Anne’s Advocacy

Through all her struggles, Anne always saw herself as no more than a representative of the tragically large number of people with communication disabilities who have been denied by circumstances the opportunity to show their potential.  She remained active in the movement for the deinstitutionalisation of people with disabilities, writing letters, giving papers, and working with the media to serve as a witness to the abuses of the past.
Having struggled with her own communication handicap, she worked indefatigably to fight for the right to communicate to be recognised for others, and was a foundation member of CAUS, believed to be the first advocacy group ever established by AAC users.  She gave papers at conferences in Australia and abroad and wrote articles for mainstream media and disability journals.

 Anne with Justin Clark at ISAAC 2008 in Montreal
Justin, too, was held in an institution against his will, in Canada.  He went to the courts for Habeas Corpus, cited Anne’s case as his major precedent – and was freed.
 

Anne at Parliament House talking to the Minister, Jenny Macklin, at the Australian Disability Awards, 2008
 
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