Luke Ogden gets ready to masquerade. 78703 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
LUKE Ogden knows all too well the misconceptions and ignorance that people have about disabilities.
The 26-year-old was born with a very rare genetic physical disability, Ataxia-telangiecta (AT).
This month Hobsons Bay City Council will be holding a masquerade ball to promote disability awareness and a forum of discussion for people with a disability and their families.
Luke said it is important for events like this to take place in the community to raise awareness.
“I just went down to Port Fairy for the long weekend on the train – most transport is really bad … people don’t know what to do with people with a disability.”
Luke’s mum Lee recalls her son being hung up on while he was trying to do some banking over the phone just because he speaks differently.
“It’s hard to see your child go through this,” she said.
“But you can’t blame people, they’re so ignorant.”
Lee is part of Hobsons Bay’s Disability Advisory Committee and firmly believes in educating people about the issues surrounding disabilities.
Lee said though her son’s disability only affects him physically and not mentally people make assumptions based on the way he speaks and walks and automatically start treating him differently.
“There are so many aspects of disability for people to understand.”
“Luke is such an amazing young man and deals with things with such dignity.”
Over the weekend Luke and his family organised a 10 hour swim-a-thon for the cause.
The family will also be attending the masquerade at Grand Star Receptions on 28 Wednesday March.
For more information visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.
