Happy International Day of People with Disability From All of Us at Perform Ability!

Every year on the International Day of People with Disability we pause and reflect on what inclusion truly means.

For us at Perform Ability this day carries a special place in our hearts. It reminds us why we began. It reminds us who we serve. And it reminds us of the magic we witness every single week in our classes. This day feels deeply personal. Because everything we do began with one story.

Where Our Story Truly Began

Every journey has a spark.
Ours appeared in 2009 when a young girl with hearing impairments and Down Syndrome joined a dance class at Centre Stage Performing Arts. She wasn’t treated differently. She wasn’t put on the sidelines. She simply became part of the class.

Every class became more joyful with her in it. Every moment felt more meaningful. And when it was time for the end of year concert she stepped on stage and absolutely shone. Not because of perfect steps but because her presence was pure light. The audience felt it. Her teachers felt it. Her family felt it.

After that performance her mum shared something quietly and honestly. She said there were no dance programs made for children like her daughter. No place that understood her needs. No classes designed to support her so she could truly enjoy performing.

Miranda Daisy heard that. She took it to heart. And she decided to change it. That simple truth changed the entire direction of our future.

The Beginning of Perform Ability

In 2010 Miranda Daisy founded Perform Ability with a mission bigger than a dance class. She wanted a place where students with disability could express themselves through music and movement without being underestimated. A place where families could finally say, "This is where my child belongs.”

From that dream a community grew.

Today we have more than twenty classes running across Newcastle, the Central Coast, and Sydney. More than one hundred and twenty students come through our doors every week to dance, sing, create, and connect. And our dream continues to expand as we aim to make Perform Ability a national and international program.

Why Our Students Matter So Much

On this International Day for People with Disability we celebrate the students who have changed our lives.

Their determination.
Their joy.
Their creativity.
Their resilience.
Their ability to walk into a room and remind us of what courage looks like.

Many of our families tell us that Perform Ability is their safe place. Their happy place. A place where their children and adults are not only accepted but truly embraced. A place where differences are not obstacles but gifts.

The spark our students carry has always been there.
It just needed the right environment to shine brighter.

Joining the Celebration at the Unisson Funfair

This year we are celebrating in the most joyful way. We will be performing at the Unisson Funfair for the International Day for People with Disability, and we are so excited for our students to be part of the event.

This performance is not just entertainment.
It is representation.
It is empowerment.
It is proof that when given opportunity people with disability rise, create, perform, and inspire.

We cannot wait to share the stage with an inclusive community that believes in the same things we do.

Shining Forward with Hope

As we look to the future, we hold on to what started this entire journey. A belief that every person deserves a place where they feel accepted and valued.

We will continue inspiring students.
We will continue giving families hope.
We will continue creating moments that spark confidence and happiness.
Because that spark has always been within them. It just needed the right place to breathe and grow.

Happy International Day of People with Disability from all of us at Perform Ability.

Thank you for reading our story.
Thank you for supporting inclusion.
And thank you for celebrating our incredible students with us.