HAO Social & Advocacy Network evolved from the group of young people with disability who used HAO Day Centre Services.
When the Day Service closed in 2010 the strong group of 30 young people asked HAO to facilitate a monthly social event, so they could stay in contact with the friends they had made in the Service.
It can be difficult, often impossible for young people with disability to maintain friendships with their peers as they often have to rely on family members for transportation. For some, attending HAO Day Centre Services was their only opportunity to socialise.
The group have arranged meetings in the town for coffee, cinema trips, parties and BBQs and have with the help of the Parent/Carer Network arranged holidays in the mountains. We hope to expand the Social & Advocacy Network’s activities to include a job club and some training sessions.
