In Canberra today, the committee heard that parents with a disability often had their children taken from them straight after birth, and that those children were left in the foster care system before being told to fend for themselves when they turned 18.
At 16, Bree Synot was feeling ready to give up on life. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bones, the prospect of finding a wheelchair-friendly house suitable for her needs was always going to be tough.
The inquiry into the abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in residential and institutional settings began hearings in Perth today. A group of six women from the disability advocacy group Bolshy Divas gave collective evidence before the hearing, citing 40 examples where disabled people had been severely beaten or raped.
Victims of alleged abuse in care are expected to give “harrowing” evidence at an the inquiry into the abuse of disabled people in institutions and homes in Australia, set to start in Perth on Friday. “I suspect it will be shocking and harrowing, but hopefully the evidence is too strong for the federal government to … Continued
More than 100,000 students with disabilities across Australia are being denied access to education because of a lack of government afunding. On top of that, many other students are receiving inadequate support. At the last election, the Abbott Government promised to redress the problem – but students and their families are still waiting. Today they’re … Continued
Disturbing allegations about treatment of children with disabilities include suspensions, expulsions and a claim one was sat on by a staff member. The peak advocacy body for children with disabilities has called on the federal government to urgently introduce better targeted funding to support teachers and their students, following disturbing claims about behaviour management in … Continued
Disturbing allegations have emerged about widespread abuse of children with disabilities in the classroom following the suspension of a principal at a school where a cage was built for a 10-year-old boy with autism, to control his behaviour. Children are regularly shut in isolation rooms, tied to furniture or physically restrained by staff at some … Continued
Reports a cage was used for an autistic child at a Canberra school are deeply disturbing, opposition education spokeswoman Kate Ellis says. The principal at the school has been suspended after the cage-like structure was found in a classroom, apparently used to house the autistic student. Education department officials have launched an investigation following a … Continued
Have you considered taking an empathy-based approach to identifying how your organisation can make itself more accessible for people with disabilities? Perhaps you should. Empathy training and developing emotional intelligence are gaining in popularity as ways to better understand customers, improve collaboration with colleagues and to develop better leaders. Another area in which many organisations … Continued
Disability groups have backed calls for a broad inquiry into the education of children with a disability, following revelations an autistic Canberra school student was confined in a cage-like structure.
School principals say they are facing an urgent crisis in funding students with a disability-and most have been forced to dip into other budgets to support their disabled students. The survey by the Australian Education Union found most principals say they don’t have adequate funding to support children at their school with special needs.
With the number of disabled fans attending gigs doubling, improving accessibility makes sense for venues and audiences Disabled fans want to enjoy live music with their mates. They want the same experience as everyone else. So when we talk about “access”, what we actually mean is “inclusivity”.
Big corporations like Westpac do a better job of employing and retaining people with disabilities than government does, say leading inclusive employment advocates. As large profit-driven companies ramp up their commitment to workplace diversity and corporate social responsibility, government departments and agencies are falling behind as an employer of choice for people with disabilities.
The legal system isn’t protecting women with a disability from domestic violence, despite them being more at risk than other women. That finding was published today in the Griffith Law Review. The University of Queensland study found that nearly a fifth of women with a disability have experienced violence at the hands of their partner.
Just 99 cents an hour – that was the pay rate for two people with an intellectual disability who were employed by Australian Disability Enterprises. The Government has legislated to address the issue, but its only offering to restore half their backpay. A class action is currently underway to try and restore 100% of their … Continued