walking . is . overrated

The first ever Attitude Awards are being held in Auckland tonight, and I’m honoured to be amongst the incredible list of finalists that are up for awards in numerous categories. If this is the first you’ve heard of the Attitude Awards, they’re a bit like the Halberg Awards, but for disabled New Zealanders, and were initiated by the awesome team over at Attitude TV. They have been established to recognise and applaud the amazing talent, spirit and achievements of disabled Kiwis in a variety of fields.

Attitude currently have video clips introducing all the finalists, so I suggest you check out disabilitytv.com and take a look!

The finalists are:

Attitude YOUTH Award

• Red Nicholson, 21, is a media and communications student. Red is a wheelchair user and opted to use his knowledge and skills to write about access around Auckland. For the past year Red’s traveled all over Auckland rating everything from hotel bedrooms to restaurant bathrooms, loading it on his website blog “ walkingisoverrated.com“
• Kerri Bonner is a paralympian, advisor, advocate and mentor. She coaches junior sports for Parafed Canterbury, is part of a CCS mentoring programme and has taken on advisory roles with the Christchurch City Council and the National Youth Council.
• Zachary Best is deaf. Last year he set up an on-line forum for young deaf teenagers to discuss everyday issues. Soon after he and his friends formed a national body for deaf youth. Now he is studying law at Victoria University and is determined to become New Zealand’s first deaf Barrister.

Attitude ENTERPRISE Award

• Samuel Gibson
• Philip Patston
• Beverly Wilson-Jones

Attitude SPIRIT Award

• Barry de Geest
• Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman
• Judi Davidson

Attitude COMMUNITY Award

• Todd Fernie
• Mike & Lynn Ryan
• The Tiaho Trust

Attitude SPORTSWOMAN Award

• Kate Horan
• Sophie Pascoe
• Paula Tesoriero

Attitude SPORTSMAN Award

• Cameron Leslie
• Daniel Sharp
• Adam Hall

Attitude ARTS Award

• Suzanne Cowan
• Louise Hamilton
• Sarah Taylor-Smith

Attitude EMPLOYER Award

• Bruce O’Halloran
• 4 Dice Business Group
• NZ Aluminium Smelters