About DEAA
Who are DEAA?
Disability Elders of All Ages (DEAA) is a network run by and for people living with physical and sensory disability in South Australia. DEAA is supported by JFA Purple Orange and is currently running a capacity building project funded by the Department of Social Services.
DEAA provide activities that support connection and capacity building for people with physical and sensory disability. These activities include monthly peer network meetings, which cover many topics such as information sessions for members, consultations, and policy advocacy, as well as peer chat and connection.
Help us shape the future of our peer network!
- Do you live with a physical or sensory disability?
- Do you have skills in communications, technology, training, advocacy, or policy?
- Would you like to help shape the future of our network?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then we’d love to hear from you!
Disability Elders of All Ages (DEAA) are on the lookout for people from the disability community to join one of three exciting new co-design groups:
1. Growing our brand
- Create a new communication strategy.
- Increase and diversifying the peer network membership.
- Increase regional representation.
- Review the DEAA brand (name, logo etc).
2. Advocacy and Influencing
- Advocacy.
- Influence Federal, State and Local Government.
- Funding opportunities.
3. Connect with Tech
- Website.
- Connect with Tech workshops.
- Review members portal and online presence.
- Connect with Tech deliverables.
If you’d like to learn more, contact kyrak@purpleorange.org.au
In 2021, DEAA co designed a needs analysis on the use of digital technology amongst South Australians who live with physical and sensory disability. We learnt that people living with physical and sensory disability in regional communities would benefit from digital assistive technology workshops to build capacity to connect, communicate and participate in community life. We learnt that building confidence by providing the right conditions and trainers with the right skill set is essential to learning about digital assistive technology.
Below are some quotes from people living with disability who we interviewed and or ran focus groups with that highlight some of the learnings from our research about digital assistive technology.
"I didn’t realise how unsafe I felt before I got it (digital assistive technologies - DAT). I thought I didn’t need it but then found it really liberating- there is so much scope with DAT- back in the days I wouldn’t have even had a power chair."
Focus group participant
"Offers of help from family can be difficult…offers come but nothing comes from it. Paid supports give more independence but with Digital AT I can do many things for myself".
Focus group participant
"Peer groups realising how effective they are, I thought they may be boring and depressing but they are not at all”.
Focus group participant
You can view the final document here:
Peer network meetings are on the first Tuesday of every month, from 2pm to 4pm. Below are the dates of meetings in 2023:
Tuesday July 4, 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday August 1, 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday September 5, 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday October 3, 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday November 7, 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday December 5, 2pm to 4pm
For most meetings you can join in person or online via Zoom.
For more information about DEAA please contact Kyra by phone on (08) 8373 8359 or email Kyra at kyrak@purpleorange.org.au