
Beyond Disability Inc

In Print
Letters, Recommendations, Newspaper Articles and Acknowledgement
A few words from our CEO
I am the CEO and I admire our volunteers who with little training and often only a service to community approach, help by going into the homes of our participants to provide on- going assistance and tuition and learn "on the job". Personally I've watched clients who previously had no other activity but television to fill their day become interested, eager internet users, now doing their shopping and even banking on-line, contacting long-lost family members locally and overseas or just enjoying the opportunity to find out about distant places and people.
Beyond Disability is unique in that it not only provides the equipment on loan but each person is assigned a volunteer helper. As most of our clients have illnesses such as MS, MND, Parkinson's and such like they have special needs so need individual attention. For someone who cannot use their voice any more email is their prime means of communication. We teach people who have limited use of their hands to use voice activated (speech recognition) programs. Some participants have had weekly help for over 8 years now.
Beyond Disability included the Wheelie Kidz IT project in 2008. This part of the program supplies wheelchair schoolchildren with laptop computers, which are very expensive to buy.
Beyond Disability survives on funding and donations. Volunteers have contributed over 100,000 unpaid volunteer hours helping in-home. The $/commitment equates to over
$2.0 Million returned to our community.
Beyond Disability is regarded by the Federal Dept. of Communications, IT & the Arts as the best example of a community assisted support program in Australia.
Beyond Disability has received many awards including:
*The Tattersalls Award for Enterprise and Achievement—Honours life's unsung heroes. Ordinary people who either by personal courage or commitment to others achieve extraordinary things.*
*Rotary International Shine-On 2002 award—focus on the abilities of those with disability.*
*Department of Human Services—Best program in Victoria 2002 for including disabled into community.*
*City of Casey—Best volunteer program—Most innovative—and Best family Community Services Award.*
*The 2002 Leader Newspaper Community Club Award.*
*Flinders Community Award.*
*3MP Best Community Program 2006*
*Facsia “Inclusion” award 2007
​
Richard Stubbs OAM, CEO Beyond Disability Inc.

Community Partner Testimonials
“The outstanding success and achievements of the Beyond Disability program getting disabled online has added a new dimension to their lives. Clearly, it has provided a wonderful opportunity for people to express their desire to communicate with others and their poetry and stories indicate that whilst they have physical limitations – their ability to express themselves is not limited.”
Former ParaQuad President in the Foreword to BDI’s 1st book “Thoughts and Feelings”
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“It does give me more than the usual pleasure to nominate the Beyond Disability program to the Paul Newman Foundation for serious consideration.
This group was the brainchild of Mr. Richard Stubbs whose own working life was curtailed by a very serious car accident. With permanent back injuries Richard is confined to a wheel chair. There are many, many persons in this and worse situations that can achieve meaningful contact with the outside world through the wonderful world of computers as mentioned below. This takes a significant amount to effort by support volunteers. These fine people could do a lot more if they had financial support that is so difficult to achieve.
I speak as a Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillor, the first Mayor of the amalgamated councils and an involved member of this community. For a number of years I have been area chairperson of the Salvos Red Shield Appeal. Most are aware of the lifesaving and caring work they do and I see BDI as being just as deserving. They do require financial support. All the clients have extreme disabilities, being confined to their homes. Any help possible would make a huge difference to their lives and all go to building a better community. Yours Faithfully, Cr. David Jarman.
***
"I met Richard in 2001 and am amazed that all of his fantastic work has been voluntary. Since then I have had regular contact and been kept up-to-date with the excellent work of BDI." Christa Momot, Executive Officer. Lance Reichstein Foundation, July 02
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"The BDI project achieved all that was set out and more. What has been achieved on relatively little funding is truly remarkable and a credit to the personal commitment and enthusiasm of Richard Stubbs and his team. Mr Stubbs leadership has motivated others in his team as well as the wider community to give time, money and in-kind support. Mr Stubbs claimed no credit for himself but pointed to the courage and persistence of his clients and the dedication of his volunteer team. Clearly Mr Stubbs indomitable spirit inspires others to overcome whatever obstacles are presented."
David Williamson, General Manager, Networking the Nation, letter 23/7/01
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"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate BDI for the valuable outcomes achieved and the ongoing commitment to servicing the needs of the clients.
Your personal commitment and enthusiasm for the project enabled it to achieve what few others would be able to achieve in much more generous circumstances."
Sybil free, accessibility DoCITA 27/3/02
***
I manage the Victorian State Government’s Skills.net program which provides seed funds to community organisations so they can provide Internet access and training for their communities, especially targeted at those in the community who would normally miss out on the chance to be part of the new online world. Beyond Disability Inc. run one of the most unique Skills.net projects out of the 380 currently funded. They are providing Internet access and training for the housebound mobility disabled and elderly on the Mornington Peninsula and acting as a model for other regions and states on how to provide such services to the housebound mobility disabled.
The Skills.net program provided an earlier seed fund of $10,000 to the BDI group because we could see the potential of such a project in meeting the needs of a very marginalized group, and BDI have proven us right by running a highly successful project, so much so that in a later round of Skills.net we again awarded them a second $10,000 grant. But as much as these grants are useful, this project is attempting to tackle such a massive need that it requires much more than this. If there ever was a group that deserved to gain a Community Support Fund grant then BDI is it. These funds would enable them to continue and expand their important community work. I cannot recommend
the work of BDI and its CEO, Richard Stubbs highly enough. Hence I fully support the submission by BDI.
Yours sincerely, Adrian Bates, Skills.net Coordinator
Community Partnerships
Beyond Disability is linked with many community groups, past and present, whose support is essential to our success, these include:
* ParaQuad, Victorian contact Peter Turner, CEO
* Motor Neurone Disease Society CEO, Rod Harris
* Rotary Dromana
* GreyPath, Ray Lewis CEO I
* nfoXchange GreenPC
* Cities of Casey, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Frankston Hospital.
* Lord Mayor’s Fund
* Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation
* Anglicare, Michael White, Team leader
* Support of the Catholic Church & Catholic Education Board
* Microsoft Community Initiatives (now called DonorTec)
* Capital Security Solutions
* Numerous individual volunteers
* Reichstein Foundation
*Community Support Fund/DHS.
Newspaper Articles

