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25.01.2022 ARATA - Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association is holding a webinar on 9th December about Animal Supports in the Community: Definitions, Benefits and Considerations. By attending this webinar, people will gain knowledge regarding the different types of animal supports a person may use within community living, when experiencing disability or health conditions, and hear perspectives and experiences of people using animal supports. You can find out more inf...ormation and register for this webinar at: https://www.arata.org.au//animal-supports-in-the-community #disability #AnimalSupports #SupportAnimals #MentalHealth #AssistanceAnimals #AssistanceDogs

25.01.2022 Engaging people who are kept "out of reach" The Disability Royal Commission should focus on hearing from people who are "put or kept out of reach" by different types of "gatekeeping", a special advisory group has heard. Members of the Royal Commissions Disability Strategic Engagement Group (DSEG), met for the first time last week. They identified the following five broad groups of people:... People in group homes; People in institutions like prisons and forensic mental health facilities; People with psychosocial disability in boarding homes; People in family settings where a family member acts as gate keeper; this may include children and young people People who are homeless or in transient accommodation. DSEG Co-Chair Commissioner Dr Rhonda Galbally AC said that as well as gate keeping, "people are concerned if they speak out they will experience trauma or negative consequences". "This makes it challenging for us to connect with the very people we need to hear from. Its important that we identify ways to overcome this," Commissioner Galbally said. The DSEG was established to strengthen engagement between people with disability in all settings and the Disability Royal Commission. The group includes three community expert members: Judy Huett Rosemary Kayess Janet Meagher AM and three senior advisors to the Royal Commission: Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO Associate Professor Lorna Hallahan Maurice Corcoran AM The group will meet again in November. You can read more on this, and other news from the Disability Royal Commission in their latest newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/y2c3y6k4 @DisabilityRC #abuse #violence #disability #prisons

24.01.2022 Speaking out about abuse, violence, neglect or exploitation isn't easy! Legislation needs to be changed to guarantee confidentiality of submissions to the Disability Royal Commission after the Royal Commission ends. You can also read the Media Release calling for legislation to be changed at: ... https://www.afdo.org.au/open-letter-to-the-attorney-genera/ News article: https://www.abc.net.au//privacy-concerns-stumblin/12648072 #media Christian Porter #AusPol #AusPol2020 #DisabilityRC #RoyalCommission #disability

24.01.2022 We know a lot of people are worried about the introduction of NDIS Independent Assessments, and still have a lot of questions. The good folk at Every Australian Counts (EAC) have set up a form to make it easier for you to email the NDIS Minister, Stuart Robert MP, and ask him questions about Independent Assessments. You can also tell the NDIS Minister, Stuart Robert MP that he needs to start talking to people with disability and their families about Independent Assessments, a...nd that he needs to answer our questions! If you would like to send him an email, you can find the form to email the Minister at: https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/questions-for-ministe/ And Every Australian Counts have also written an explainer about Independent Assessments and the Tune review. You can read this at: https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/testing-times-in-the-/ #NDIS #NDISIndependentAssessments #IndependentAssessments #NDISMakeItWork #disability NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme

23.01.2022 CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of extreme abuse and neglect. Just one fine has been issued and only one provider banned by the disability watchdog despite more than 8000 complaints being lodged in the past two years. This is disgraceful. People with disability deserve better. We need to know that real action will be taken when we lodge a complaint of abuse or neglect Stuart Robert MP...Continue reading

23.01.2022 Karan Nagrani says in some ways "coming out" as having a #disability was harder than coming out as gay. This is his story of living with a disability and how he's been treated in the workplace. https://www.abc.net.au//dealing-with-blind-prejud/12866852... #DisabilityDiscrimination #employment #IDPwD #Workplace #disability #RetinitisPigmentosa

22.01.2022 From Pro Bono Australia: Advocacy groups are calling on the disability royal commission to push for real change and recognise that segregation of people with disability is discrimination and a breach of human rights. In a position paper backed by 42 disability organisations, advocates expressed their deep concerns over Australian laws, policies and frameworks that maintain the segregation of people with disability from community life. ... You can read the article at: https://probonoaustralia.com.au//disability-groups-fight/ #EndSegregation #disability #DisabilityInclusion #disabilities #inclusion #DisabilityRights #HumanRights #InclusiveEducation #PwD #advocacy #DisabilityAdvocacy

