I was born in Toowoomba and for 11 years was a fit, healthy, sporty child. I was never still for a minute and as all my teachers would attest, I was never quiet for a minute either. Some things never change!!!! I was diagnosed with Juvenile Chronic Arthritis when I was almost twelve. I was relieved to know what was wrong with me as I was tired of the endless rounds of doctors and tests. I never realised the consequences of that diagnosis or the changes it would bring to my life. I had no energy and was having trouble walking, but I was still glad to be able to name why I was feeling so different.

The changes in my life have been gradual and acceptance has been learnt. I had no idea what it was like to even be sick. After completing my schooling at Rangeville State School and Centenary Heights State High School, I began studying at U.S.Q. By this time my joints were becoming progressively worse and I was having trouble walking more than a few meters. I was lucky my Mum and Dad were willing to run me back and forth to my classes. They dropped me as close to the door as they could and picked me up so I could go home and have a rest in the breaks. I should mention here how lucky I am to have a family as supportive and caring as mine. My parents and sisters have sacrificed a lot to support me and help me with my goals. I would never have achieved half the things I have in my life without this support. They encouraged me when I felt bad and didn’t want to get out of bed. They put up with my complaints but most of all they taught me not to give up.

I have a lot of friends who were and still are really supportive. I also made lots of new friends at USQ who didn’t mind walking slowly or carrying my books for me. The lecturers at USQ, as well as the support services, were, on the whole, incredibly supportive and it was with this cooperation I finished my first two degrees at U.S.Q. I loved studying History, English Literature and Communication and some Journalism subjects.

After completing my Graduate Diploma I was very lucky to be offered some joint tutoring with the then Dean of Arts. After a nervous start, I realised this was what I really enjoyed and decided I would try and continue this work and complete further study. It was around this time that I was having real trouble trying to walk and was gradually realising I would have to start using a wheelchair. I got my wheelchair and my life became much busier. I could still walk a little but I used the chair most of the time. I didn’t realise how much energy I had used just trying to walk. Now I had the chair to use I could do twice as much without feeling tired. It was only now I was using a wheelchair I began to acknowledge I had a disability.

Ever since I can remember I had wanted to be an early childhood teacher but as my Arthritis became progressively worse I realised that dream would have to be modified. I decided I would still become a SOSE teacher and chose English Language and Literacy and History as these subjects fascinated me. After completing my first degree I decided to complete a teaching degree and I also began teaching in the Faculty of Arts. I loved this but my real passion was still education and when I was offered work in the Faculty of Education I jumped at it, especially as one of the subjects I was working in was actually teaching students in the area of early childhood. After completing my first degree I decided to complete a teaching degree and I also began teaching in the Faculty of Arts. I loved this but my real passion was still education and when I was offered work in the Faculty of Education I jumped at it, especially as one of the subjects I was working in was actually teaching students in the area of early childhood.

This grew to teaching across many of the early childhood and primary courses at USQ. I taught early childhood language development and lifespan development along with art and music. I also taught in heath, curriculum  and pedagogy. I have had to be adaptable and flexible in my teaching and in my life. As my body has changed, so I had to change. As my fingers and joints broke down my ability to play the piano I had played since I was four years old had gone. I am a qualified music teacher who has studied AMEB Level 8 and I used to teach piano and clarinet, so the importance of using music within early childhood is another one of my areas of expertise. Because of the duty of care issues within teaching I had to chose a different pathway but I believe it is sometimes amazing how ones life journey sometimes takes them where they least expect it and the work I do every week with early childhood students and teachers is both rewarding and exciting.

Understanding children and how they learn is firmly linked into the ideal of building strong partnerships, establishing flexible learning environments, creating contexts for learning and development and exploring what and how childen learn. One of the key contexts for learning is play and the play based curriculum is essential to all early years learning and I personally believe it is essential for all learning. Within all our consultancy work the importance of play, blended with learning, is a key factor that emerges when good pedagogy is discussed.

