Super Power Kids

  Super Power Kids  - A Book Full of Awesomeness

Super Power Kids is an exciting initiative that will raise the profile of children with disabilities, showcasing their unique talents, strengths and indomitable spirit.  It will directly challenge the deficit language often used around disability to focus on the gifts and abilities of Super Power Kids.
 
Over the next 12 months, Kalparrin will work closely with renowned photographer Rachel Callander, author of the international award-winning book, Super Power Baby Project to capture exquisite photographic images of children living with disability, telling their stories in a stunningly produced 200-page hardcover book to be launched at the 2019 Awesome International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things, including a photographic exhibition at the State Library of Western Australia and distribution of the book and accompanying educational resources to schools throughout Western Australia.

Using powerful imagery and storytelling and partnering with respected and high profile organisations, Super Power Kids will be intensively promoted via a 12-month campaign, using traditional and social media with the aim of educating children and adults that there is much that lies beyond initial and often negative impressions of children with disability. 

Super Power Kids book and exhibition will demonstrate that children with disability have so much to teach us about themselves and ourselves – and will reveal the value, potential, abilities and beauty in all children.  

Please get behind this project. Get to know our Super Power Kids and together we can change the focus, change the language and we can adopt an attitude that celebrates all of humanity.

Key People - The Dream Team

Kalparrin is a not-for-profit organisation and Western Australia’s oldest and largest member organisation, supporting families caring for children with a disability, developmental delay, genetic, chronic medical and/or health condition. 

Membership is free and provides parents with access to a vast array of information, resources, opportunities and events as well as connection to a community of thousands of other parents supporting children with additional needs.

Rachel Callander 

BFA, NZIPP Fellow

Rachel is a TEDx presenter, speaker, trainer, award-winning photographer and the author of the Outstanding Book of the Year Award 2015 IPPY New York, Super Power Baby Project.  

This exceptional book celebrates the lives and abilities of children in New Zealand with chromosomal or genetic conditions and was inspired by Rachel's late daughter, Evie, who was born with a very rare condition herself.

In the two and a half years of Evie's life, Rachel learnt a lot about the use of the language of disability in the community, schools and health system and has spent the subsequent years following Evie's death, continuing to explore the impact and implications of how language is used by health professionals, teachers, family and community - to positive and negative effect.  

This book is Evie's legacy, as is Rachel herself, and both have much to teach us about ourselves, and how we negotiate conflict, grief, hope, uniqueness, celebration, and a meaningful life.  Rachel is extremely excited to be making a similar book that focuses on children and families in culturally diverse Western Australia.

Nathan Maddigan

APP M.Photog. I

Nathan is a Master Photographer, past State President of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, and has been awarded the Western Australian AIPP Wedding Photographer of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2018, and has been a finalist Australia-wide in 2016, 2017 and 2018.  He is regularly invited to judge photography awards in Australia and New Zealand.

He is also the founder of the award-winning magazine design business Self Titled Studios.

Nathan is passionate about storytelling, and the underlying structure of story that governs many of our everyday decisions.  

He now works closely with his fiancé Rachel Callander, building resources and running workshops that apply the age-old principles of story to present-day challenges in business, relationships, and communication.

Nathan also has three boys, who teach him so many deep truths of life.

Project Timeline

11 March              Photography sessions and interviews commence

9 April                   Crowdfunding Campaign begins

24 April                 Last of photography sessions and interviews

14 May                  Crowdfunding Campaign ends

March-June           Book design, writing, production, editing

9 June                    Deadline for final edits and delivery to the printer for final design check

21 June                  Deadline for the book to go to print

4 Oct                      Awesome International Arts Festival Gala Opening and Book Launch of Super Power Kids

4 Oct                      State Library WA Super Power Kids Photography Exhibition opening (open until January 2020)

April 2019-
Feb 2020              Media campaign, community events, workshops

The initial goal of $20,000 will cover the costs of printing 2,000 copies of this exceptional book.  It will be produced to the very highest of standards, to honour the children and families featured in the book.

Copies will be available for sale to the general public and donated to schools throughout Western Australia along with resources that encourage classroom discussions and activities around abilities, unique strengths and perspectives.  These powerful and positive conversations will in turn help to foster an awareness and tolerance of difference so that every child feels valued and important.