New era for disability organisation

Spastic Society of Victoria (SSOV) members have voted overwhelmingly to change the name of the organisation to Scope (Vic) Ltd. and adopt an identity that better reflects the hopes and aspirations of its clients.

Chief Executive Officer Vici Funnell praised members of SSOV for their forward-looking decision to move away from an old-fashioned name that had become inappropriate.

‘The word ‘spastic’ has hindered us in many ways in recent years.

‘The word has been misused and is often traded as an insult.

‘The name does not reflect the progressive services we offer.

‘Nor does it represent the conditions experienced by our clients who have a wide range of disabilities,’ Ms Funnell said.

‘Some younger parents who have children with disabilities have refused to use our services because they did not wish to have their children labelled as ‘spastic’.

‘Potential sponsors have also questioned the name.

‘And our major funder, the Department of Human Services, has positively supported us to change the name,’ she said.

The SSOV constitution required that at least 75 per cent of members vote in the affirmative for the name change—96 per cent voted to adopt the new name.

SSOV began 53 years ago as the Spastic Children’s Society of Victoria.

The change has been under consideration by the Board and Management of the Society for the past two years.