About DiPSA
Who are DiPSA?
DiPSA (Disability Peers of South Australia) is a peer network run by and for people with physical and sensory disability in South Australia. It is supported by JFA Purple Orange and funded by an ILC Grant, provided by the Australian Federal Government.
Formerly known as DEAA (Disability Elders of All Ages), the network was established in 2016 and has members of all ages who live across the state. DiPSA host online and in-person monthly peer network meetings. These peer networks focus on improving self-advocacy skills, getting information from guest speakers, sharing resources and stories through peer connection.
What is Disability Elders of All Ages? from JFA Purple Orange on Vimeo. This video was produced and published before the network was re-named.
Visit the JFA Purple Orange website for more information about DiPSA and their monthly meetings.
To join or learn more about DiPSA, contact us at 0478 825 793 or email dipsa@purpleorange.org.au.
DiPSA Blog
What the DEAA Peer Group means to me
Posted: 21 Jun 2022
Tiffany Littler, a member of the DEAA Peer Group, discusses what being a member means to her. She talks about the benefits and opportunities she has gained from being a part of the group.
Benefits of Peer Groups: Perspective of a new member
Posted: 21 Jun 2022
Julianne Jones, a new member of DEAA, discusses her insights and experiences of the group so far.
In 2021, the formerly named DEAA peer network co-designed a needs analysis on the use of digital technology amongst South Australians who live with physical and sensory disability. We learnt that:
- People living with physical and sensory disability in regional communities would benefit from digital assistive technology workshops to build capacity to connect, communicate and participate in community life.
- Building confidence by providing the right conditions and trainers with the right skill set is essential to learning about digital assistive technology.
From this learning our co design group then created the workshop you can find on this website.
In 2023 and 2024 we have been offered these workshops in person in regional South Australia, and online.
Below are some quotes from people with disability who we interviewed and or ran focus groups with that highlight some of the learnings from our research about digital assistive technology.
"I didn’t realise how unsafe I felt before I got it (digital assistive technologies - DAT). I thought I didn’t need it but then found it really liberating- there is so much scope with DAT- back in the days I wouldn’t have even had a power chair."
Focus group participant
"Offers of help from family can be difficult…offers come but nothing comes from it. Paid supports give more independence but with Digital AT I can do many things for myself".
Focus group participant
"Peer groups realising how effective they are, I thought they may be boring and depressing but they are not at all”.
Focus group participant
You can view the final document here:
