I was disappointed in reading the program of speakers to find that, out of the thirty one speakers, only one (speaking at one of the workshops not even to the whole conference) has dementia and can, therefore, speak with authority on the "lived experience" on dealing with this condition on a day to day basis.

Yes, there are a couple of carers (also at the workshops) but the rest of the rather large contingent is entirely made of health clinicians and other 'experts'.

I see this as simply giving lip service to the four or five thousand of us in this area who also deal with this diagnosis on a day to day basis.

When only one of thirty one speakers has dementia, we are not being included in the communities' conversation, "we are being talked over the top of".

Whilst it is all well and good for specialists to be talking on their favourite topics which are made up of a benign range of subjects based on the published program. People with dementia, really wish to hear about our favoured range of topics - dealing with life, health problems, the emotions and THE LOSS.

Topics that the experts, health specialists et al, have minimal grasp of from OUR perspective.

I have raised this concern with the organisers in writing and am yet to receive an acknowledgment of my written concerns so it strikes me that they are more intent on hearing their own voices then hearing ours, which is a pity, after all, we are the reason they are coming together in the first place.

Sarah Ashton

Port Macquarie