Breaking Barriers: How LGBTQ+ Disability Advocates Transform Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

30/9/24, 11:00 pm

William Ward-Boas (he/him) is a person with disability that started working in the disability sector 6 years ago. William uses his experience to support broader understanding of the disability sector and to empower the voices and rights of others. He started this journey through meeting VALID, participating in paid workshops, then being connected onto the Disability Services Commissioner, and working with them as a community researcher for the “Safe and Respectful Cultures in the Workplace” Project. He then went on to YDAS for the “Youth Leadership Program”, went on to do an evaluation with a consultation service called ARTDConsultants.

William was recently appointed as a Board of Management Member at VALID. He is looking forward to being in a governance position.

William loves this work and plans to stay in this sector for the rest of his life.

Studies show that LGBT people with disability experience harassment, verbal abuse, physical violence, neglect and sexual assault at higher rates than LGBT people without disability.

LGBTQ people with disability commonly report feeling isolated and ostracised from both the LGBTQ and disability communities.

So, how do we begin to address these issues?

We are excited to be welcoming key LGBTQ+ Disability Advocates, including AMY CORCORAN, WILLIAM WARD BOAS and AMBERLY HENSEN to explore your questions, including:

• What Is LGBTQ+ Disability Advocacy and why is it important?
• What are some of the barriers this advocacy tries to overcome?
• How Does LGBTQ+ Disability Advocacy relate to the Mental health system and suicide prevention?
• How Are LGBTQ+ Disability Advocates creating change in mental health systems and suicide prevention?
• Can connecting with our community help us break down the barriers we face?