Our Story
In 1992, the Ethnic People with Disabilities Program (EPDP) of the Ethnic Child Care Family and Community Services Co-operative (ECCF&CS) held a groundbreaking forum titled “Let’s Speak Out Together.” This forum brought together individuals from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) with disabilities and their families/carers, alongside ethnic, disability, and generic service providers, as well as Government representatives.
A major recommendation from this forum was to secure appropriate funding to establish a state-wide advocacy service. The need for such individual advocacy arose from the lack of adequate information and understanding among people from NESB with disabilities and their families regarding human service systems, primarily due to language and cultural barriers.
The drive for individual advocacy within MDAA was rooted in addressing the needs of a disadvantaged group. On 5 September 1995, our application for incorporation was approved by the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) of NSW was formally established as an independent organisation.
Since then, we have been dedicated to championing the rights of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Persons with Disability (PWD). Our mission is to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met through comprehensive advocacy, support, and resources. We understand the unique challenges faced by CALD PWD and are committed to breaking down language and cultural barriers to provide equal access to services and opportunities.