22.01.2022 Congratulations to Sir Robert Martin from NZ on being re-elected to the #UNCRPD Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Sir Robert is the only person with intellectual disability on a UN Committee! He's a great example that people with intellectual disability can be leaders.... #Leadership #COSP13 #IntellectualDisability #IntellectualDisabilities #disability Down Syndrome Australia Inclusion Australia - National Council on Intellectual Disability

21.01.2022 The latest edition of Disability Loop eNews is now available online with information about the NDIS Independent Assessments and consultations. Disability Loop eNews - November 2020 - https://mailchi.mp//disability-loop-enews-september-7091121 #NDIS #disabilities #disability #IndependentAssessments

21.01.2022 It's going to be a difficult week this week, with stories of abuse being told at the Disability Royal Commission hearing. There is FREE, independent, and confidential counselling and support available to people with disability, their families and carers who have experienced or witnessed abuse, violence, neglect, or exploitation. Please take care this week, and reach out and talk to someone if you need to.... Call 1800 421 468 or 02 6146 1468 (9am to 6pm weekdays or 9am to 5pm weekends) TTY users contact the National Relay Service on 133 677, then ask for 1800 421 468 #DisabilityRC #disability #abuse #support

21.01.2022 Content Warning - abuse & death of people with disability. - - - We believe that if Oliver had not have had the labels of autism and intellectual disability attached to him, he would absolutely have not have been prescribed psychotropic medications, McGowan said.... "She said it became clear at an inquest into her sons death that medical, health and other social care professionals received no training in dealing with people like Oliver." https://www.theguardian.com//over-medication-of-intellectu #abuse #DisabilityRC #disability #autism #IntellectualDisability

20.01.2022 A message from our good friends at the Disability Resources Centre There are many valid health reasons a person may not wear a mask in public, and we know people are being questioned and even abused by others who don't understand. DHHS has created a page explaining who is exempt from wearing a mask. ... They've also created smart phone and print badges that explain a person is exempt from face covering, or to ask others to remove their face coverings if the person is deaf/Deaf or hard of hearing. FACE COVERING INFO & BADGES: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/information-people-disability-c EASY ENGLISH PDF: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au//Easy%20English_Do%20I%20have% #COVID19Aus #Victorian #FaceCoveringExemption #MaskExemption #MelbourneLockdown #COVID19Vic #FaceMasks #deaf #deafness #HardOfHearing #HearingLoss

20.01.2022 Kerri Cassidy, Executive Officer of the Disability Resources Centre (DRC) is speaking at the Vic Climate Solutions Forum: The Transport Sector #tonight at 6pm Act on Climate Vic and Friends of the Earth Melbourne are hosting and have invited DRC specifically because of their long history of transport activism. If you want to join the forum via zoom, please register below. https://www.actonclimate.org.au/pcs_forum_transport... These organisations are committed to a social justice model of addressing climate change. They understand it impacts groups differently and are giving space to people with disabilities to make sure climate solutions take our needs into account. #ClimateChange #PublicTransport #DisabilityRights #Transport

20.01.2022 The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) guarantees the right to accessibility and participation for people with intellectual disability. Unfortunately, at the moment, there are no international guidelines on how to make sure people with intellectual disability can participate in the work that affects them. You can help Down Syndrome International and INCLUSION INTERNATIONAL create inclusive participation guidelines by taking this survey before 30t...h September: https://www.ds-int.org/listen-include-respect-survey #ListenIncludeRespect #CRPD #IntellectualDisability #DownSyndrome #DevelopmentalDisabilities #disability #UNCRPD #inclusion #accessibility

19.01.2022 One of Physical Disability Australia - PDA (PDA's) Members has written an article that has been published on the PDA website. It is called Bullying in our public health system and it gives a personal and powerful account of one persons experiences and concerns in regards to the medical professions providing care, understanding and support for those who fall outside of the box. You can read this by visiting the PDA website at: https://www.pda.org.au//bullying-in-our-public...-health-sys/ Physical Disability Australia - PDA #bullying #health #PhysicalDisability

19.01.2022 Being acknowledged is the first step to being included. It's International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). It's an important day to celebrate people with disability. It's also an opportunity to reflect on the progress of disability rights in Australia and globally. This is an opinion piece by Ben Gauntlett, Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner ... https://www.smh.com.au//being-acknowledged-is-the-first-st #DisabilityRights #disability #disabilities #IDPwD #discrimination #advocacy #DisabilityDiscrimination

