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.
Closing date: October 30, 2021
In a ground-breaking new documentary series, SBS seeks to explore how stigma and prejudice impact the lives of millions of Australians, by getting to the heart of what people really think about disability, old people and obesity. Three-part series What Does Australia Really Think About… hosted by Kurt Fearnley, Noni Hazlehurst and Casey Donovan, premieres … Continued
The Paralympic Games turn the world’s eyes to the achievements of the superhuman athletes that take part, but the reality is that the vast majority of the millions of disabled people are distinctly ordinary. That recognition – and the desire to have the ordinariness of disability acknowledged by the public – lies behind Adam & Eve DDB’s ’We The 15’ campaign, the name of which references the 15% of the global population who are disabled.
The 2021 Census has been hailed as a giant leap for digital accessibility in Australia, following years of design work and testing by experts and advocates, who say the online form sets a new standard for government content and has improved data quality.
Advocates for the rights of people with disability have long experience in successful and high-impact campaigning. Below, the Every Australian Counts campaign shares some of the backstory to their recent success in fighting off the Federal Government’s plans to introduce independent assessments under the NDIS.
About 47% of adults with disability have experienced violence, yet the lack of accessible and inclusive services makes escaping violence extremely difficult for women with disability. Researcher within the Disability Health Unit, at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Jen Hargrave, says this problem is unfortunately common for people with disability.
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
Victorian Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan also welcomed the scrapping of independent assessments. “I thank all those Victorians with disability who have been advocating for months to stop the current independent assessments plans and look forward to the Victorian disability sector playing a key role,” he said.
There is fierce opposition to NDIS independent assessments coming not only from the disability community, but also legal groups, medical bodies, state governments and others, according to SBS News analysis of hundreds of submissions to a parliamentary inquiry.
As a result, Wardlaw said some type of cost-cutting and cost-controlling measures is inevitable. “I welcome the idea, from a glance, that there has been some investment into some mainstream services like mental health and so forth. But I want those organisations to lift their game about being better service providers.”
Disability groups have welcomed a $13.2 billion boost to the National Disability Insurance Scheme outlined in the federal budget, but say they are disappointed by the Morrison government’s messaging around a supposed blowout in scheme costs.
The disabled people’s organisation is calling for a raft of measures to be urgently funded and implemented to meet Australia’s responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
From September 2022, new homes in Australia will include accessible design features, after a meeting on 30 April saw building ministers decide to include minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code (NCC). After years of advocacy from seniors, people with disabilities, and advocacy groups, this is a landmark decision that will improve housing accessibility in Australia for decades to come.
Disability advocates say they are confused by the federal government’s messaging around independent assessments, after National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed the controversial reform will proceed in “some form” despite widespread opposition.
PWDA chief executive officer Sebastian Zagarella said the disabled people’s organisation was pleased the disability community’s lobbying had paid off. “We hope the Australian Building Codes Board’s new standards will eventually make people’s search for a new home much easier, allowing us to participate in our communities more by having accessible housing where we want them.”