Disability is characterised by desire for positive change and striving for emancipation and flourishing. It is seen every day amongst people living with disability. It is active hope. We desire a place within the community! This place is not just somewhere to lay down our heads, but a place which brings comfort and support with daily living, friendship, meaningful work, exciting recreation, spiritual renewal, relationships in which we can be ourselves freely with others. And out of this great things may flourish.
Perhaps we will begin to feel better about ourselves, to come to know ourselves as honoured, respected, accepted, yes, loved. To be healed from shame, feeling unworthy, undesirable, ugly, difficult, not smart enough, not sporty enough, not lovely enough. And perhaps we might be freed from our terrible daily fears that it all won’t last, that more rejection is written into our lives. Maybe our dreams will no longer be filled with the traumatic fear of others pushing us around.
Perhaps a time will come when we no longer have to protect ourselves from loss and can feel that this place is the place of creation, of re-creation, co-creation. Perhaps then our loneliness will fade. Perhaps then we will belong and our gifts (perhaps meagre, perhaps spectacular) freely shared. And from there will flow all the delights and tragedies of a life lived in the community, shaped not by exclusion and oppression but by everyday ordinariness (whatever that might be)!
National Disability Strategy submission
Many people in the community believe disability is someone else’s problem. They do not believe disability will touch their lives, and give little thought to the experience of living with disability, or caring for someone with a disability. Without first-hand experience, they hold on to the belief that at least things are better than they used to be.
The stories you will find in this report will challenge those beliefs.
For many years people with disabilities found themselves shut in—hidden away in large institutions. Now many people with disabilities find themselves shut out—shut out of buildings, homes, schools, businesses, sports and community groups. They find themselves shut out of our way of life.
As this report sadly illustrates, Australians with disabilities are among our nation’s forgotten people. But it is time for their stories to be heard—and acted upon.
I was appointed Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council in September 2008. The primary role of the council is to provide expert advice and information to the Australian Government on the development and implementation of a National Disability Strategy. Through its membership, the council provides a means for people with disabilities, and their families, friends and carers, to have an ongoing voice in the development of the policies and strategies that affect their lives.
One of my first jobs as chair was to begin the national conversation about disability and coordinate public consultations on the National Disability Strategy. It was my privilege to attend every consultation held in capital cities across Australia.
What I heard was both intensely moving and profoundly shocking. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world and yet all too often people with disabilities struggle to access the very necessities of life—somewhere to live, somewhere to work. All too often they are unable to access education, health care, recreation and sport—the very things most people in the community take for granted. They are denied access to kindergartens, schools, shopping centres and participation in community groups. They are often isolated and alone. Their lives are a constant struggle for resources and support.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with disabilities face a particular battle. They experience the dual disadvantage of prejudice because of their disability and racism because of their heritage. Disability services rarely understand their cultural needs, while mainstream services rarely understand the nature and experience of disability.
But the consultations and submissions also showed that people with disabilities are determined and strong. They have fought hard to achieve their goals. They have refused to take no for an answer.
People with disabilities and their families, friends and carers are clearly resourceful and innovative. They find ways to meet the challenges that they face, though the solutions are rarely ideal. Through this report, I want to share with you some of their ideas—big and small. They will surely inspire our leaders, policy makers and communities to work towards real and lasting change.
The process of change has, in some areas, already begun. Changes to the Disability Support Pension, announced after the consultation process had concluded, are particularly welcome. The additional funds and reforms announced as part of the National Disability Agreement represent important steps forward.
I would like to personally thank each and every person who took the time to write a submission or who attended consultations across the country. Their readiness to reveal personal details was both remarkable and encouraging. It was clear to me that people were willing to do so only in the hope that they would finally see change. I want those people to know that their voices were heard.
I came away from those consultations both angry and sad. But most of all, I came away determined.
Australians with disabilities have been waiting for many years for change. They cannot and will not wait any longer. The National Disability Strategy represents an important part of the long journey to ensure people with disabilities are finally truly a part of the Australian community.
I hope you will join me and be part of that journey.
Dr Rhonda Galbally AO
Chair, National People with Disabilities and Carer Council