Ria Strong is a proud lesbian and a proud survivor – a survivor of childhood abuse, homelessness, depression and 2 brain injuries. She escaped a day centre for people with psychiatric disabilities – the only future offered to her – to become a respected disability activist, consumer consultant and community development worker. Ria has written and spoken extensively on brain injury, mental health and self-advocacy issues. She is passionate about her work, internet communication, her work, the arts, her work, swimming, her work, the colour purple and her work – in approximately that order. Ria has Brain Injury and a psychiatric disability.