STEM & Engineering
Build structures with pop sticks and playdough, or design paper and cardboard bridges and towers. Teams solve simple engineering challenges together. Some tables may suit older participants and university students.
Celebrating International Day of People with Disability 2026
Connect & Create 2026
Building Social Connections Through STEM, Arts & Shared Experiences
WA theme: Valued, Included, Leading
Saturday 28 November 2026, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Community Hall, Stirling Leisure Inglewood
895 Beaufort Street, Inglewood WA 6052
Everyone is welcome. Every contribution matters.
Register on Humanitix
Free event. Registration required. Limited places.
Event essentials
- When
- Saturday 28 November 2026
9:00 am to 12:00 pm (Perth time) - Where
- Community Hall, Stirling Leisure Inglewood
895 Beaufort Street, Inglewood WA 6052
View on map (opens in a new tab) - Cost
- Free. Registration is required so we can plan for everyone.
- Places
- Up to 100 people in total, including participants, families, volunteers and organisers.
Why Connect & Create?
Connect & Create 2026 brings young people with and without disability, families, students and volunteers together to make, build and celebrate. Whether creating a bridge, exploring robotics or making art, participants have a shared project that makes it easier to connect, exchange ideas and enjoy working together.
A shared project gives people something to talk about. Taking turns, solving a problem together and finishing something you made are all natural ways to build confidence and friendships, and the finished creation is an easy conversation starter.
The day is a community celebration for people of all abilities. It is open to autistic and ADHD young people, young people with other disabilities, including non-visible disabilities, and young people without disability. You do not need a diagnosis to take part.
Who is invited
- Young people aged about 7 to 22, with and without disability
- Parents and carers, who stay with and supervise their own children
- University students and community volunteers
- Interested community members, within the event's limit of 100 people
Create. Connect. Celebrate.
Explore hands-on STEM challenges, educational robotics, arts and crafts, and a community celebration. Activities are planned to suit different ages, interests and ways of participating. The activities below are indicative. The final program depends on registrations and volunteer availability.
Robotics & Coding
Try hands-on educational robotics and coding, building and programming with others. Robotics tables depend on volunteer and equipment availability.
Arts & Crafts
Paint on canvas, make cards, fold origami or add to a shared artwork. Activities come in different levels of difficulty, with accessible alternatives.
Community Celebration
Share light refreshments, music and singing, and possibly some dancing. Joining in is optional, and a quieter option will be available.
How the day works
About six activity tables
Tables are set up according to registrations, ages, interests and support needs. Each table welcomes a mix of people. We do not group anyone by disability.
Your choices
There are several activities to pick from, visual instructions, flexible ways to take part and time for breaks. Move between tables, or stay at the one you enjoy.
Parents and carers
Parents and carers stay with and supervise their own children. Volunteers help run the activities but do not take over that role.
Connect & Create is a community participation activity. It is not therapy, a clinical service or a social skills program.
Valued, Included, Leading
This is the Western Australian theme for International Day of People with Disability 2026. It recognises the knowledge and experience of people with disability and the benefits of working together.
We believe everyone has something to contribute. Young people with lived experience of disability and their families are helping shape the activities, including those for the 17+ group and for younger children. That way participants can be valued, be included and take the lead.
Tentative program
This schedule is provisional. Times and details may change before the day.
- 9:00 to 9:15 am Welcome and check-in. We help everyone find a table. Parents and carers stay with their children.
- 9:15 to 9:30 am Opening remarks.
- 9:30 to 9:40 am Group photos. Only for people who have given photo consent. Opting out is easy.
- 9:40 to 11:15 am STEM, robotics, arts and crafts. The main time for building and making together.
- 11:15 to 11:40 am Light refreshments and shared food. A chance to talk.
- 11:40 to 11:55 am Music and community celebration. Joining in is optional.
- 11:55 am to 12:00 pm Closing. We celebrate what everyone contributed and achieved.
Accessibility and questions
We are building accessibility into the day. Where details are still being confirmed, we say so. We will add confirmed venue access information here before the event.
Who can come?
Young people aged about 7 to 22, with and without disability, along with their parents and carers, students, volunteers and community members. Autistic and ADHD young people are very welcome, and so is everyone else. You do not need a diagnosis to register or take part.
Do parents and carers need to stay?
Yes. Parents and carers stay for the whole event and supervise their own children. Volunteers and other helpers support the activities but do not replace parent or carer supervision.
Will there be a quiet space?
We are planning a quieter space and will think about sound levels during the music. Taking a break, skipping the music or choosing a calmer activity are all fine. Details will be confirmed closer to the event.
What about photos?
Photo consent is separate from registration, and you can opt out. We only photograph people who have given consent, and we do not publish images of children without permission.
Will food be provided?
The plan includes light refreshments and shared food. Catering and dietary arrangements are still being confirmed, and we will update this page when they are.
How much does it cost?
The event is free. Registration is required, and places are limited to 100 people in total, including families, volunteers and organisers.
Is this event only for autistic or ADHD young people?
No. Connect & Create is for the whole community, including people with other disabilities and people without disability.
Register for Connect & Create 2026
Free event. Registration required. Limited places.
Up to 100 people in total can attend, so please register early.
Registration is handled by Humanitix, a separate ticketing platform. Your details are entered there. This website does not collect personal information.
Organisers and acknowledgements
VASEA WA Chapter, lead organiser
The Vietnam-Australia Scholars & Experts Association in Western Australia leads and coordinates the event. VASEA WA is a volunteer-led connector and convenor. It is not a clinical service provider. This event follows its ADHD community workshop and is part of the developing VASEA Neuro vision, which connects families, young people, community champions, academics and service providers to create more opportunities for neurodivergent people.
ADHD community workshop (opens in a new tab) and Curtin CoderDojo tour (opens in a new tab)
THT Vitality, organising partner
THT Vitality is the organising partner for Connect & Create 2026.
THT Vitality is a team of nurses, support workers, coordinators and carers. They believe every person, regardless of ability or circumstance, deserves to live with dignity, independence and respect. Their work includes support with daily routines, specialist disability care, and time for families to rest and recharge. They aim to build trusting relationships with participants and families through open, transparent communication.
Visit the THT Vitality website (opens in a new tab) or read About us (opens in a new tab)
Funding acknowledgement
Connect & Create 2026 is supported by an International Day of People with Disability event sponsorship grant from Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) (opens in a new tab).
Contact
Questions about the event? Contact the organisers through the Humanitix event page.