One such business is Gratia, a social enterprise café in Surry Hills. Ability Links NSW staff, called Linkers, have been accompanying local community members with disability into the café, sharing a meal with the staff, and talking about what makes a positive café experience for them.
“It’s been extraordinary,” says Gratia’s Troy Byrnes. “It gives us a perspective that we often don’t see, and gives us a greater understanding of living with a disability. It also has reshaped how we engage with customers with differing needs.”
Gratia directs all profits to a range of community development projects, both local and international. This idea of collective responsibility for social inclusion for people with disability is one that resonates with Gratia.
“We want to engage with our diverse community and cultivate a socially conscious space that respects and encourages difference. Perceived difference is often something that arbitrarily divides people and can often make people with a disability feel unwelcome, and even unsafe,” Mr Byrnes says. “We want to see that people with a disability are respected and given opportunities to reach their full potential. It expands our community, cultivates safe and welcoming spaces and contributes to a greater social cohesion.”
Ability Links NSW works with local businesses, community groups and organisations to shape communities where people with disability are welcome and included. Ability Links NSW also works with people with disability aged 9-64, their families and carers to support them to connect with their community.
