SHUT OUT: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Familes in Australia - Easy English version  

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Additional information 

Questions from the discussion paper

Last year, we asked people with disabilities to answer some questions. These are the questions we asked.

1. What do you think should be included in the National Disability Strategy?

  • What are the biggest things that have stopped you doing what you want in your community?
  • Do you have any ideas to make things better?

2. Please tell us about your personal experiences. Tell us about a time something stopped you from doing what you wanted. This could have been to do with:

  • Something happening in your community
  • Going out with friends and family
  • Something that happened at work

What things have happened that have made things better in your community?

3. Do you have any more ideas or things to say about the National Disability Strategy?

List of organisations that provided submissions

Many of the submissions we received were from groups who work with people with disabilities. This is a list of these groups.

Ability Employment Group Inc.
Ability First Australia Disability Services
Ability Options
Ability Tasmania Group Inc.
Ability Technology
Aboriginal Disability Network NSW
Aboriginal Disability SA (ADNSA) Committee, Department of Families and Communities, SA
Acacia Court Talkback Group
Accepting Engagement Pty Ltd
Access and Inclusion
Access For All Alliance
Access Innovation Media
Accessible Arts
ACE Representing Australia’s Disability Employment Network
Action for Community Living Inc.
Action for More Independence and Dignity in Accommodation Inc.
Action of Disability within Ethnic Communities Inc.
Activ Foundation Inc.
ADDults with ADHD (NSW) Inc.
Advocacy for Inclusion
Advocacy Tasmania Inc.
Aged and Community Services Australia
AGOSCI Inc.
Aids and Equipment Action Alliance
Albury and Wagga Wagga Vision Australia
Allergies and Intolerant Reactions Association
Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity Support and Research Association Inc.
Allergy, Sensitivity and Environmental Health Association Qld Inc.
Alzheimer’s Australia AMPARO Advocacy Inc.
Anglicare Victoria
Arts Access Australia
Arts Disability Leadership Innovation
ASEHA QLD Inc.
Association for Children with a Disability
Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
Attendant Care Industry Association of NSW Inc.
Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Australian Aphasia Association
Australian Association for Families of Children with a Disability
Australian Association of Social Workers
Australian Communication Exchange Ltd
Australian Confederation of Paediatric and Child Health Nurses – NSW Branch
Australian Council of Social Service
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Deafblind Council
Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Australian Federation of Deaf Societies
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Australian Human Rights Commission
Australian Network for Universal Housing Design
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Australian Psychological Society
Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association
Australian Sign Language Interpreters’ Association
National Inc.
Australian Social Inclusion Board
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

Back to Back Theatre
Barkuma Inc.
Bedford BEST Community Development
Bethany Community Support
Better Hearing Australia Central Coast Inc.
Beyond Blue: The National Depression Initiative
BHA – Sunshine Coast
Bindi Inc.
Blind Citizens Australia
Bowden Brompton Community Group Inc.
Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
Brain Injury Australia Brain Injury Network of SA Inc.
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit
Brimbank City Council
Brotherhood Community Care – Southern Bus and Regional Services Branch, Public Transport Division, VIC

Camp Autism
Camperdown Mental Health Service
CAN (Mental Health) Inc.
Care Connect Limited
Carer Support and Respite Centre
Carers Australia
Carers’ Link
Carers WA Inc.
CD in Motion
Cerebral Palsy League Queensland
Challenge Disability Services
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Children and Young People and Child Guardian
Children and Youth Services Therapy Focus Inc.
Christie Centre Inc.
City of Boroondara
City of Darebin
City of Melbourne
City of Port Phillip
City of Salisbury
City of Whittlesea
City of Yarra Clubs Australia
CNC Disabilities – Royal District Nursing Service of SA
CNM Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit
Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Local Disability Advisory Committee Communication Disability Centre – Postgraduate Coordinator Community and Allied Health Services
Community Living Association Inc.
Community Options Programme
Computer Club for People with Aphasia
Consumer Advisory Group – Mental Health Inc, NSW Consumers’ Telecommunications Network Consumers’ Health Forum, ACT
Cosmos Recreation Services
Counsellors and Social Workers Inc.
CRS Australia

