Scott Jones of Woy Woy has encouraged fellow locals living with a disability and their families to share, learn and connect on a unique new website.
The Paper Wings website, developed by leading social justice organisation Social Futures, showcases the personal stories of people who have experienced the changes, challenges and triumphs of life with a disability.
Jones, who is Community Development Coordinator for Social Futures, has already contributed his personal story to Paper Wings.
He has been living with a visual impairment for more than 20 years.
“I am always looking for opportunities to speak with people experiencing the same challenges,” Jones said.
“I can empathise with them and show them what is possible.
“For me, Paper Wings was a great way to connect and share my own experiences.
“I could encourage others to move forward with both confidence and optimism.
“When first diagnosed with a visual impairment, my immediate response was to think of all the things I wouldn’t be able to do.
“This place of negativity was isolating and depressing.
“It wasn’t until I spoke to others with the same situation that I realised I do have options and opportunities.
“I personally was inspired by what I heard.
“I know how important it is to hear positive and encouraging stories told by people with a similar disability.
“Personal stories offer hope and deliver pathways that can help others work towards improving their circumstances and enhancing their life goals.”
Social Future Capacity Building and Engagement Manager, Lynda Hope, came up with the idea for the Paper Wings site.
“It encourages contributors to move away from the short instant messaging of social media, and go back to an old-school style of reflecting, thinking and crafting a very personal message,” she said.
“Paper Wings features helpful prompts and suggests topics, and there is no limit to how many stories you can share.
“Stories or messages can be published anonymously or with a name, and contributors can choose to upload their own image or choose from the range of images available.
“I hope the people who put their message forward feel that gift of generosity; that by sharing their experiences they can help someone else to understand their own.”
Social Futures is a leading not-for-profit organisation delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) across regional NSW.
You can visit Paper Wings at https://paperwings.socialfutures.org.au/.
Source:
Media release, Aug 1
Social Futures