19.01.2022 We are proud to be a Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO), so it's great to see DPOs credited throughout this report which looks into the early rights movement of people with disability from the 1960s and 1970s through to the present day. The report is called "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Shining a light on Social Transformation", and was written by Rosemary Kayess and Therese Sands. You can read the report (including Auslan and Easy Read versions) a...t: https://tinyurl.com/y2nsauoj #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #DisabilityRights #HumanRights #disability #Auslan #EasyRead Disability Royal Commission

18.01.2022 The Human Rights Watch has analysed coroners inquest reports between 2010 and 2020, and has found that about 60% of people who died in prisons in Western Australia had a disability. 58% of these people with disability died as a result of lack of support provided by the prison, suicide, and violence - and half of these deaths were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners with disabilities. You can read the media article at: ... https://www.hrw.org//australia-deaths-prisoners-disabiliti And you can read the 57-page Report Hes Never Coming Back - People with Disabilities Dying in Western Australias Prisons, at: https://www.hrw.org//people-disabilities-dying-western-aus #CriminalJustice #CriminalJusticeSystem #disability #disabilities #prisons #Aboriginal #Indigenous #FirstNations #FirstNationsPeople

18.01.2022 The Disability Royal Commission will hold a public hearing in Sydney this week, on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th December 2020. This hearing will examine the education and training of health professionals, including medical practitioners, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and psychologists, in relation to the health care and treatment of people with cognitive disability. You can find out more about the hearing at: ... https://tinyurl.com/y4wpkyhl And the Witness List is available at: https://tinyurl.com/yys9sv3k You will be able to watch the hearing live (with captions and Auslan interpreters) at: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/ #DisabilityRC #disability #CognitiveDisabilities #DisabilityRoyalCommission #disabilities

18.01.2022 Important research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in partnership with Dr Scott Avery from Western Sydney University's School of Social Sciences reveals Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults with moderate to profound hearing loss, experience greater inequality compared to those without hearing loss. The data reveals that in a classroom of 30 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children, about nine will be turning up to class today with possible hearing loss,... and of that nine, only one will report that they have long-term hearing loss. You can read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yynwg3fe #Indigenous #Aboriginal #FirstNations #FirstNationsPeople #disability #disabilities #deaf #education #school #HearingLoss #HardOfHearing

17.01.2022 This year the ABC Australia partnered with #IDPwD to showcase the creative work of people with #disability, including producers, co-hosts, writers, and artists on a national platform. This great initiative was unrivalled by other media! Read about why we need more people with disability appearing in the media to be more inclusive.... https://www.msn.com//why-we-need-more-people-w/ar-BB1bRn5M #inclusion #disabilities #disability #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #media

16.01.2022 We know the DSP is simply not enough - the cost of living is greater for people with a disability to start with, and then the pension itself is insufficient for people to not only cover the normal cost of living, but the cost of living with a disability. "I have nothing left. Absolutely nothing," Ms McGregor The 44-year-old is one of 750,000 Australians on the Disability Support Pension (DSP), and she says it's only just enough to survive.... #disability #DisabilitySupportPension #DSP #COVID19Aus #Fibromyalgia #disabilities https://www.9news.com.au//5fdf9bd9-0afd-4fb0-bc4b-7988a66c

16.01.2022 With the right support, we can all work in a fulfilling job we love. And workplaces that hire people with disability are shown to have a stronger more positive workplace culture overall. In this great video from VALID , people like Gerard O'Dwyer The Actor share what having fulfilling work means to them.... https://www.youtube.com/watch #employment #InclusiveEmployment #disability #disabilities #DownSyndrome #IntellectualDisability #work

16.01.2022 Dale Weller has had to fight, figuratively and literally, to be treated just like everyone else. She wants others with disability to know they can still embrace themselves when others won't. "If you are disabled in any fashion, even if other people can't see your disability, embrace who you are and take your opportunities when they come along, because they will come along. It's not how other people perceive your value; it's how you value yourself." You can read the full stor...y at: https://www.abc.net.au//how-dale-found-her-own-wo/12903586 #IDPwD #DisabilityAwareness #CerebralPalsy #disability #disabled