I began working in the Faculty of Education, under the guidance of Dr Ron Skilton. He was a friend and mentor and with his help, advice and encouragement I continued my teaching. I also completed my Master of Education Honours degree. I loved and still love working at USQ. The students are great and the staff is very supportive. There is however one thing that still bothers me about having a disability and that is that people underestimate what you are capable of. Even people with the best intentions in the world, sometimes assume you would not be able to cope with certain workloads. They put limits on you. I am a person who needs to be doing new and creative things all the time so I do not let my disability limit me, if at all possible. I want to make a difference to our society and I see I may only have a limited time to do this and this is what drives me. If someone says something cannot be done, I will make sure that it can. This is probably why I take on so many projects just to prove I can!!!!!!!

My interest in disability awareness was gradual, as was my consciousness that I was disabled. It is very different when you have spent your life with no limits on you to begin to realise your own body is placing the limits on you. I started to see the importance of creating real inclusive communities and I wanted to create an understanding about disability. My love of education and how it can make a real difference also began to evolve.

I started to write a children’s storybook about disability ‘Discovery at Paradise Island’. I wanted it to fun and exciting, but above all I wanted it to carry a message, that someone with a disability can do anything, even if they may have to do it differently. We should not place limits on someone just because they are disabled. I wrote most of the book and then became so busy I left it on the computer and thought I would do something about publishing it one day.

I began to feel really bad in December 2001 I knew something was really wrong with me. My hands and legs were numb and I was having trouble breathing. I was not able to lie in bed or get into a car. I couldn't bend any of my joints. I was helping Michael to finalise and edit and organise his final thesis printing and publication and while I enjoyed this process I began to realise something was terribly wrong with me when after sitting at the computer for a couple of hours I was unable to breath properly or feel my legs. Michael was massaging me after I did his IT work and editing for him, and taking me swimming and I still was getting worse. I knew in myself I was dying and after going to a number of doctors I still continued to decline. After a short holiday where I spent every waking moment in a pool and doing everything i had never tried before, I went and saw my rheumatologist in Toowoomba. After looking at me and telling me how fit and healthy I looked, her expression soon changed when I explained how I was actually feeling. My feeling of numbness and problems with breathing were diagnosed as quadratic symptoms, in simple terms my spinal cord was being cut by the joints in my neck. My Arthritis had eaten away the joints in my neck and they had broken.

I was told I must have emergency surgery, which was highly risky, very tricky but essentially would be life saving. I didn’t realise how close to death I was. I hopefully asked my doctor whether the surgery really had to be done. His reply made me realise just how close I was to not being here. He simply said "Put it this way, you would not have woken up on Friday morning". This was Wednesday lunch time!!! It is amazing how the human body works. It sends us messages and  we need to hear these things. My surgery was performed by Dr Frank Tomlinson and Dr Richard Kahler and an amazing support team who managed to preserve my spinal cord and secure my neck, despite the fact all the bones were crumbling. I owe my life to these doctors, my Rheumatologist and God. I believe it must not have been my time to die and that God had a bigger purpose in me being here still.

The timing and how everything happened supports this. I was within about three days of dying, according to my doctors. When I went to see Sonya Nagel (my Rheumatologist) I had exhausted every other solution. I had increased my medication, my exercise and been to other doctors. She not only diagnosed my problem straight away but managed to get me booked in with the top Neurosurgeon the next day.

My visits to the other doctors were not in vain either. I was later told if I had not started the stronger medication when I did  my joints were so inflamed that my spinal cord would have been cut before I even knew what was wrong. Timing is everything when you are dealing with something as sensitive as your spinal cord. I believe everything in life happens for a reason and this is one of the driving reasons behind developing Discovering DisAbility & Diversity. I knew I survived for a reason. I had to use this time to make a real difference.

Don’t get me wrong, everything in my life isn’t always positive. There are many frustrations and disappointments. It is very difficult to deal with the fact my body can’t keep the appointments my mind makes for it. Sometimes I still see myself without a disability but no one around me does. I hate the fact I have no control over what is happening with my body. In my mind I can do anything but in reality it is quite different. I get sad, angry and depressed at times. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. This usually doesn’t last for long as then I think about all the reasons I have to feel great about being alive and I feel better. I don’t want to waste a moment being negative. We all should focus on the positives so we can achieve more.

