What is our Mission?

To stand with and for vulnerable people with a disability through vigourous  independent advocacy. 
 

What we believe

 
IAT believes all people have the right to: 
 
  • Be treated with respect and dignity
  • Be valued as individuals
  • Participate in the decisions and choices that effect their lives
  • Be involved in and contribute to their community
  • Saftey and protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation
  • Live the life they choose
 

Key Elements of Advocacy

 
  • Functioning by speaking out, acting and writing
  • Minimal conflict of interest
  • Sincerely perceived interests
  • Promotion of the persons welfare, well being and justice
  • Vigour of Action
  • Costs
 
 

A right lost to one is a right lost to all

 
We all began as small, wriggling bundles of feelings 
Never really seperate or different from each other 
We all live, live, laugh and cry 
We all hate and fear, feel pain and die 
When did we start to lablel and ignore, to lose sight 
Of the helplessness and needs of those outside our door 
When we begain to measure ourselves in 
Colour, money and perfection 
When our language speaks of I instead of We 
When us became They, He and She 
There are those of us who are vulnerable 
There are those of us that are poor 
There are those of us that are too weary 
to fight the injustice anymore 
Sometimes all it takes is an advocate, 
a voice to forge a bridge of understaning, to shine a light 
On the ignorance and blindness to our brothers' 
Struggle and plight 
Everyone deserves to be seen and be heard 
We can make a difference by our actions and our words 
We have a long way to go to right all the wrongs 
To restore the connection that seems almost gone 
But if we take the time to hear the voices 
that speak for those that need help 
We may just get to see again 
Feel again and remember we all begain 
As small wriggling bundles of feelings 
never really seperate and that different from each other 
 
 
-Willaim Reece Smith Jnr 
 
"We are seeking nothing less that a life surrounded by the richness and diversity of community - collective life, and everyday life, a powerful life." 
 
-John McKnight, Beyond Community Services, Illinois, 1989.