‘Warrior Mum’, disability advocate and inspirational coach for mothers of children with disability Natalie Roberts-Mazzeo will emcee at the Hunter Disability Expo in Broadmeadow later this month.
“It’s an absolute privilege and honour to be an ambassador at the expo. It helps to build a stronger and more resilient community, as families have all the tools they need to help their child live to their full potential, but also the entire family unit as a whole,” says Ms Roberts-Mazzeo.
As winner of the 2017 AusMumpreneur’s Influencer Award, it all began for her five years ago when she started blogging about her daughter Chiara’s diagnosis.
A rare brain condition called polymicrogyria caused Chiara’s brain to develop lots of unusually tight folds, which left her unable to speak, walk, or hold herself upright.
In her blog called Chiara’s Journey, Ms Roberts-Mazzeo reflected on the chaos and overwhelm that disability or diagnosis brings to a family.
“It can make people feel like their world is falling apart. You don’t know how to find yourself underneath the enormity of the life spinning around you. Your child’s health consumes your thoughts and you worry, oh how you worry.”
Coming from a background in yoga and meditation, she used her platform to share ways that women could live life to their full potential and help their family do likewise. Her online community is now an international movement that includes self-development programs and speaking tours.
“As a passionate advocate for disability, my biggest hope is to spread more positive awareness. The potential beyond a diagnosis or disability is such a powerful focus. I witness this on a daily basis with my own daughter, who has multiple diagnosis. She reminds me that despite physical abilities, we are all one.”
At the Hunter Disability Expo, community and education are key factors in providing support for families who are adjusting to a different family experience. The expo brings together over 100 providers, organisations and agencies with the best products, services, technology, aids and equipment available in the Hunter Region.
“Accessibility is our number one issue. Access to treatments and therapies, access to equipment with reliable timeframes, access to respite for families, access to changing and toilet facilities in community, access to consistent and reliable support via NDIS, access to life in general. There is still so much work needed, in order for all those living with a disability and their carers to thrive.”
As emcee of the Hunter Disability Expo, Ms Roberts-Mazzeo will open the event at 11am, Friday October 26, Newcastle Jockey Club.
Hunter Disability Expo Highlights
Register here to attend the Hunter Disability Expo at the Newcastle Jockey Club (Broadmeadow) on Friday or Saturday, October 26-27, 9am-3pm.
- Opening Ceremony: Friday, October 26, 11am
- NDIS Q&A sessions
- Stage performances by all-ability performance groups
- Kids’ entertainment
- Over 100 exhibitors
About 4community
Expo event manager 4community develops partnerships to increase social impact. As innovators, creatives and strategic problem solvers, 4community helps organisations find creative solutions to complex problems. We are best known for our support of social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations. We help organisations increase their organisation’s clarity, social impact and business sustainability.
Important Expo links
- Expo website: https://hunterdisabilityexpo.com.au/
- Expo Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/250732055662802/