When I was told I would have to have a second operation on my neck before it would be secure I was very upset. I don’t want to face the whole process again. I wanted to give up, but only for a moment. Then I thought about everything I had survived and how far I had come and I decided I couldn’t give up, there is to much to do. My parents always taught me to never give up, so I guess this was also some of their influence rubbing off on me. I have already put the operation off for two years and I know I am living my life on a knife-edge. I am trying to look at the real advantages for getting it done, but the real truth is if I don’t I won’t be around. I have a lot more I want to achieve so I have to face the operation sooner rather than later. If it is as successful as the first one I will be very happy.

When I had recovered from the surgery I decided I didn’t want to waste a moment of my life. I decided to finish my book and self publish. I didn’t want to wait. I felt life was too short not to do what you want and I felt I had been given a second chance so I had to make the most of it.

I published the book with the help of a lot of people and then decided to develop a disability awareness program to let children and adults experience and explore what it is like to have a disability. After much negotiation and with the help of a lot of generous sponsors Discovering DisAbility & Diversity was born. I wrote designed and developed the program and I wanted to work with someone who had similar values to me and someone I knew. As Michael had lost his job at USQ I asked him if he would like to be a part of this process to make a real difference in creating inclusive communities, he accepted. So I wrote, designed and developed the original program and the early childhood program and I got Michael and my sister to work with me. Michael drives the van and also helps with some care as well as helping with the workshops as well. Sometimes it is frustrating having so many ideas in your head and a body that won't do them for you. But I work with good people and it is exciting to go out every day knowing you are going to make a difference, in a small way, to people’s attitudes and lives in general. If only one person hears the message it will be worthwhile.

In the last nine years we have visited over nine hundred schools and preschools and childcare centres and spoken to thousands of children and adults who have shared their stories, personal struggles and life journeys with me. I worked collaboratively with my sisters Angela and Deborah, who are both early childhood specialists. We adapted the program to take it into preschools and childcare centres and we have had some life changing and amazing results. Children are so open and honest. I have met and worked with some of the best people. The people I work with often get tired or bored. I don't often feel this. I become energized as I can see the real changes that are happening. It is exciting to be part of the process.

I was actually thinking about my life as I was writing this and thought it is funny how life works out. My childhood dream was to work in a preschool. I not only got to teach early childhood teachers but also now get to work with the children in their centres everyday. As well as that, I get to work across all year levels and speak to a broad cross section of society. My life has been an amazing journey with many great opportunities. We should never underestimate how our life will turn out. There are adventures around every corner! Click here to see some of my recent art works or some pictures of my Disability Action Week Award, my Human Rights Award or information about my recent award from Toowoomba East Rotary Club.

I recently had the opportunity to run, or wheel in my case, with the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay. It was incredibly exciting and I felt priveledged to be chosen to be part of this inclusive event that travelled right across the world. The work I do with the Disability Council and the Regional Disability Council in Queensland has also been keeping me very busy and it is an exciting time to be involved with disability awareness and the process of government support in this area. 

This year we plan to do more work with our teacher professional development sessions and workshops across the region and so far this has been progressing really well. We have particularly been asked to focus some of our sessions on early childhood education which we have done and we have had some great sessions with many groups, such as our recent workshop at the University of the Sunshine Coast for the C&K Association. We have also developed a whole cariety of workshops that deal specifically with Hidden Disabilities, like Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Intellectual Impairements, Speech Language Issues and Perceptual problems. These are often a lot harder to understand than physical disabilities. Our sessions can help in this understanding process. You can find out more detail by clicking on the side bars.

