Last week I spoke at a conference in Sydney, Australia--Connecting Up 2009, and in doing so, met a tiny NGO based out of Toowoomba, Queensland--one of the millions of little NGOs that make the world a better place. This particular NGO, known as D.A.D.S., reminded me of why I love the Third Sector--you know, the one that focuses on social good.
D.A.D.S. is a peer based support network developed by men for men, and their work is to make a difference in the lives of people who have a disability or health impairment. It's pretty simple--men work together, help one another, and impact their own life as well as the lives of those individuals that have a disability.
But let me tell you what it is TRULY about. This great, self-effacing and thoughtful man, Graham Mayer, began this group to provide a place for men (especially ones that don't talk about their feelings very easily) to bond as a group, have conversations with other men, hang out, and work out their feelings about having a disabled family member. For Graham, it is his lovely special needs daughter, featured on the organization's brochure.
I've been fund-raising for lots of years, and D.A.D.S. moved me very much. Something about its honesty and simplicity and genuine desire to help foster a dialog by and between men about a topic that isn't easy to share or discuss.
So, if you are interested, you can find D.A.D.S. at P O Box 3588 VP Toowoomba QLD 4350. No website, nothing fancy. Or, email graham-dads@bigpond.com.
I was at the conference too and thoroughly enjoyed your presentation Jody. Your story about the D.A.D.S group reminded me of how touched I was when I facilitated a consultation for Vietnamese parents who had a child witha disability. At the tea break I heard 2 dads talking to each other about the challenges they faced - it was the first time they had spoken to another parent with a child with a disability!!! It was priviliged to share their stories & pain.
Posted by: Jinny | May 21, 2009 at 04:14 AM
Jinny, it was lovely to be part of Connecting Up, and glad that you were part of it as well. Jody
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