The Board and staff of Parent to Parent join Inclusion Australia in acknowledging the sad passing of Mark Pattison. Mark was the Executive Director of the National Council on Intellectual Disability (now known as Inclusion Australia) for over 20 years.
In that time NCID experienced considerable change, however, its focus remained strong. Mark’s work included employment for people with intellectual disabilities, addressing a lack of services, closing institutions and providing adequate support for ageing parents.
Mark supported the establishment of Our Voice, a committee of Inclusion Australia in which all members are people with an intellectual disability, and a self-advocate. Loud and Clear Qld, the self-advocacy group supported by P2P, exists due to Mark’s challenge to us to fill a gap. Previously, Queensland hadn’t had a representative. Payge Hollis is the fourth representative from Queensland in that role.
On a personal note, I was fortunate to have Mark as a mentor in my early days working in the disability sector. His words and guidance have left a lasting impression on me to this day, providing a valuable reference when making decisions.
P2P joins Inclusion Australia in thanking Mark for his work to support people with an intellectual disability. You can read Inclusion Australia’s tribute to mark here Vale Mark Pattison
By Jodi Wolthers