I have also been doing some motivational and after dinner speaking which I really enjoy. I like to share my life experiences and the stories of our work which inspire me every day. I feel I am priviledged that I get to listen to other adults and children's stories that they open up and share with me every day. I guess I never dreamed that all these opportunities would evolve and develop when I first started Discovering DisAbility & Diversity, but again that is the exciting thing about life. We never know where it might lead us. We just have to be prepared to try our best and work towards our goals. I want to continue to achieve as much as I can to break down the barriers about disability and allow all people to achieve their individual dreams. I have been lucky to have the support that allows me to continually do this.

Enjoy Life and Live it to the Full!!!!!

Updated Information

In the last five years the program has been taken to over 1000 schools, preschools and childcare centres and we have spoken to hundreds of children and adults. Some of our most amazing results come from preschools and childcare centres. Children are so open and honest.

More recently the work with teachers and educators, in Professional Development experiential workshops designed to create understanding of disability and difference and in creating solutions for inclusive classrooms, has been one of the most impacting and rewarding and life changing areas of the current work I do. It has also led to my doctoral research work at the University of Queensland. I won the Australian Human Rights Award for Individuals for the program and that has lead to many exciting networks and introduced me and my work to many exciting people who I hope one day to work with on future projects.

I have also begun to speak at various events across Australia. I tell my life story but I intertwine it with the many stories of others I have met along the way. It is the sharing of these experiences that helps create meaning to my world.

Art has given me the chance to explore my creative side and to do something totally independently. I have been painting since I was 12 and as my body has changed so too has my art. I am always experimenting with new techniques and ideas. I love exploring colour and texture and I like layering colours, combining materials and mixing media. Art gives me the freedom to be myself. My painting is a celebration of the ideals of inclusion and each painting symbolises this. Some have a strong message and others are subtler. The link with the viewer is part of this process. The paintings aim to draw the audience in and involve them.

Before my spinal surgery I really began enjoying my painting and was happy with my work. Afterwards I experimented more and I even tried things like wheelchair painting. You can check this out at my website www.discoveringdisability.com.au. I have exhibited my work in galleries. My recent exhibition ‘Celebrating Inclusion’ was a culmination of my experiences, reflecting difference not deficiency and celebrating the gift of my life. It is part of a continual journey.

As well as work and art I am the chair of the Regional Disability Council in the Darling Downs and South West region. I am also part of the Disability Council of Queensland. The opportunity to have a voice about disability and help with the shaping of community needs and government policy is very enjoyable and rewarding.

In the past couple of years we have taken the Discovering DisAbility & Diversity program to many different communities and travelled many kilometres to bring the message of equality to over 500 new schools, branching into New South Wales and I even had the chance to deliver a keynote address in New Zealand via satellite. So many teachers and students have been shown these inclusive practices that it seems whenever I go out now I see someone I have spoken to with the program.

I have been busy promoting and selling my children’s book. Sales are going well as it is one of the very few books written about disability in the family. Recently I launched a new disability educational resource kit, Another Day in the Life of Sharon Boyce–a Person with a Physical Disability. This is a first of its kind resource that combines a DVD, still pictures and a book to help the community across all age levels understand about physical disability.

I also designed, produced and developed a DVD of a day in the life of a person with a physical disability. This is a teacher resource kit for early childhood and primary schools and for general libraries. Another teacher resource book I’m working on is about dyslexia. I hope to launch that in June.

So many opportunities have come my way: taking part in a Commonwealth Games Baton Relay; being on Toowoomba City Council’s Access Committee; training taxi drivers on how to operate with a diverse community; and advising the transport department on its wheelchair accessible buses and ways to make travel easier for people with disabilities.

Amidst all the other things I do I still work at USQ online running two courses in the Faculty of Education in inclusive education and early childhood art education. I really love working with the students and have a good working relationship with everyone at USQ. I have also been working across the three USQ campuses in Toowoomba, Fraser Coast and Springfield in running staff workshops on inclusive assessment practices and also access and inclusion.

I have also started doing motivational speaking. I enjoy sharing my story and along the way hearing those of other people.

Sharon Boyce - 2010 to today - Update

The last year has been one that has been very exciting as well as busy. I was absolutely thrilled to be recognised with a Human Rights Award for Individual Service to Community. To have received this national recognition for a disability and diversity awareness project was incredibly exciting. It is not just my own work that has made it happen though.  My family has been there every step of the way and encouraged and inspired me to make a difference and more importantly not to give up when things seemed tough.

