Mr Steele-John is the only federal politician who uses a wheelchair, yet his bid to become the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was voted down by the major parties during the fist sitting week of parliament.
My research and that of others shows the challenges faced by this group were always characterised as a “specialised field”. This means governments were aware of the issues but still failed to properly engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability in remote regions.
Craig Wallace, head of policy at Advocacy for Inclusion, says the ban on plastic straws introduces another layer of complexity into the lives of people with disability by requiring them to negotiate the availability of an item that they need to remain hydrated or to carry that item with them.
Writer and disability advocate Hannah Diviney has turned a discussion about Beyoncé using an ableist lyric on her album Renaissance into a call for those with lived disability experience to be more involved in politics and the NDIS.
Beyoncé has removed an ableist slur in a song from her new album after backlash erupted on social media from disability advocates.
It’s not very often that I don’t know what to say, rendered speechless by ignorance, sadness and a simmering anger born of bone-deep exhaustion. But that’s how I feel right now.
Closing date: August 2, 2022
Advocates say it is time for the National Disability Insurance Agency to be led by those it serves. Interview with Christina Ryan who heads the Disability Leadership Institute.
Just like non-disabled people, people with disability have knowledge, skills and talent that shoots out in all directions. Unlike non-disabled people though, people with disability are rarely given opportunities to become leaders in Australia’s business or political sectors.
We have set up an unnecessary division — environmentalism versus the needs of disabled people — creating eco-ableism. Compromise is the way forward, and already exists in our approach to single-use plastics.
The reluctance to associate myself with the word was not only about not feeling sick enough. It is a recurring message, from doctors and strangers alike, that disabled people can’t be young, can’t be fashionable, can’t even be happy. The misery people project onto wheelchair users and disabled people as a whole, comes from a place of ignorance and fear. Non-disabled people are afraid of becoming us, because they only know the stereotypes they have seen before.
Disability really is a paradox. As a disabled woman, I often feel as though I just can’t win with being authentically me and living my life how I choose. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.
The problem with these images stems from the fact that they’re based on the idea that disabled people can do certain things “in spite” of their disabilities, and that they’re used to motivate and inspire non-disabled people. Australian comedian and disability rights advocate Stella Young termed these types of examples inspiration porn.
The golden rule of supporting others is understand first, solve second – most of the time people are looking to feel heard rather than be fixed. And while Claire was struggling and stressing and advocating for her child, even friends – especially friends – were saying all the wrong things.
Emily Dash is an emerging writer, actor, producer and speaker who works across theatre and screen. Her acclaimed and wide ranging work emphasises social justice issues, community engagement, intersectionality, and expanding perceptions of disability. Watch her spoken word performance about owning your power and taking up space as a person with disability which was presented at the ‘Where To From Here Conference 2022’.
“It has been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song Grrrls. Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language,” she wrote. “As a fat black woman in America, I have had many hurtful words used against me so I understand the power words can have (whether intentionally, or in my case, unintentionally.)” She said she was proud to release a new version of the song with a changed lyric.