{"id":3986,"date":"2025-04-11T16:32:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T06:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?p=3986"},"modified":"2026-06-14T18:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T08:30:15","slug":"i-have-a-fantastic-relationship-with-my-cerebral-palsy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/faces-of-melba-2\/i-have-a-fantastic-relationship-with-my-cerebral-palsy\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;I have a fantastic relationship with my cerebral palsy&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3986\" class=\"elementor elementor-3986\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a9a840a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4a9a840a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cb79b99 e-con-full home-banner e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1cb79b99\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a67ba68 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet_extra__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a67ba68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">&#8220;I have a fantastic relationship with my cerebral palsy&#8221;<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca23102 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"ca23102\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-f88c87c elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time> 11 April 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71d5bab9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"71d5bab9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a39efe4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a39efe4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19e67033 link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19e67033\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Melinda Smith is someone who defies categorisation. Dancer, poet, writer, visual artist, mentor \u2013 she wears many hats with passion and purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Melinda describes herself as someone who is always in motion, constantly engaged in creative endeavours. \u201cI am a very motivated person and always have been,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never experience boredom because I can always find something to do.\u201d One of her major projects this year was her one-woman show, Conduit Bodies, which she wrote and performed.<\/p>\n<p>The show debuted in October as part of the Fringe Festival, offering audiences a profound exploration of \u201cthe relationship between technology and the body, disability, assistive tech, and the natural world\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Melinda, who has cerebral palsy, used \u201cairsticks\u201d strapped to her body and wheelchair to transform the performance space into something entirely new \u2013 an experience that expanded the boundaries of dance and questioned who it is for.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cairsticks\u201d are a remarkable piece of wearable tech, translating movement into sound, text and visual effects. Using cutting edge motion tracking and wireless technologies, the \u201cairsticks\u201d gave Melinda complete control over gestural data, making every movement part of an immersive multimedia experience.<\/p>\n<p>The audience could witness the magic of movement directly influencing the performance, offering a transparency that made the show even more compelling. For Melinda, movement is at the core of everything she does. \u201cMovement drives me to every aspect and every activity I do,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDance is important to me, (as is) creative expression and being able to be who I am and what I want to communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With Conduit Bodies, Melinda pushed beyond the expectations placed on her by society and embraced a deeper form of expressive mastery.<\/p>\n<p>The performance grew into a crescendo of sound, movement and visual art, culminating in a transformative experience for the audience. Unique, innovative and thought provoking, Conduit Bodies challenged stereotypes and preconceptions about disability. It invited audiences to reconsider the limitations of form and explore a new frontier in live performance. Melinda wrote the show with a clear intention: to dismantle the conventional ideas about disability that she encounters in her daily life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wrote Conduit Bodies to challenge stereotypes and preconceptions of disability,\u201d she says. \u201cSometimes society is my biggest barrier because people assume that one size fits all.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d809a64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d809a64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SHALLOW-IMAGE-7.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f27cf19 link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f27cf19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Melinda faces this societal misunderstanding often.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost people who are not familiar with me wouldn\u2019t think I\u2019m employed and that I pay taxes like everyone else,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Melinda says she loves life because \u201cI get to choose the way I am,\u201d emphasising the empowerment and freedom she feels in being able to define her own identity, make her own decisions and live authentically on her terms.<\/p>\n<p>This sense of autonomy allows her to embrace life with confidence and joy, knowing she has the agency to shape her path and express herself fully. Reflecting on her positive outlook she says: \u201cI have a fantastic relationship with my cerebral palsy and I like to think that I work with my body\u2019s movement rather than against it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This acceptance and collaboration with her body have become central to her creative process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese elements have defined my work practice,\u201d Melinda says. \u201cMy biggest challenge has been time and communication. I will always need more time, no matter what I do and what I want to say.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Melinda acknowledges the physical limitations cerebral palsy can impose, but she\u2019s never allowed those constraints to hold her back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never limited myself,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019ve achieved more than I ever thought I was capable of. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Melinda was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Deakin University for \u201cher outstanding contribution to the arts and her tireless work in breaking down barriers to inclusion for people with disability in Australia and internationally\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>She is a lecturer at Deakin University in Inclusive Arts and a regular performer and Board Member with the Women\u2019s Circus. But the arts aren\u2019t Melinda\u2019s only passion \u2013 she mentors young people with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs, ensuring others have the support they need to thrive.<\/p>\n<p>And then there\u2019s her passion for travel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who know me know how much I have travelled and how much I love it,\u201d she says. \u201cI would love to do some more travel. Places like Vietnam are on my radar.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>I get to choose the way I am.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Melinda says she loves life because \u201cI get to choose the way I am,\u201d emphasising the empowerment and freedom she feels in being able to define her own identity, make her own decisions and live authentically on her terms.<\/p>\n<p>This sense of autonomy allows her to embrace life with confidence and joy, knowing she has the agency to shape her path and express herself fully. Reflecting on her positive outlook she says: \u201cI have a fantastic relationship with my cerebral palsy and I like to think that I work with my body\u2019s movement rather than against it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This acceptance and collaboration with her body have become central to her creative process. \u201cThese elements have defined my work practice,\u201d Melinda says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy biggest challenge has been time and communication. I will always need more time, no matter what I do and what I want to say.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Melinda acknowledges the physical limitations cerebral palsy can impose, but she\u2019s never allowed those constraints to hold her back. Melinda\u2019s relationship with Melba began on Halloween Day in 2023 when she moved into an apartment built to specialist disability accommodation (SDA) standards. The transition has been a transformative experience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoving into an SDA apartment and being able to access Melba Support Service has been incredible and a life changing experience,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing able to connect with Melba Support has allowed me to feel safe and secure in my apartment at all times of the day and night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough I am very independent, sometimes I have difficulty completing certain tasks, but Melba has always been there when I needed them. Getting to know all the staff has been a very personal and professional experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With her boundless energy, fierce independence and passion for challenging perceptions, Melinda continues to push the limits of what\u2019s possible, redefining how we understand disability, creativity and the body\u2019s relationship to the world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4dbc4984 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4dbc4984\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41d958eb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"41d958eb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c363f6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c363f6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Share<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3adb58d3 elementor-share-buttons--view-icon elementor-share-buttons--skin-flat elementor-share-buttons--shape-circle elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"3adb58d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.78 90.69 226.38 209.25 245V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.31 482.38 504 379.78 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-linkedin\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Melinda Smith is a powerhouse of creativity and self-expression, constantly pushing boundaries through her work as a dancer, writer, artist and mentor. With passion and purpose, she uses movement and technology to challenge perceptions of disability and inspire others to embrace their own potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":4107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faces-of-melba-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>&quot;I have a fantastic relationship with my cerebral palsy&quot; | Melba Support Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Melinda Smith is a powerhouse of creativity and self-expression, constantly pushing boundaries through her work as a dancer, writer, artist and mentor. 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