for our e-news and stay up to date on all the latest events, opportunities and advocacy work happening at CYDA.
![The Platform Newsletter banner on green, orange and blue background.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/rectangle_1200_The_Platform.jpg)
The Platform is our newsletter for young people with disability, featuring interviews, opportunities and news on the issues that matter to you!
Since June 2023, we have ...
delivered
25
co-design sessions with young people with disability
made
11
submissions to government
welcomed
211
new participants in our projects and programs
partnered with
32
organisations on initiatives that benefit our community