Some disabilities are “over medicalised”. Disabilities are often seen as medical problems when many really arise from a lack of accessibility. As Dylan Alcott recently explained, when he is in an accessible space, he is not disabled. It is inaccessible spaces that disable him. This is the social model of disability.
Ms Appleby doesn’t need to be in a hospital. The only reason she’s there is because of a dispute with the NDIS over the details of her care and housing plan — and she has nowhere else to go. The figures show she is not alone. The median wait time is up to 200 days, and they say it is costing hospitals $800 million a year.
A coalition of housing, health and disability groups has launched a pre-election campaign calling on the National Disability Insurance Agency to dramatically speed up decisions about funding for supported accommodation.
Linda Hughes never leaves her son alone in hospital, for fear he might die if he does not get the treatment he deserves. “I certainly know we’ve saved his life in hospital … just by being there when things are going wrong and Jacob can’t push the buzzer or call out.”
People with disability bear a disproportionate burden of COVID infections, serious disease and death. Every time a support worker enters their home, people with disability risk COVID exposure. But while Australian states have evidence-based measures to reduce the spread of COVID in schools and hospitals – such as improving ventilation, mandating masks, and using rapid antigen tests to detect cases – few strategies exist to reduce transmission to people with disability in their homes.
Influenza, polio and more have shown that infections can change lives even decades later. Why the complacency over possible long-term effects of COVID-19?
This roadmap aims to address serious health inequities faced by people with intellectual disability. It outlines how we can create a health system where people with intellectual disability are valued, respected and have access to high quality, timely and comprehensive health care.
Frustrated disability groups say the Australian government has failed to protect the nation’s most clinically vulnerable people during the pandemic. Now, they have put forward an 11-point plan to urgently improve the vaccine rollout for the disability community.
Mrs Bonanno is among an estimated 9 per cent of Australian women of childbearing age who have a disability, but little is known about their health during pregnancy, birth and the first year of motherhood. Researchers from La Trobe University and the Royal Women’s want to change that by improving the way disabilities are identified at maternity hospitals.
Many people with disability have a higher risk of developing severe illnesses from COVID-19. Ensuring high vaccination rates among residential disability workers will help protect people with disability. In light of this, AHHPC recommends National Cabinet strongly encourage all disability support workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect their own health and the health of the people for whom they are caring
These resources have been produced to help people with disability and low English literacy understand more about coronavirus vaccinations. The resources include a social script, visual schedule, Easy English document and Key Word Sign video.
The study provides important insights into the challenges experienced by staff working in Victorian disability residential settings in the second wave of Victoria’s COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the findings from a national on-line survey of 357 disability support workers (DSWs) conducted between May and June 2020.
The report analyses and summarises the evidence presented during public hearing 6. It suggests that psychotropic medication, which are drugs that affect a person’s mind, emotions or behaviour, is being over-prescribed to people with cognitive disability to deal with what are commonly described as ‘behaviours of concern’. Medical evidence along with observations from family and carers indicate people with cognitive disability often experience serious negative consequences from using psychotropic medication And there is not much evidence to support the effectiveness of psychotropic medication as a way to address behaviours of concern
Disability charities are stepping up to play a part in Australia’s vaccine rollout, opening hubs across the country to help people with disability and their support staff get vaccinated.
Disability representative organisation People with Disability Australia has found people with disability are struggling to work out if they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and are getting extremely inconsistent access to vaccination appointments.