Keeley's Cause Limited - Social Change Maker of the Year - Disability

Company: Keeley's Cause Limited
Company Description: Keeley's Cause is a not for profit Organization that was established in 2017 by founder Keeley Johnson aged 13 years that became a Nationally Registered Charity within Australia in December 2018 & is Voluntary run Keeley diagnosed with Autism and an Intellectual Disability provides iPad's to children across Australia with the view to extend the services Internationally within the next 2 years
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Social Change Maker of the Year - Disability

Nomination Title: Keeley Johnson

in June 2017 13-year-old Keeley who has Autism and an Intellectual Disability created a non profit organization Keeleys Cause.

Through Keeleys own personal journey with the inability to learn the current taught curriculum in schools without the use of Technology and the inability to obtain any Government Funding or find a service that provided Ipads, Keeley created Keeley’s Cause to bridge that gap to ensure children with similar diagnoses would have equal opportunities to receive an education tailored to their individual needs and the ability to effectively communicate should they have any speech issues including being nonverbal, experiencing anxiety related issues that impact on their communication.

In December 2018 Keeleys Cause became a Nationally recognized Charity within Australia to further support children with disabilities across the Country.

Keeleys Cause is purely run by Volunteers in all aspects of the Organization including the Founder, CEO, 3 Board Members and 5 Advisory Board Members.

Keeleys Cause receive NO Government funding, and all monies raise has been through Keeleys fundraising efforts including events, sausage sizzles, donations, iPad sponsors and merchandise sales.

To date from conception of the Charity, Keeley has raised $150,000 in total through her Charity

Since 2019, Keeley has achieved the following Awards and Outcomes
2019 – Human Rights Commission Young Persons MedalFinalist
2019 – Ballarat Youth Challenge and Change AwardWinnerand Ballarat Youth MajorWinnerfor 17-25 age group
2020 – Ballan Chamber of Commerce Business Awards- Young AchieverWinner
2020 –AwardedAspect Australia’s David Foster Award for Volunteering – January 2020
2020 -AwardedThe Diana Award UK in Memory of Princess Diana, and listed on honour roll Keeley was 1 of only 2 Australian recipients to receive this most prestigious Award for Outstanding Contribution to Society - July 2020
2020 – Westfield Airport West Vic, Australia Local HeroWinnerwhich saw her Charity receive $10,000 to purchase 20 iPads
2020 –AwardedMoorabool Shire Access and Inclusion Award – December 2020
2021 – Victoria, Australia Young Australia of the YearFinalistJanuary 2021
2021 –AwardedMoorabool Shire Young Citizen of the Year- Australia Day 2021

Recently, June 2021 Officeworks Australia selected Keeleys Charity in their Round Up to Make a Difference Campaign that saw 10 Victorian stores raise funds for Keeleys Charity. A whopping $70,000 was raised which will see 116 more iPad’s purchased to support children of low socioeconomic backgrounds diagnosed with Autism or an Intellectual Disability

The Awards are very significant it shows the importance of ability over having a disability. Keeley fails academically, she was pushed through the system without being academically capable of achieving an education.

Keeley functions at a grade 3-4 level academically, has an IQ of 62 so academically she’s failing ability wise yet she has created an organization that has now become a National Charity, so these awards highlight the importance in altering outcomes, creating equal opportunities in gaining educations/communicating outcomes that are otherwise not available to children with learning difficulties.

Other players in our industry that work with disabled children may offer an iPad here or there for support but there is no one Organization doing it on a permanent basis as Keeley and her Charity are doing through Keeleys Cause.

Keeley herself has a huge vision for her Charity and the view to expand to support children overseas as this is something not available either in many countries across the world, including children donating them back in 4-5 years when the iPads need to be updated, learn to pay it forward.

The engraved plaques on the back will be changed from Sponsors to the child’s name, sent to third world countries through our Partnership with Lions Australia Clubs to give children who receive no support the chance to experience an education/communication via technology.

These Awards assist in the Charities awareness and the ability for Keeley to achieve her visions and outcomes to support others.

All attachments and links hve been uploaded in the attachments, videos or links folder

there are a few photos of some of the ipad presnetations that have alreaady taken place, a copy of her charities logo, her interview with The Project TVAustralia, the recent announcement of Officworks Partnership and funds raised, Catherine King MP parliamnet speecch on Keeleys Cause and the presentation of the first 6 ipads, The Diana AwardHonour Roll with Keeleys name listed, profile pics of Keeley and other Award stories, website and social media links.

thank you