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In an effort to empower people with disabilities, Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and the ACT government have launched an online campaign helping turn their dreams into reality. It's the second phase of Involve – the Canberra Disability Commitment. The Raiders have contracted local entrepreneur 17-year-old Sam Agyemang, who has autism, to wash their clothing through his Donkey Wash business he's had for four years. Sam turned his childhood passion for the laundry into a one-man business with the help of Social Enterprises ACT, Disability ACT and DUO Services, and now serves companies including Holt's Branch Out Cafe and the YMCA Canberra. "[I named it Donkey Wash] because I like Donkey from Shrek," Sam said. Meegan Fitzharris MLA said the Involve website helps spread the different ambitions of people with disability, gives them more control in decision-making and allows the community to reach out. "People and individuals can pledge and do something they would like to do to help people with a disability. And I understand a number have already gone on and done that," she said. "Sam's story alone is tremendous in starting his own business... and a really tremendous story about the connections we have in Canberra and how everyone can pitch in and make a difference." Mr Stuart said the connection benefits Sam, the community and his team. "The boys learn about other areas of life. They learn it's not just about us or them or the football, it's about Sam's involvement, Sam's disabilities and other disabilities. That's important because it opens your eyes a bit more instead of just being bogged down here in training." He said he's waiting on a government grant for a new high performance centre and "a big wish" is to employ more disabled people. Sam's mum Kate explained his confidence has grown since the business took off, and starting early was vital for looking to the future. "Because kids like Sam finish school and have got to do goal setting, all of this planning to get activities in place. This way he's actually employed, making money, being productive, growing all the time, meeting people, and it's giving him a sense of purpose." Involve is a movement initiating social campaigns to support housing, employment, justice, health and wellbeing of people with disabilities. The national labour force participation rate for people with disability in 2009 was only 54 per cent, around half the rate for people without disability (83 per cent), The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports. "We [the ACT] have been national leaders in terms of the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme," Ms Fitzharris said. People with disability have been making the transition to the The National Disability Insurance Scheme since 2014, and the government says around 5075 people in the ACT will be covered by late 2016. To support Involve, visit involvecbr.com.au.

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