Dissociative identity disorder (DID) continues to be a largely misunderstood – and sometimes controversial – mental illness. Lucy Adams shares her experience of living with the disorder. Colac woman Lucy Adams knew something was wrong when she noticed she was dropping out of her own life. “I used to lose time and I thought I … Continued
A WHITTLESEA 18-year-old with severe autism placed in state care is moved from one accommodation service to another several times a week due to a lack of respite facilities, his mother says. Mary Hullin, who lives outside Whittlesea township, relinquished Lachlan into state care on June 10. Ms Hullin, whose other son has cerebral palsy, … Continued
The future of support for carers is “highly uncertain” as NSW transitions towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), according to a new report by peak body, Carers NSW. Released this week, The NDIS one year in: Experiences of Carers in the Hunter trial site paper draws on Carers NSW research, consultation and policy analysis … Continued
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) is angered that budget saving measures will disproportionately impact people with disability yet again. Measures passed by the House of Representatives today will see the reassessment of people under 35 years of age who receive the disability support pension (DSP) if they became eligible between 2008 and 2011. Those who … Continued
Consumers and mental health service providers in the National Disability Insurance Scheme launch site of Barwon say the design of the NDIS process isn’t suited to people with mental illness in its current form. Lucy Adams has dissociative identity disorder that she says was triggered when she was sexually abused as a young child. The … Continued
Australian Education Union federal president Angelo Gavrielatos. Australian Education Union federal president Angelo Gavrielatos. Photo: Gary Warrick The country’s peak national education union has accused the Abbott government of failing students with disabilities by reneging on a pre-election promise to increase funding for them from next year. The Abbott government’s response to a senate inquiry … Continued
A recent forum saw women with disabilities ask the three major parties contesting the Victorian State Election in November to answer questions around healthcare, equal access and violence against women. Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) has long been at the forefront of Systemic advocacy, ensuring that the voices of Victorian women with disabilities continue to … Continued
After months of uncertainty, Minister for Community and Disability Services and Reform Mary Wooldridge says a tender process will deliver for the Sandhurst centre. Last year the state government announced it was going to close the Sandhurst centre in Bendigo, which houses people living with disabilities. The government is moving the residents into more 21st … Continued
A union leader says an 18-day tender period for new disability services in Bendigo is rushed and lacks detail. The Victorian Government has advertised tenders for private operators hoping to provide services to residents of the Sandhurst Centre after the facility closes in 2016. The Minister, Mary Wooldridge, says running the tender process much sooner … Continued
Tips for planning for the evacuation needs of disabled persons in the community In any disaster planned for by emergency management personnel, one in five people encountered will have a disability of some type – Michael Rieger/FEMA In 2013, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, noted that people with disabilities … Continued
Thousands of disabled Australians earn just a few dollars an hour working at disability enterprises. A recent Federal Court decision will lead to higher wages, but some employers fear this will send them broke. Is this a cunning ploy to get out of paying more or are their fears justified? And some parents believe these … Continued
Tyrone Sevilla is the boy deemed not good enough for Australia. The Immigration Department has resolved to deport the nine-year-old to his native Philippines, because his autism has been judged a financial burden on taxpayers. His mother, clinical nurse Ma Cecilia “Maria” Sevilla, is also likely to be forced to leave her home in Townsville … Continued
Former Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes AM, now chair of Attitude Foundation, has been nominated for the 2014 Justice Medal. Exodus Foundation founder and CEO Rev Bill Crews is also among the nine nominees for the prestigious medal. The Justice Medal will be presented at the 16th annual Justice Awards dinner, hosted by the Law … Continued
Burwood East’s Peter James Centre will have a women’s only section for mental health patients. The state government has provided $34,376 to install the new area for female mental health patients at the Eastern Health facility. The money will be used to create a gender-sensitive, female wing with swipe card access, lounge area and a … Continued
A Ballarat man with a degenerative disease is trying to secure ongoing government funding to allow him to remain in his home. Support is building for a Ballarat North man who is seeking more funding to allow him to remain in his own home, rather than be forced into an aged care facility. Wil Hobbs, … Continued