November 29th, 1999 - Frankston Standard

2000 - Richard Stubbs with granddaughter Carlee Lewis

May 1st, 2001 - Frankston Independent

Rotary International Shine-On 2002 award focus on abilities of those with disability.

The Tattersalls Award for ‘Enterprise and Achievement’ honours life’s unsung heroes. Ordinary people who either by personal courage or commitment to others achieve extraordinary things.
Community program supported and funded by Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE. An Access@bility once only seed grant from DoCITA (Senator Alston), a once off grant from Skillsnet, ParaQuad Vic, Capital Security Solutions, Lance Reichstein Foundation & Microsoft Australia.


2002 ~ Richard Stubbs, Senator Collins, Mayor Kathleen and Mavis Hobbs

15th May 2003 - Casey Volunteering Awards ~ Elderly Citizens on Line



2006 - Richard Stubbs and Retired Hon. Greg Hunt MP


2004, January 14 Cranbourne Leader
2003, April 10 THE MAIL


2007 - The Age




Richard Stubbs, Beyond Disability CEO at the inaugural National Inclusion Awards 2007 in Canberra. He met Hon. Jenny Macklin MP and Hon. Bill Shorten MP who were fresh from being sworn in as Community Services Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability
and Children’s Services. Richard was nominated for the award for his tireless work in founding Beyond Disability







2007 - Canberra Inclusion Award Finalist

Rotary Club of Dromana
Paul Harris Fellows 2008 Recipient Rotary International’s highest honour, The Paul Harris Fellow, was presented to Richard Stubbs OAM, by the Dromana Rotary for his service to the community

2007 National Disability Awards, Inclusion Award Finalist.



2007 Flinders Community Award
Mavis Hobbs, Hon Greg Hunt MP, Richard Stubbs and Thomas


Richard Stubbs OAM receiving his award 2008.
Shaking hands with Governor-General of the of Victoria, David de Krester AC FAA FTSE FAHMS
.


A trilogy of poems and prose from the members of BDI.


John Richardson, Richard Stubbs OAM and Kevin Boyce at Cranbourne RSL 23/8/10 Filming a segment for “No Limits”, to be shown on Channel 31



