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28<br />
Broadcasting<br />
Inclusion<br />
on the Air Waves<br />
Located in the well-known<br />
Katoomba region of NSW, Radio<br />
Blue Mountains 89.1 FM is a not<br />
for profit organisation that is<br />
based on a volunteer community.<br />
The popular local radio station<br />
has been in action since 1993 and<br />
broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days<br />
a week to an audience of around<br />
75,000 people. It is funded through<br />
listener support, grants and<br />
sponsorship.<br />
The key focus for this radio<br />
station is community inclusion,<br />
and features a live feature show<br />
called “The Ability Show with the<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> Team” which is aired each<br />
Wednesday from 10am to 12pm.<br />
‘The Ability Show’ is hosted by<br />
participants from <strong>NADO</strong> with the<br />
help of their support staff. The<br />
show is designed to provide a voice<br />
for people with disability through<br />
a creative, inclusive and fulfilling<br />
outlet, whilst delivering a high<br />
quality engaging radio program.<br />
In 2016, Joshua Abbott started out<br />
as a guest presenter on “The Ability<br />
Hour” program. Showing much<br />
interest and enthusiasm in the new<br />
opportunity, Josh continued onto<br />
train as a panel operator presenter.<br />
Josh was also working as part of<br />
the Tech Team and assisted in<br />
maintaining tech equipment as<br />
well as taking shows to an outdoor<br />
broadcast. He also worked on fund<br />
raising for the radio station which<br />
involved taking and receiving phone<br />
calls and learning about computer<br />
communications.<br />
After training with Jenny O’Brien<br />
(support worker and radio<br />
presenter), Josh felt confident and<br />
excited about presenting his own<br />
show and named it “Blast from<br />
the Past and Back to the Future”.<br />
The new program was music<br />
based, with chats and comments<br />
from various speakers and studio<br />
guests. Its key points were to<br />
emphasise topics such as social<br />
justice, community supports,<br />
inclusion, empowerment and<br />
relevant information that may be of<br />
interest to service providers, people<br />
with disability, their families, friends<br />
and carers.<br />
Josh is now on the management<br />
committee, in which he attends<br />
meetings and is involved in the<br />
decision making processes. He<br />
quoted “This opportunity and<br />
experience has changed my life.<br />
Before I wasn’t doing anything and<br />
just at home, I was a little bored.”<br />
Josh says he has learnt so much<br />
and has built his technical abilities,<br />
his confidence in presenting and<br />
public speaking. He has also learnt<br />
how to organise a team and to<br />
motivate others in fund raising.<br />
Josh is supported by <strong>NADO</strong><br />
staff member Jennifer O’Brien.<br />
In late 2019, Josh was nominated<br />
and accepted to be on the<br />
committee for the Blue Mountains<br />
Community Radio.<br />
“Blast from the Past” airs each<br />
Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm.<br />
You can help to support Josh by<br />
following his Facebook page.
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