As a mother to a child with a disability having a supportive village is not a luxury but a necessity.
When your chid is diagnosed you are suddenly with no question or warning thrown into a new world you know nothing or very little about.
Honestly I will never forget that Thursday afternoon 9 years ago when Mendy was diagnosed and the details of that day and the few days that followed.
Fast forward to 9 years later November 2023 I’m sitting in a packed hall with over 300 people from the many different facets of the Melbourne Jewish community.
The feeling I felt as I’m sure many others did too sitting in the hall and hearing from a range of empowering and informative speakers made me realize that this is our village and most importantly no one has to travel this road alone and let me tell you from experience its defiantly not always the easiest road to say the least. It can be isolating, terrifying, and life changing, lonely and very scary.
As I often say we may not be able to change the situation but being there in a supportive and caring way is something we can do and often the best thing you can do.
“After the enlightening talks, the curtain rose on an Expo featuring over 30 stalls, each intricately connected to disability services within the Jewish community and beyond. What distinguished this event was the remarkable diversity and breadth of services catering to every age group within our community, bringing out a sense of pride and knowledge that there is something out there for everyone.
The joy derived from witnessing attendees engage with stallholders was immeasurable. Numerous individuals shared their experiences of leaving the expo having forged connections with individuals or organizations destined to play a role in their respective support networks, along with a few complimentary items.
Several attendees disclosed that this marked their first introduction into disability-related events since their child’s diagnosis. Additionally, there are families who, by virtue of their privacy, refrain from discussing these matters widely and consequently don’t often go to disability events.
An important outcome of the event orchestrated by the commendable Social Blueprint organization, notably led by Sharon Lowe and Tammy Feldman, was its tacit communication of a powerful message. The unspoken words from the Jewish community to families living with a disability resonated that we see you and are committed to extend support, hope and together, we, irrespective of our differences, contribute to the enrichment of this splendid Melbourne Jewish community.