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Darwin Respite and Brokerage Service Coordinator Anglicare, NT
Deaf Australia Inc.
Deaf Children Australia
Deaf NT
Deafness Forum of Australia
Department for Planning and Infrastructure, WA
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, NSW
Department of Education and Training, NT
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Cwlth
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, Planning and Evaluation Directorate, SA
Department of Health and Families, NT – Aged and Disability Program
Department of Premier and Cabinet, TAS
Department of Rehabilitation, Disability Action Plan Committee, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
Dietician’s Association of Australia
Directorate Victoria Legal Aid
Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service of South Australia Inc.
Disability Advocacy Network Australia
Disability Advocacy Service
Disability Council of NSW
Disability Council of Queensland Secretariat
Disability Discrimination Legal Service
Disability Services Commission
Disability Services Queensland
Disability Training Program – Victims of Crime
Disability WORKS Australia Ltd
Disabled Motorists Association
Disabled Surfers Association of Australia Inc.
Diversity Council Australia
Domiciliary Care SA
Down Syndrome Victoria
Down Syndrome WA

Early Childhood Intervention Australia
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (NSW Chapter) Inc.
Early Childhood Services, Learning Links
East Gippsland Shire Council
Eastern Access Community Health
EnableNSW – Health Support Services
Endeavour Foundation
Engineers Australia
Ethnic Child Care Family and Community Services Coop Ltd
Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre
Evans Community Options

Faculty of Education, Health and Science, Charles Darwin University Fairholme Disability Support Group Inc. (WA)
Family Advocacy
Family Planning NSW
Farrellys Lawyers
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia
Fragrance and Chemical Sensitivity Support Group FRANS Inc.
Funktion – Making Life Fit

Gippsland Carers Association Inc. and Victorian Liaison – National Carers Coalition
Gold Coast City Council
Griffith University Guaranteeing Futures (South East)
Guardianship Tribunal
Guyrow Pty Ltd

Hawkevale Trust
Hear and Say Centre – Hear and Say Worldwide
Help Darling Downs Inc.
Hobsons Bay City Council
House with No Steps
Housing NSW
Hume City Council

Information on Disability and Education Awareness Services (IDEAS) NSW
In Control
Inability Possibility
Inclusion Works
Independent Advocacy SA Inc.
Independent Advocacy Townsville
Independent Lifestyle Solutions (TAS)
Independent Living Centre of Western Australia
Independent Rehabilitation Suppliers Association
Interact Australia
Interwork Ltd

JMM Associates Pty Ltd
Julia Farr Association

Kevin Heinze Garden Centre Inc.
Kingaroy TAFE

Latrobe City Disability Reference Committee
Latrobe Community Health Service, Moe
Leadership Plus
Legacy NSW, People with Disabilities Advisory Committee
Legal Aid Queensland
Life Tech Queensland
Life Without Barriers
Lifestart Co-operative Ltd
Lifestyle in Supported Accommodation Inc.

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Macarthur Disability Services
Mamre Association Inc.
Manning Gardens Public School
Mansfield Shire Council
Maribyrnong City Council
ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society of NSW
Media Access Australia
Melba Support Services
Mental Health Coordinating Council
Mental Health Council of Tasmania
Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students with Disabilities
Montrose Access
Moonee Valley City Council
Mornington Peninsula Shire
MS Australia
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association from NSW
Multicultural Mental Health Australia
Multiple Sclerosis Society of South Australia and Northern Territory Inc.
Munchies International
Municipal Association of Victoria
Muscular Dystrophy - Tasmania