I was also re elected to be chair of Toowoomba Regional Council’s Access Committee. This role is one that is exciting and challenging and is all about giving back to the community in which I live and work. Toowoomba has some great attractions and access for people with disabilities is a high priority for the region. I have also been part of the advisory area training taxi drivers on how to operate with a diverse community; and advising the transport department on its wheelchair accessible buses and ways to make travel easier for people with disabilities.

Amidst all the other things I do I still work at USQ online running two courses in the Faculty of Education in inclusive education and early childhood art education. I really love working with the students and have a good working relationship with everyone at USQ. I have also been working across the three USQ campuses in Toowoomba, Fraser Coast and Springfield in running staff workshops on inclusive assessment practices and also access and inclusion. This year I designed and developed some online professional workshops for the students, which have been very well received. These can be observed on my web site at www.discoveringdisability.com.au The interactions and feedback from these sessions about exploring Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and intellectual impairment as well as many other areas within the teaching environment have been some of the most rewarding work I have ever done. To have mothers, students, teachers, in fact the many shared stories of engagement have been the best thing that has come from this project. We developed an online support network that really explored the many issues of inclusion. It is these networks and community stories that make this project worthwhile.

I have also been doing a lot of workshops for teachers and teacher aides across the region. I have also started doing motivational speaking. I enjoy sharing my story and along the way hearing those of other people. I have also been part of the Queensland Government ministerial advisory committee exploring early childhood intervention and creating practical solutions and directions to help support children with disabilities in Queensland. This role is stimulating and rewarding as there are many exciting and supportive things happening in this area. It has led to the development of an early intervention action plan which links into the state 10 year plan for disability.

Building Bright Futures: an action plan for children with a disability — birth to eight years (PDF 947Kb) (RTF 380Kb)

Early May DDD worked with all of the fourth year pharmacy students at the University of Queensland. The students got to participate in our hands-on experiential workshop exploring both physical as well as hidden disabilities. There was lots of fun and laughter, as well as important conversations and questions about feelings, emotions that were generated through the process and even more importantly critical reflection about the link between lived disability and community pharmacy and the general workplace support and information role the students will perform. The commitment and enthusiasm of these students and their desire to learn more about disability and difference was very encouraging.

In June, I was excited and honoured to be the keynote speaker for the NDS - National Disability Services annual conference held at Jupiter's Casino on the Gold Coast. With over 450 delegates it was a great event to be a part of. There was exciting discussions based around the many current topical issues around disability. There was good information about current government directions and policy and the many interesting issues surrounding the NDIS. There were some great speakers and I met many many people who are really supportive of new and exciting and innovative approaches to caring and disability and real lived inclusion. We need an industry that believes in entitlement. People with disabilities have an entitlement and a right to good quality flexible care that they are in charge of. They need to be able to choose what they want. What they need and how it is done for them and how they can best live their lives.
It has to be their decisions as it is their life. It was great to represent our region of Queensland at this conference.

Diversity Week at University of Queensland was great we had an amazing time talking to students and creating a canvas of many handprints and comments gathered from people around the world. It was a real celebration of diversity from across the region. You can see the process in action on the website at - http://www.discoveringdisability.com.au/index.php/diversity-week-at-uq

I have also set up a new research institute called Institute of Inclusive Education and Research. This is my research institute that links all my areas of passion within education and research together in the one space. There will be specific focus areas and sections for early childhood education and the new national curriculum areas especially a focus on the Early Years Learning Framework and its links to diversity and Inclusion. There will be a section for teachers and university students and beginning teachers. There will also be a support area for Teacher Aides as well. There will be specific resources dealing specifically with Physical disabilities, Hidden Disabilities and a special literacy’s area linking Dyslexia and my current research and resources about this fascinating subject area.

