CONCERT MARKS 20 YEARS OF DANCING OFF STIGMA
ABOUT 200 people living with mental and physical disability danced through the night at the 20th Breaking Free Rock ‘n’ Roll party.
Organiser and Toowoomba disability support advocate Michael Bruge said even folks confined to a wheelchair got their groove on.
“I started the concert about 20 years ago because I got tired of going to forums that bagged everything all the time,” he said.
“I wanted to have something that celebrated the positives of mental and physical disability.”
Friday’s party was held at the City Golf Club and featured a singer who was blind and the Rainbow Choir – a Toowoomba group entirely composed of people with disability.
Mr Bruge said it was important that the community was represented and had a place to share its talents.
“I’d say about 90 per cent of the entertainers I have booked over the years have had mental or physical disabilities.
“People can come out, have a good time and not feel like they are being stared at because everyone in the room either has a disability or cares for someone with a disability,” Mr Bruge said.