Iz Connell has discovered that schizoaffective disorder is no barrier to getting a tertiary degree to become a social work. Heidi Haydn has learned that paraplegia doesn’t bar her from being an education officer working at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia. Having Down Sydnrome hasn’t stopped Nathan Basha from becoming an office assistant at Nova Radio (Nova Entertainment).

These are the messages that Frost*collective is sharing on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram behalf of Family & Community Services.

Frost*collective has launched its second video series campaign for Family & Community Services this month. The job for this year’s Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign titled I CAN, I AM is to make employers aware of the contribution people with disabilities can make in workplaces, make everyday people let go of negative ideas about having them there, and inform people living with disability about the benefits, confidence and empowerment that employment gives them.

The campaign launched officially on November 21 at a special screening at the Dendy in Newtown.

The event was attended by each of the video subjects and opened by NSW Minister for Disability Services, John Ajaka. Journalist and radio announcer, Jonathan Moran, was MC for the night.

Frost*collective worked with the FACS team as well as co-director, Jim Medcraft, who sustained a spinal injury in January this year in the US after a near fatal hit and run accident. Medcraft worked with director, Luke Eblen, to tell the stories of the three accomplished disabled individuals in an authentic manner.

Medcraft’s story will be told in a fourth video that is yet to be launched.

“The daily courage of every person living with disability in a society that so easily slides into disrespect through its own discomfort of it, is pure inspiration,” stated Ant Donovan, group creative director, Frost*collective.

“If we can help fight the prejudice and prompt change by loosening inflexible mindsets around both the public and employer perception of disability, then we can help to make a difference.”

Ajaka commented, “There are no limitations on what people with disability are capable of and what they can achieve,” he said. “These four films demonstrate exactly that, but also what we – as employers, the community and members of the public – can achieve by having a different perspective. Frost*collective’s I CAN, I AM four video campaign is the next powerful step to breaking down old frameworks and rebuilding livelihoods.”

The campaign runs for three weeks from November 21 to December 11, in conjunction with The International Day of People with Disability celebrated annually on December 3. There will be a Red Carpet Film Screening on December 1 at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. Speakers will include Richard Wilkins; actor, Alex Jones and Paralympian, Dylan Allcott.

Key facts:

• Approximately 1.3 million people in NSW have a disability. This is one in five
• Of the 1.3 million people in NSW with a disability, 650,000 are of working age.
• Despite this, 130,000 people remain unemployed.
• Employment delivers independence, happiness and self-worth for people with disability in a way that nothing else can.

Credits:

Agency: Forst*collective

Executive Creative Director: Vince Frost
Group Creative Director: Ant Donovan
Designer: Alex Baumann

Junior Designer: Kieran Mistry
Client Services Director: Emma Stone
Account Director: Max Delplanque

Senior Digital Producer: Kate West

Film Director: Luke Eblen
Film Co-Director: Jim Medcraft
Stills Photographer: Amath Magnan

Strategy Planner: Prav de Silva
Producer: Sophie Chugg/Rev de Silva