News and blogs

Mindfulness can improve living with a disability

Mindfulness, a meditative practice focusing on attention and awareness training, has been shown to have positive effects on mental and physical wellbeing. A recent review of studies has also shown that mindfulness meditation helps people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder reduce their mental and physical problems.

How schools avoid enrolling children with disabilities

Children with disabilities are frequently discriminated against in Australian schools. It’s an issue that has been ongoing for years, with reports showing that little has improved since 2002.

Reviews for disability support pensioners

Disability support pensioners whose health is likely to improve could soon be medically reviewed – and kicked off the payment.

‘Shocking’ abuse of Victorians with disabilities

In investigating the abuse of disabled people, Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass found a system where process rates above the needs and human rights of people. We must support the independence and decision making of people with disability, and never more steadfastly than when they make allegations of abuse. We must support the independence and decision … Continued

Disability housing shortage leaves families without options

Miss Littley was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 27. After an operation, she had bleeding on the brain and a stroke, which left her without speech or mobility. The 29-year-old now lives with her parents Kevin and Carol Littley, after a stint in an aged care facility. “If I had spare money, I’d be … Continued

NDIS as a case-study in how not to reform social policy and service delivery

As an exercise in social reform, grassroots campaigning, and organizing techniques, NDIS has been a salutory experience in how not to reform social policy and service delivery. The supreme irony is that innovative person-centred practice had been undertaken quietly and selectively in various parts of Australia from the mid-1980s with negligible cost to the taxpayers, … Continued

Damning disability abuse report uses ACT death as warning

A damning report on the neglect and abuse of people with a disability has used the choking death of Canberra woman Stephanie Fry to warn of the dangers of staff turnover and the increasing reliance on casual support workers.

Comment: Why I care about disability

I know a lot about the disability sector but it strikes me that when we talk about this we don’t discuss the real issues. Like how come so many disabled people who want to work never get job interviews? We don’t talk about how we can help ensure people with disabilities have the opportunity to … Continued

‘Sometimes the coroners are our biographers’: It’s time for Australia to act

The Bolshy Divas describe themselves as “disability activists in the style of feminist masked avengers”. In April, six divas appeared before the Senate’s community affairs committee for a hearing into the abuse of people with disability. They arrived with a bundle of white roses. Taking turns, the divas read out 40 examples to illustrate the … Continued

New survey finds many companies are in danger of breaching Disability Discrimination Act

A new survey of business attitudes to disability reveals that many companies are in danger of breaching the Disability Discrimination Act, as well as missing out on thousands of dollars by neglecting a potential workforce. CEO of the Australian Network on Disability, Suzanne Colbert, joins James Carleton on RN Breakfast.

Sex, disability and humour

There are many myths and assumptions around sex and disability. People with physical or intellectual disabilities in today’s society are often regarded as non-sexual adults since sex is very much associated with youth and physical attractiveness. It’s therefore easy for disabled people to be influenced by these myths and believe they don’t have a right … Continued