More Than a Camp: The Flying Fox Effect on People Living with Disability
If you’re reading this, you know that Flying Fox is one of the leading organisations for people living with a disability. Yet here is the irony: for our participants, Flying Fox is the one place in the world where disability doesn't actually exist.
My name is Riana. I am 23 years old, a newly graduated Occupational Therapist and I have been a volunteer at Flying Fox for four years. I have nearly nine years of clinical experience within the disability sector, however, those four years at Flying Fox are what really opened my eyes to what an ideal life for people with disabilities can look like. As an OT, I have been there for the medical appointments, for the hours of intense therapy, the struggles of dealing with a broken system but more importantly, the constant battle of trying to fit into a society that wasn’t built for differences.
Stepping into the world of Flying Fox, participants are no longer defined by their disability, they are celebrated for it.
At mealtimes, everybody eats together. During dance breaks, our participants are at the front. When painting, everyone gets a paint brush. At bedtime, you can hear whispers of excitement from what is for some people, their first ever sleepover. The famous Flying Fox talent show truly embodies this notion; participants shine on stage. They might sing or dance, they might teach the audience how to use AUSLAN. They also might show off their unique toast eating techniques or pack up a whole box of lego while racing against the clock.
Whatever you do – everyone will celebrate you for it. I find myself looking around the room during times like these and can't help but compare it to what I see in a clinical sense. At the talent show, I see genuine tears of joy from staff, volunteers and participants alike. I hear thunderous applause, laughter and the sound of high fives. I feel the arms of my friends around me as we watch in awe what our participants achieve, and in my heart, I feel at home.
I see participants regularly, at our programs and out in the community. They smile as they recount their time at camp. I watch them connect with other participants and form genuine relationships. I see their confidence skyrocket as they try new things with the support of their friends. And this is when I realise; it’s the smiles, the laughter, and friendships that prove that disability doesn’t define a person’s world…community does.
People often describe Flying Fox as a 'bubble' - a small utopia where inclusion isn't the exception, it's the everyday. My dream is that we burst it wide open. That what happens here stops being remarkable and starts being the norm - in classrooms, at kitchen tables, on playgrounds. Everywhere.
You're holding the pin. Will you help us pop it?