Humanity Platform

 I have been thinking a lot lately about how to make the best version of the world And the best version of yourself.  I think it comes down to getting back to the basics of family, community, country.  It is time to remove any us and them mentality that exists.  Having a tight knit family strengthens the community and a strong community  Creates a better country.. I think we need to get back to creating in person social networks Instead of relying on social media.  Maybe we should even stop calling it social media and call it virtual media. That way the term social gets back to its original meaning related to real people. In 2024 domestic violence related deaths in Australia have doubled. Violence against people you love should never happen. I have an old fashioned mentality when it comes to protecting people you love It is time for men to rediscover the Jane Austen style gentility And maybe even parts of the code of chivalry. The code of chivalry says a man should honour and protect G

 In the forty years of living with a disability I have seen the evolution of assistive technology for people with disabilities. Assistive technology has gone from scissors on an electric toothbrush base to now AI and everything in between.  I have written many times about my journey with assistive technology. I know I would not be the independent person I am without it. From voice activation on my phone and computer to the mobility made possible by my electric wheelchair.  The biggest challenge I face using assistive technology is things don't always work the first time and you only get short opportunities to test equipment.  For example when I am at the peak of my day I can spend up to 18 hours in my wheelchair but when I am testing a new wheelchair I might only get three separate half hour test drives. Which doesn't give me the real feel about what it would feel like to spend the whole day or go to any of my local areas where I might be expected to use the wheelchair.  Anothe

 This year marks my twentieth anniversary of public speaking and disability education. In that time the subject I get asked to speak on the most is the empowerment of people with disabilities.  The two main principles I have come up with regarding empowerment are to treat each person as an individual  and take a holistic view of a person's life because in my experience it is only by doing those two things that you can truly empower a person with a disability.  In order to make these two principles a reality you have to take a person centred approach to support delivery. It starts from the CEO at the top and the great front line soldiers that are each individual support worker.  It is important to recognise that no two people with a disability have the same life and needs.  The support worker should help create an environment where the client and support worker work together and people are given the space and opportunity for choice and control in their own life.  It is important to

 Every January I start the year with motivation to achieve what I want to achieve. I have half a dozen or so books I reread every January.  In 2024 my motivational mantra is shift the dial . Shift the dial towards success. Shift the dial for leadership. Shift the dial for artistic output. Shift the dial for spiritual growth.  All of us above the age of 40 remember having to tune the radio or tv into a station. That is why I am using the image of a dial to motivate myself this year.  I get to choose where I place the dial for any given goal. I know I can turn the dial up to 10 for my acting, keep it nice and central for my spiritual growth, and shift it as needed when I need to take the lead.  To help me calibrate my new dial, I have been using Ryan Holiday's books The Obstacle is the Way , Ego is the Enemy , and Stillness is the Key .  To overcome obstacles takes perception, action, and will; so you can understand when an obstacle is an obstacle.  In our modern world it is hard to