15.01.2022 This Thursday, 3rd December is International Day of People With Disability (IDPwD). The 2020 IDPwD Theme is "Not all Disabilities are Visible" which focuses on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive disabilities, among others. ABC Reporter, Nas Campanella shares he...r story about a shocking interaction that she had on a train ride, to raise awareness about disability so the community will think more carefully about the way they talk directly to people with disability and the way they speak about us. You can read Nas' story below: https://www.abc.net.au//abc-reporter-nas-campanel/12920246 #blindness #VisionImpairment #disability #disabilities #IDPwD #IDPwD2020 #DisabilityAwareness #discrimination #community #CommunityAttitudes

15.01.2022 The Disability Royal Commission's next public hearing starts today at 10am! The Disability Royal Commission will examine the use of psychotropic medication to control people with disability. Psychotropic medications are any drug capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behaviour'.... There could be very disturbing stories told this week at the Disability Royal Commission. If you are upset and you need to talk to someone, you can contact the National Counselling and Referral Service (run by the Blue Knot Foundation) for FREE, independent, and confidential support on 1800 421 468 or 02 6146 1468. You can watch the hearing live (with #Auslan and #captioning at: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/ You can learn more about the hearing at: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au//public-hearing-6 #abuse #disability #disabilities #DisabilityRights #DisabilityRC

14.01.2022 "The next critical piece of infrastructure in Australia is not a railway or airport but a Disability Data Asset. It will enable the #NationalDisabilityStrategy and #NDIS to thrive." Ben Gauntlet, Disability Discrimination Commissioner. Join the National Disability Data Asset webinar tomorrow to discuss how data linkage may generate a better understanding of the services, life circumstances, opportunities and other factors that influence the well-being and quality of life of p...eople with disability in Australia. The webinar will be held from 2pm - 4pm AEDT. You can register to attend at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-national-disability-dat #DisabilityData #disabilities #disability #data #webinar

14.01.2022 We are concerned that the first of Queensland’s 75 inaccessible NGR trains to be upgraded to make it accessible has been in the workshop for more than a year and Queenslanders with disabilities are still waiting for it to be back in service. Queenslanders with disability must be able to get around Qld independently. There needs to be no more delays on this project to fix disability access issues in these trains. https://www.couriermail.com.au//dd1e7b949088f6080fc227f7c2... National Inclusive Transport Advocacy Network - NITAN Physical Disability Australia - PDA Blind Citizens Australia Queenslanders with Disability Network Polio Australia #accessibility #PublicTransport #Queensland #AccessibleTransport #disability #PhysicalDisability

14.01.2022 Australia doesn't have nationally consistent standards to ensure access and inclusion of people with disability in disaster risk reduction. Too often, people with disabilities are left out of the conversation until it’s too late. This article outlines the findings from a research project about the experiences of people with disability in emergencies. People with disability want access to the same information others receive, and we need disability-specific tools and training... to help us develop a personal emergency preparedness plan. Researchers worked with Queenslanders with Disability Network to co-design the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness Workbook. The workbook is a four-step conversation guide that helps people with disability to: identify their strengths and support needs in everyday life know their level of emergency preparedness and learn about their disaster risk plan for how they will manage their support needs in an emergency communicate the plan with the people in their support network and address gaps through collaboration. You can read the full article at: https://tinyurl.com/y5v9nnk9 #disability #disabilities #EmergencyPreparedness #DisasterPreparedness

14.01.2022 Physical Disability Australia - PDA will be holding a Social Hour today online. If you would like to join the Social Hour, it's very quick, easy & free to join! Just go to: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZMvdeCvqT0iGNIHANOwSpCJDs6Yg_iN8... The times for the Social Hour are below: 5pm Brisbane 5:30pm Adelaide 6pm Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne/Hobart 4:30pm Darwin 3pm Perth Everyone is welcome to join! #Disability #SocialHour #disabilities #PhysicalDisability

14.01.2022 New bushfire resources for first responders to help autistic people and those living with disability. This story talks about people with disability appearing in new emergency and disaster planning videos and resources. A new video has been produced to teach first responders how to help the autistic community navigate emergencies. And the CFA (Country Fire Authority) has also produced a video to encourage people with disability to leave early.... You can read the full story at: https://www.abc.net.au//autism-and-bushfires-new-/12674508 #fire #BushFire #Emergency #EmergencyPlanning #Autism #Autistic #disability #Fibromyalgia

