Beyond Labels: Our Families, Our Stories — The Conversations Continue
Beyond every label is a person, a family and a story worth understanding.
On 10 October 2026, the Singapore Network for Inclusive Learning (SNIL), an alumni group of Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education, brought together families, educators, advocates and members of the public for the 2026 edition of Beyond Labels: Our Families, Our Stories, held at the National Library Building’s Level 1 Plaza.
Graced by Guest of Honour Mayor Denise Phua, the event featured eight speaker sessions, ten exhibition booths, an Inclusive Martial Arts Experience and an interactive pledge tree. In her address, Mayor Denise Phua reinforced the importance of inclusion beyond educational and specialist settings, highlighting its relevance to everyday life.
Together, the day’s activities invited visitors to look beyond familiar labels and consider the individuals, experiences and perspectives behind them.
Stories That Challenge Perspectives
At the heart of Beyond Labels were the voices of individuals, families and advocates sharing their lived experiences and insights.
Across eight speaker sessions, topics ranged from caregiving, disability and neurodiversity to independence, creativity, education and family life. Combining personal journeys with professional perspectives, the sessions highlighted the diversity of experiences that shape how individuals and families navigate inclusion.
Their stories offered a reminder that no diagnosis or label can fully capture a person’s circumstances, capabilities or aspirations.
Beyond the stage, ten exhibition booths brought together individual creators, family-led initiatives and participating institutions, including Newcastle Australia and the National Library Board (NLB). Visitors explored creative works, learned about different initiatives and engaged directly with exhibitors.
The Newcastle Australia booth also featured information about The Purple Parade, a national movement celebrating the abilities of persons with disabilities. The Purple Parade 2026 was subsequently postponed, with the event expected to take place in the first half of 2027.
The Inclusive Martial Arts Experience, facilitated by occupational therapist Bernice Liang, demonstrated how activities can be adapted to accommodate different abilities and needs, bringing the principles of inclusion to life through active participation.
Visitors were also invited to contribute to a pledge tree, reflecting on the part each person can play in creating a more inclusive society.
Building Inclusion Through Community
Beyond Labels 2026 was made possible through the collective efforts of SNIL, Newcastle Australia, participating families, speakers, exhibitors, volunteers and community partners, including NLB, CaringSG and Macro Events.
As an alumni-led initiative, Beyond Labels demonstrated how learning can extend beyond formal education. By connecting professional knowledge with lived experiences and community participation, the event encouraged reflection on how inclusion is understood and practised.
Inclusion is not simply about helping individuals adapt to existing environments. It also requires communities, institutions and individuals to examine the attitudes, expectations and practices that may create barriers to participation.
The Conversations Continue
While Beyond Labels 2026 has concluded, its message extends beyond the event itself.
Inclusion requires more than awareness or good intentions. It calls for a willingness to listen, question assumptions and consider how our everyday decisions affect others. Beyond Labels created space for these exchanges, reminding us that beyond every label is a person, a family and a story worth understanding.