Nambour Aged Care Assessment Team – Queensland Government
National Association for Conductive Education SA
National Association of Childbirth Educators (SA)
National Council for Women (QLD)
National Council of Social Services
National Council on Intellectual Disability
National Disability Services
National Ethnic Disability Alliance
National Stroke Foundation (WA)
Northcott Disability Services
Novita Children’s Services Inc.
NovitaTech
NSW Association of the Deaf
NSW Consumer Advisory Group
NSW Council for Intellectual Disability
NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre Inc.
NSW Ombudsman
NT Council of Social Services

Office of Disability and Client Services, DFC
Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity
Office of the Public Advocate (QLD)
Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit
OT Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists
Otto Bock Australia Pty Ltd

Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team
Parents of the Hearing Impaired of South Australia
Parkinsons Tasmania Inc.
Penrith City Council People with Disabilities ACT
People with Disability Australia
Personal Advocacy Service
Perth Home Care Services Physical Disability Australia Ltd
Physical Disability Council of New South Wales
Pilbara Development Commission
Play Environment Consulting Pty Ltd
Playtas Pty Ltd
Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce
Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia)
PSE Access Consulting
Public Interest Advocacy Centre Ltd
People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) (Vic) Inc.

Queensland Parents for People with a Disability Inc.

Real Living Options Association Inc.
Reinforce Inc.
RMIT University
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Royal Children’s Hospital
Royal District Nursing Service (Victoria)
Royal Flying Doctor Service – National Office
Royal Rehab Aphasia Outpatient Group
Royal Society for the Blind
Royal Society for the Blind of SA Inc.
Royal South Australian Deaf Society Inc.
Ryde Area Supported Accommodation for Intellectually Disabled Inc.

Salubrious Productions
Samaritans Foundation School of Population Health – University of Melbourne
Scope Senses Foundation
Siblings Australia Inc.
Social and Community Services, Manningham Council, VIC
South Australian Taskforce on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Southern Health
Southern Tasmanian Youth Transitions Taskforce
Southern Therapy Service
Spastic Centre
Speaking Up For You Inc.
Special Olympics Australia
Speech Pathology Australia
Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of SA Inc.
Spinal Injuries Association
SPLASH
St George Association
St Michaels Association
Strategic Policy and Research Program, Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardians
Sunnyfield Independence
Sunshine Coast Independent Living Service Inc.

Tamworth Regional Council – Access Group
Tangentyere’s Aged and Community Services, Tangentyere Council Telecommunications and Disability Consumer Representation Toowoomba and District MS Support Group
Transport Victoria

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UnitingCare Community Options Victoria
University of New South Wales
University of Queensland
University of Western Sydney

Vicdeaf
Victorian Coalition ABI Service Providers
Victorian Council of Social Services
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Victorian Mental Health Carers Network
Victorian Parents’ Council
Villa Maria
Vision 2020 Australia
Vision Australia

Waverley Industries Limited
Wellington Shire Council
West End Mental Health
Western Australia Local Government Association
Western Region Disability Network
Western Sydney Intellectual Disability Support Group
Westernport Speaking Out Inc.
Whitehorse City Council
Whittlesea District Adult Training and Support Services
Witmore Training and Support
Women with Disabilities Australia
Women’s Centre for Health Matters
Workable Living

YMCA Australia
Youth Disability Advocacy Service (Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc.)

About the consultation process

Last year, we held many public meetings around Australia.  These meetings were known as consultations. A total of 2,500 people came to these meetings.

The table below shows the number of people who came to the meetings in each of the capital cities.

Public meetings in capital cities
City Date Number of attendees
Darwin 27 October 20
Sydney 5 November 120
Brisbane 6 November 116
Perth 10 November 62
Melbourne 12 November 190
Hobart 14 November 43
Adelaide 24 November 127
Canberra 26 November 92
TOTAL   770

We also held meetings in a lot of other places around Australia. We went to many regional and remote areas. The table below shows a list of all the places we went to and the date we went there.

