Justine Van Den Borne and her teenage daughter spotted the note on their windscreen as they were driving away from a shopping centre, after a pleasant morning together. “Did you forget your wheelchair???” it said (and was placed directly above her disability parking permit on the dashboard).
Australia’s human rights record is being assessed by the UN human rights council before the universal periodic review and the sterilisation of women with disabilities was raised in its session in Geneva.
A Ballarat disability advocate says the system for alerting authorities to abuse in the sector is flawed and relies on internal reporting mechanisms that are inadequate.
A group of elderly parents concerned about who will care for their intellectually disabled children in the future has expressed their concerns at an inquiry into abuse in the disability sector.
Police have become the default frontline response to Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disabilities. In the absence of culturally responsive and therapeutic community-based support, regular police contact from a young age sets this group up for a lifetime of “management” by the criminal justice system.
Until Tuesday, Payne’s brother, Stevie, was a perfect example of a man with Down syndrome who could just be an ordinary bloke. Working as a strapper at the Ballarat stables, he got on with the daily tasks of feeding, grooming and saddling race horses. Overnight he has become, according to to one report on Tuesday, … Continued
The international human rights regime was originally designed to protect individuals against the exercise of power by states. Yet, with global developments like the privatisation of government and the internationalisation of supply chains, the rights of individuals are increasingly at risk from an altogether different actor – the private company.
There are significant barriers to complaints of abuse and neglect of people with disabilities being reported or investigated, a Senate inquiry has heard.
Awareness of mental illness has grown exponentially in Australia, even over the past 12 months. Stigma is on the run, at least for socially acceptable forms of mental illness, but this needs to go beyond depression to include all forms of mental illness and suicide in awareness campaigns.
Geraldine Doogue interviewed John Dellabosca, head of the Every Australian counts campaign, about the recent advertisement for new Board members to the NDIA John: It is important that people with lived experience of disability are also … Geraldine: Why, John? John: I think for a long time the principle problem with disability is not people with … Continued
The NDIS will provide “reasonable and necessary” equipment and supports for Australians with disability. However, the National Disability Insurance Agency has previously identified a significant housing gap for an anticipated 83,000 to 122,000 scheme participants.
There are good people who understand that disability isn’t really a “survival of the fittest” problem, but the problem of an unfit society. This week, focusing on two incidents, many of these good people expressed frustration at the scarcity of respect disabled people face.
As the late, great disability advocate, writer and comedian Stella Young reminded us, valuing difference does not mean adhering to conventional pieties and ignoring the fact that disability presents significant challenges. While performance can “give voice” to authentic narratives of disability, some performers struggle to be heard and understood in the literal sense. When the … Continued
Women with Disabilities Australia says that “Working age women with disabilities who are in the labour force are half as likely to find full-time employment (20%) as men with disabilities (42%); twice as likely to be in part-time employment (24%) as men with disabilities (12%); and regardless of full-time or part-time status, are likely to … Continued
The ride-sharing service Uber announced yesterday it would open its doors to people with disabilities, and hopes thousands will sign up as drivers. Uber said it would partner with Enabled Employment—an innovative start-up run by people with a disability, for people with a disability. Former Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes joins Fran Kelly on … Continued