"There's something happening across Western Sydney"

Jeff and Ryan presenting Creature Feature for Community Views on 2CCR FM

Accessible Arts visited North West Disability Services at their weekly radio show Community Views on 2CCR 90.5FM. Jennifer Teo met with NWDS Program Coordinator, Inam al-Haqq to talk about the show and meet the team.

Each week at the NWDS centre in Baulkham Hills, the radio team prepare scripts and news stories about interesting topics to present on the upcoming show. Topics covered each week include personal stories, news and information, interviews and music. The radio team is made up of participants in the NWDS day program, staff, carers, teachers and other disability professionals.

“NWDS Radio is a breakthrough event in the disability field,” explains Inam al-Haqq, “It is the first initiative of its kind where people with a disability, their carers and professionals are gathered together in one venue to create quality radio.”

The radio show has been a great way for participants to build their self confidence, as well as develop their communication and team work skills. “At first I was very nervous,” Maya explained, “But now I am used to the microphone”. Another presenter Ryan has really benefited from doing the radio show and hosts a regular segment Creature Feature, where he talks about an animal he has researched on the internet. As a presenter Ryan’s reading abilities are quite extraordinary.

Maya talks about her good experiences at NWDS on 2CCR FM

Jeff Ruitenbach, 2CCR Office Manager, works with the team to record and put the shows to air. Jeff teaches the NWDS radio team programming and presenting skills such as how to speak for radio and using microphones. He has worked with the NWDS team for about a year and feels it is an important and valuable community project for the radio station to be involved with and support. It gives people with a disability a voice in the community and on local media.

“The NWDS radio show is a terrific, innovative project. It is beneficial on a number of levels,” says Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for Accessible Arts Western Sydney. “It provides a platform for people with a disability to express themselves and a way to present to the broader community ideas and issues relating to the disability sector. The radio show also provides a positive representation of people with a disability in the media and broadcasting.”

On Community Views this week Maya talks about her good experiences at NWDS, Anthony talks about father’s day and Ryan highlights the Platypus. Ryan also reads out some interesting facts about health and disability. On this week’s program there is a short interview with Jennifer Teo about Accessible Arts and their work in Western Sydney.

Listen to Community Views on 2CCR every Wednesday 3:00pm to 4:00pm. Broadcasting to Parramatta, Holroyd and The Hills. Tune your radio to 90.5fm or listen to the show online.