Glynne MacLean wins Artistic Achievement Award

7 December 2009
Wellington writer Glynne MacLean was the winner of the Artistic Achievement Award at the 2009 Attitude Awards, announced at a black tie event at Eden Park’s ASB lounge on 3 December, World Disability Day.

The Attitude Awards are a direct offshoot from the Television series Attitude, a show for and about people with disabilities, screening on TV One at 8.30am on Sundays.

These awards celebrate achievers in the New Zealand disability sector. The nine categories at the awards include Sport Performer, Courage in Sport, Community, Artistic Achievement, Youth Spirit, Employer, Person of the Year and Hall of Fame. As with all the finalists in the Awards, Glynne has an impairment.

A respected children’s author, Glynne grew up puzzling about words – she has dyslexia. Then 20 years ago, a series of unexplained episodes of ataxia left her with severe brain damage and limited reading ability.

However, Glynn has gone on to be the proud author of five books, which have earned her two major literary awards in the past 12 months. She uses speech recognition technology when editing her work. The ataxia also left her with limited mobility and rehabilitation is ongoing.

For Glynne, there is nothing better than getting kids excited about books.

Associate producer and presenter Curtis Palmer says the awards celebrate the achievements of disabled people – people who are often overlooked by society and who have long been used to just getting on with life.

“Their stories serve to inspire the rest of New Zealand,” Curtis says. “Our sponsors share the vision that saw the awards created. It only took one call and all our sponsors from the inaugural awards last year were back on board and two more stepped up to help.”

ACC, Lion Foundation, Southern Cross Healthcare, Air New Zealand, Invacare, Westpac, Wayne Francis Charitable Trust, Perry Foundation and Drake Medox supported the Attitude Awards 2009.