Meetings in regional and remote areas
State Location Date
NSW Ballina 10 November
  Casino 11 November
  Coffs Harbour 18 November
  Condobolin 19 November
  Dubbo 18 November
  Grafton 12 & 19 November
  Lismore 20 November
  Newcastle 18 & 22 November
  Orange 12 November
  Tamworth 28 November
NT Alice Springs 10 November
  Darwin 5 November
  Nyuntu Anangu Maruku Women’s Council 10 November
QLD Brisbane 6 November
  Cairns 20 November
  Hervey Bay 30 October
  Townsville 25 November
SA Berri (Riverlands) 27 November
  Mt Gambier 28 November
  Port Adelaide 20 November
  Port Augusta 19 November
  Whyalla 18 November
TAS Launceston 13 November
VIC Ballarat 30 October
  Bairnsdale 26 & 27 October
  Bendigo 23 October & 19 November
  Cobram 23 November
  Melbourne 22 October
  Echuca 29 October
  Geelong 13 & 14 November and 9 December
  Horsham 30 October
  Melbourne 18 November
  Mildura 21 October & 18 November
  Mooroopna 18, 19, 20 & 29 October and 5, 14 & 24 November
  Portland 30 October
  Sale 26 October
  Seymour 20 October
  Shepparton 18, 19, 20 & 29 October and 5, 14 & 24 November
  Swan Hill 22 October
  Warrnambool 30 October
  Wodonga 22 November
WA Bunbury 27 November
  Fitzroy Crossing 25 November
  Subiaco 26 & 28 November

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What do these words mean?

Abuse
When someone tries to hurt you. Sometimes abuse can cause pain in your body. Abuse can also hurt your feelings.

Access
To be able to enter a place, such as a building. Or, to be able to use a service, such as health care.

Accessible
You can enter a place or building. You can use a service or get information.

Apprenticeship
An employment program where you study and learn on the job.

Choice
Being able to pick what you want.

Community
The community is the place where you live. It is not just your home. It is outside your home as well. It includes the people who live in your area.

Culture
A way of life. There are many different cultures around the world. You may think or act in a certain way because of the country where you were born.

Consultations
Public meetings that were held all around Australia. These gave people the chance to have a say about the National Disability Strategy.

Disadvantaged
A group in the community that does not have as many opportunities as other groups.

Discriminate/Discrimination
To treat someone badly because they are different.

Early intervention
Treatment or therapy for a child with disabilities.

Eligible
Able to use or access services. Sometimes you have to answer questions before you can use the services.

Excluded
Being left out. Being separated or being treated differently. This can make you feel alone.

Flexible/Flexibility
Easy to move or change.

Inclusion
Making sure that someone feels part of a group, or part of the community.

Independent
Looking after yourself. Not needing much help or support.

Income support
Money you get from the government when it is harder for you to find work.

Individual
One person. Every person is different and has their own needs.

Institution
An institution is a home or hospital. Sometimes, institutions are run by charities or other groups in the service system.

Isolated
Feeling left out and alone.

Invisible
Can’t be seen.

Law
Rules for the community. The government or the courts make the rules. People in the community must follow the rules.

Opportunity
A good chance.

Patronised
Put down or looked down upon. Someone who is made to feel helpless.

Person-centred care
Looking after your individual needs. You have a say in all the decisions that are made about your care.

Policy/Policies
The rules about government programs. These rules are usually written down.

Poverty
Not enough money.

Respite
Having a break.

Rights
The law says that everyone should be treated the same way. For example, we all have the right to be treated fairly.

Relationship
Getting to know someone well. Becoming friends and caring about each other.

Separate
Apart from the rest.

Service system
The service system includes different places or groups that work to help people with disabilities. These places might be:

  • Part of the government
  • Private businesses
  • Non-profit groups.

Submission
Ideas that were written down and sent to us. These ideas will help us create the National Disability Strategy.


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© Commonwealth of Australia 2009 : Last modified 4/02/2010 11:24 AM