Summary
VALID’s Raven Moore and Sara De Grandis represented Australia at the IASSIDD Asia-Pacific Congress in Singapore, sharing insights from VALID’s VALID8 project and highlighting the importance of self advocacy, accessibility and global collaboration in disability inclusion.
VALID’s Raven Moore recently represented Australia at the IASSIDD Asia-Pacific Congress in Singapore, an international conference focused on advancing person-centred research and practice for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Held at the Holiday Inn in Bukit Merah, the conference brought together hundreds of academics, service providers and self advocates from across the region. Raven attended alongside her colleague Sara De Grandis, representing VALID’s commitment to lived experience and inclusion on the global stage.
“It was convenient for me because if I needed a break, I could just take the lift upstairs,” Raven said. “That kind of accessibility makes a big difference.”
Showcasing VALID8: A Self Advocacy Project from Australia
Raven and Sara were invited by Professor Jeffrey Chan to present on VALID’s VALID8 project – a self advocacy initiative that ran from 2020 to June 2025. The project supported people with intellectual disabilities to take part in quality reviews of group homes that had transitioned from government to non-profit management.
“The project was about people having a real say in how their homes are run,” Raven explained.
Learning and Connecting Globally
Throughout the IASSIDD Asia-Pacific Congress in Singapore, Raven and Sara took part in sessions featuring both academics and self advocates.
“After the academics spoke, there was always a self advocate sharing their own perspective, which was really good,” Raven said.
One session that particularly stood out focused on Japan’s move toward deinstitutionalisation.
“It was interesting to see how different countries are approaching disability rights,” Raven said. “I learned a lot about global perspectives.”
Between sessions, Raven and Sara explored Singapore’s sights and transport system.
“The trains run much quicker than they do here in Melbourne!” Raven laughed.
A Proud Moment for VALID
Raven said the experience reminded her how culture and economics influence disability advocacy around the world.
“It really made me think about how we can connect globally,” she said. “It was an amazing experience.”
VALID CEO Fionn Skiotis said Raven’s participation was a proud moment for the organisation.
“Raven continues to show the power of lived experience in shaping more inclusive systems,” he said.