Medallists, mentors and role models shine

Courage and perseverance will be on stage when 18 New Zealanders take the spotlight as finalists in the Attitude Awards, which honour the outstanding achievements of New Zealanders living with disabilities.

Their stories of success will be celebrated at a black tie event at Eden Park on December 1.

This year’s sports contenders include Paralympic Gold medallist skier Adam Hall, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jessica Hamill, paralympians like Michael Johnson, who recently won gold at the IPC Shooting World Championships and cyclist Jayne Parsons who won silver at the UCI World Championships earlier this year.

Finalists in other categories include Pati Umaga a Wellington man who has become an advocate for the disability sector since his accident just five years ago, a young artist  who has a bright future in the special effects industry and two young people who have Down Syndrome and are determined to lead full independent lives.

There are six categories in the awards, including sport, courage in sport, artistic achievement, youth, spirit of attitude and employer as well as the Attitude Hall of Fame and the ACC Supreme Award. The ACC Employer Award highlights businesses that have assisted people with disabilities into work.

The Attitude Awards have grown from the television series “Attitude”, which screens throughout the year on TV One at 8.30am on Sundays. The winners will be announced at Eden Park’s ASB Lounge in Auckland on December 1.

Attitude TV executive producer Robyn Scott-Vincent says the awards celebrate the achievements of people who deserve greater recognition.

“We hold these awards with a very clear purpose - to continue to support the drive for inclusion and acceptance of people who live with disability,” Robyn says. “We believe the ‘Attitude’ TV series shows their lives add real value to New Zealand society and our communities. However, we have much to do to ensure this country is truly inclusive.”

This year the winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award will receive the use of a Signature Class car for a year, provided by Toyota New Zealand, as well as $5000 worth of travel from Air New Zealand.

Dr Jan White, ACC Chief Executive says ACC is proud to return as a principal sponsor of the Attitude Awards.

“We are privileged to be sponsoring these awards and it is always wonderful to see what our winners achieve with limitless imagination, positive attitude and the opportunities available to them,” says Dr White.

“We are confident our winners will go on to inspire organisations and individuals to change their attitudes towards people with disabilities.”

The Lion Foundation, Air New Zealand, Westpac, Wayne Francis Charitable Trust, Drake Medox and the Ministry of Health have also committed to supporting the awards.