D-DADS

22/09/2025

Thanks Matt. A great opportunity. Caring Together is a key to D-Dads.
New Dads welcome across WA.

Dinner at Parliament on Wednesday was a bit more engaging than usual as I hosted the D-DADS. This is a group of fathers in leadership roles who are deeply committed to advocating for their own children, and others, living with disability.

The evening was a valuable opportunity to connect, share a meal, and chat about raising awareness about disability and how to advance inclusion for all.

A sincere thank you to all those who attended and contributed to such thoughtful conversations.

31/07/2025

D-Dads at Cahoots

That’s right! Colluding or conspiring together ( cahoots ) is a bit like us too! We share the same inspirational tone to our work and with a caring together attitude and intent.
At Cahoots Bayswater headquarters on Monday night we shared our missions and some wholesome discussion over a some enjoyable light refreshments.
Joining us was local MP Dan Bull and PeopleKind Group CEO Mark Fitzpatrick.
This time we had support from Kalpesh, Lilou and Marie from Cahoots and recorded our latest visit with some good pics here.
Finally got our act together with the group shot!
Thanks to all the D-Dads who could make it and too Dan and Mark for coming along.

08/04/2025

Great evening at Interchange last night with a great bunch of our D-Dads sharing our stories and ideas on how to grow our unique group.
Dads with sons and daughters living with intellectual disabilities across WA.
Welcome new Dads!

23/01/2024

We are local dads with a son or daughter living with a disability in Western Australia. D-DADS is a voluntary common interest group.

28/06/2023

D-DADS member Deane Pieters OLY shared the below with the D-Dad group today. Deane is actively participating in Perth’s bid to host the Special Olympic World Games in 2027. We all need to get behind this wonderful event.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While the Special Olympics Athlete Oath reads “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” I am pleased to report the final medal tally for Australia was 45 medals, including 13 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze.

The event saw 7,000 athletes with Intellectual disabilities from 190 different delegations competing across 26 sports.

Around 330,000 people attended the World Games live with millions of others watching on ESPN and other media.

Herewith a couple of links for you to appreciate the scale and impact of the recent World Games held in Berlin.

If this teaser published by ESPN/ABC for the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 doesn't give you goosebumps and evoke a sense of excitement and involvement, then nothing else will. https://lnkd.in/gTnvm6Rk

Please also see this inspiring video that documents the unbridled joy of the World Games.

https://lnkd.in/gfS5NSdD

Here’s a couple of other related stories among others:

https://lnkd.in/g7FDzHvp

https://lnkd.in/gQJq3M8j

https://lnkd.in/gv3KRZDV

Through the transformative power of sport, these stories give you and others a deeper understanding of the true essence of the Special Olympics as the vehicle to promote inclusive communities.

I would also like to share a message from The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for NDIS, and Government Services, who has been an outstanding advocate for our bid to host the World Games in Perth. He recently posted the following message on his social media channels just yesterday.

This read “Congratulations to Team Australia for winning a whopping 45 medals after competing against over 7000 athletes from across the globe at this year’s Special Olympics! I couldn’t be prouder of all of you – years of training truly paid off in Berlin. Not only for the awards you won but for the message you’ve sent to all young people with disability”.

With your continued support, we also have the opportunity to become the most inclusive city in the World, and we look forward to sharing some good news in the coming months regarding Perth’s successful bid to host the World Games.

With personal bests and medals aplenty, the Australian team finishes on a high at the Special Olympics World Games in Germany.

26/06/2023

D-Dads first "lunchtime" meeting held at DDWA offices in West Perth. Great event. Thanks to the six new members for joining eight of our existing members. Also a big thanks to Mary Butterworth for the warm welcome and organising lunch. D-DADS continue to grow.

03/12/2021

To mark International Day of People with Disability December 3rd : A couple of years ago a group of Dads based in Western Australia joined forces to create D-Dads. We catch up to discuss
how we can step up and create a better society for people living with disabilities,including our own children. Here is the fifth of a series of short messages from our Dads.
https://vimeo.com/599412236/a57ee719a2

This is "D-Dads - Chris Rodwell" by CCIWA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/12/2021

To mark International Day of People with Disability December 3rd : A couple of years ago a group of Dads based in Western Australia joined forces to create D-Dads. We catch up to discuss
how we can step up and create a better society for people living with disabilities,including our own children. Here is the fourth of a series of short messages from our Dads.
https://vimeo.com/642563693/5e09c83feb

This is "D-Dads - Kane Blackman" by CCIWA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/12/2021

To mark International Day of People with Disability December 3rd : A couple of years ago a group of Dads based in Western Australia joined forces to create D-Dads. We catch up to discuss
how we can step up and create a better society for people living with disabilities,including our own children. Here is the third of a series of short messages from our Dads.
https://vimeo.com/645900789/3aa0b4515a

This is "D-Dads - Leighton Jay" by CCIWA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/12/2021

To mark International Day of People with Disability December 3rd : A couple of years ago a group of Dads based in Western Australia joined forces to create D-Dads. We catch up to discuss
how we can step up and create a better society for people living with disabilities,including our own children. Here is the second of a series of short messages from our Dads.
https://vimeo.com/643331591/f29c041c82

This is "D-Dads - Mike Duncan" by CCIWA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

02/12/2021

To mark International Day of People with Disability December 3rd : A couple of years ago a group of Dads based in Western Australia joined forces to create D-Dads. We catch up to discuss
how we can step up and create a better society for people living with disabilities,including our own children. Here is the first of a series of short messages from our Dads.
https://vimeo.com/642188312/591e831aa6

This is "D-Dads - Bruce Langoulant" by CCIWA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

21/03/2021