As a preferred supplier to PSCQ DDD can also provide training for early childhood centres across the region and also for their staff especially in the areas of curriculum development and inclusion around the Early Years Learning Framework. The Professional Support Co-ordinator for Queensland (PSCQ), is a project set up to support the work of early childhood educators in child-care settings, and it has engaged us to introduce active learning in about 200 centres by using DDD-style workshops. As the early years is my central focus for all change and early intervention is my passion i am very excited by these new links across the community to create stronger inclusive practice. 

In my role of chair of the ministerial regional disability council I have been involved in many exciting regional projects over the past year – from the launch of disability action week last year in Ipswich, the multicultural festival in the Brisbane Roma Street Parklands to this year’s events coming up next week. Pictures and media from these are also to be seen on the website. http://www.discoveringdisability.com.au/index.php/dont-dis-disability-updates

I have also been asked to present at two more national conferences this year. One is in Adelaide in October – dealing with early childhood intervention and one in Brisbane in December – exploring higher education pathways of real support for all. These presentations will showcase the work of Discovering Disability & Diversity and will show how experiential disability awareness linked to the individual’s role in life can create real understanding and planning for real inclusion and changed practice.

Working with carers and the disability industry overall has been very exciting and challenging this year. We have worked with Breakaway and Blue Care and many other organisations within the Toowoomba region. This part of our work is increasing and leading to many different roles and creating new networks of education and support within the region.

I have also begun the process of becoming an access auditor for both physical as well as quality systems. This is a steep learning curve but one that will allow me to work within communities to make all areas accessible and able to be enjoyed by everybody. It will also help me to create more links to all areas of the population in order to educate the community about difference and about breaking down barriers. 

My writing and research has also been expanding with my new book on Dyslexia being released in December and my Educational Resource kit update also almost ready for rerelease. Understanding problems with reading and creating solutions that will allow individuals with difficulties to participate more fully in society and with their education is really important to me and I am passionate about supporting more understanding within the education process for both children and adults with these issues happening in their lives. I am also writing units for the courses we are teaching through the institute – in the areas of disability, educational support and early childhood education.

Next week I am involved in the opening of Disability Action Week in Toowoomba with the Mayor - Peter Taylor. We are having an opening afternoon event at Clifford Park Special School. I am then presenting the showcase presentation at Disability Services Shared Visions Forum at Toowoomba City Golf Club on Tuesday. We then have a community linked to Toowoomba Regional Council family film night at Laurel Bank Park on Friday night. The following week concludes for me with a Teacher Aide Inclusion Conference at Harristown State High School to explore disability and diversity and current teaching practices.

Again this year I will be working with Toowoomba City Library to run disability awareness workshops for staff. We did this last year and our workshops this year will build on these links and educational ideas. I was very excited to be shortlisted for the Queensland Regional Acheiver Awards for 2011 for my work in disability awareness raising and creating inclusive communities and was very happy with my place as runner up to a very deserving winner from FNQ. It was amazing night and it was great to be recognised for my work across regional Queensland.

The last few months have been really exciting and energising for me. Real change is happening. Over the past couple of weeks I have had the privilege of working with, meeting and speaking to a large number of people who really believe in living and learning about real inclusion. I am also on track with my research and am really enjoying the actual process of my PhD. The work in the community with young children through to university academics and company directors is both rewarding as well as humbling. There are so many people within our community who are living with and supportive of disability and diversity. It is a privilege to work across this region with so many amazing and supportive people. Sure, there are problems and issues in every community, however together people can solve things and make a difference. Sometimes it seems like slow change – like peeling the layers of an onion. However change is happening, and any change is good and I think our region is very progressive in promoting and living inclusive practices.

I try to live my principles every day and try to promote real change everywhere I go. It is not always easy and there are some things I struggle with every day but if we didn’t have these things to overcome we would not have anything to challenge us and inspire us to greatness. I want to live my purpose. I want to create a better community for us all. There is a lot more work to do. My dyslexia book will be launched soon and I will finish my PHD this year or early next year. I have many directions I would like to explore. We will have to wait and see. Life is exciting and we must try to live it to the full.