14.01.2022 The Disability Royal Commission has released its schedule of public hearings on their website. They are also seeking submissions on these topics too. If you or someone you know has something to say about any of the hearing topics, we encourage you to share your story with the Royal Commission. https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/abou/our-schedule... #DisabilityRC #DisabilityRoyalCommission #abuse #violence

13.01.2022 AFDO and our members are extremely concerned that the introduction of the new #NDIS Independent Assessments has been undertaken without consultation with people with #disabilities and their representative organisations. We are continuing to try and get more answers about the compulsory assessments, so we can share more information with everyone. In the meantime, you can head over to the Every Australian Counts website to fill in a form to email the NDIS Minister, Stuart Rober...t MP to let him know that we want answers. You can find the Every Australian Counts form at: https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/questions-for-ministe/ #NDIS #disability #NDISIndependentAssessments #IndependentAssessments Blind Citizens Australia Brain Injury Australia Deafness Forum of Australia Deaf Australia Inc Disability Advocacy Network Australia - DANA Deafblind Australia Down Syndrome Australia Disability Resources Centre Disability Justice Australia Inc. Enhanced Lifestyles National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum Physical Disability Australia - PDA Women with Disabilities Victoria Women with Disabilities ACT People With disabilities WA People With Disabilities ACT Aspergers Victoria Dacssa Polio Australia YDAS - Youth Disability Advocacy Service National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Australia AED Legal Centre Leadership Plus

13.01.2022 Plan to keep NDIS recipients safe from COVID-19 wasn't activated until August! Below is an article from the Sydney Morning Herald today. The federal department responsible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme did not activate a joint plan to manage the risk of COVID-19 in the Victorian disability sector with the state government until the second wave was near its peak....Continue reading

13.01.2022 Today is day 1 of the Disability Royal Commission's hearing into the experiences of First Nations people with disability & their families in contact with child protection systems. Some of the evidence given this week could be very distressing to hear. If you need someone to talk to, there is FREE support available. Please visit bit.ly/3eIMZqq to see what support is available.... There is also culturally appropriate support available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability and their families. And Indigenous-run support is available in some areas too. You can also contact the services below if you need to talk to someone. The National Counselling and Referral Service - 1800 421 468 Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Please take care. #Indigenous #Aboriginal #FirstNations #Disability #disabilities #DisabilityRC #Support #DisabilityRoyalCommission #abuse #violence

12.01.2022 Urgent improvements are needed in the way people with disability are treated in mandatory quarantine, after a WA man was left in severe pain after spending two weeks in a non-accessible hotel room. #accessibility #discrimination #AusPol https://www.abc.net.au//man-in-chronic-pain-spend/12655082

12.01.2022 A New Australian Book Lays Bare Life With Chronic Illness. In her collection of autobiographical essays "Show Me Where It Hurts", Adelaide-based writer and cultural critic Kylie Maslen describes a distressing appointment she had in 2004 with a medical specialist. Unfortunately, in Maslens experience of endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and menorrhagia, this doctor although extreme in his lack of empathy and facts is more rule than exception. Some women are... just unlucky is a refrain too many have heard. With almost unbearable honesty "Show Me Where It Hurts" charts the writers day-to-day experiences of pain, chronic and invisible illness, and mental ill health, and the road to her diagnoses. Maslen endured 20 years of inadequately treated and unexplained pelvic pain; invasive tests and treatments; and heavy, painful periods. In 2018, at 35, she was also diagnosed with bipolar II. You can read the full story at: https://www.broadsheet.com.au//new-book-lays-bare-life-chr #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth #MentalIllness #Bipolar #PCOS #disability #disabilities

12.01.2022 On 4th December, join Disabled People's International (DPI) and G3ict for a virtual side event on Digital Accessibility Gaps and Opportunities: 2020 #DAREIndex, Good Practices among 137 #CRPD States Parties. #COSP13 Date: 4th Dec 2020 Time: 8:30-9:45AM ET (US and Canada)... MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, CANBERRA TIME: Date: 5th Dec 2020 Time: 12:30AM - 1:45AM Learn more & register http://bit.ly/G3ict-CoSP13 #DigitalInclusion #Accessibility #Disabilities #disability #COSP13

12.01.2022 Blind Citizens Australia have created 4 fantastic short films as part of the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival. The Eye To The Future videos, showcase four very different people who are blind or vision impaired in their chosen careers. All the videos are captioned and audio described. ... Take a look and vote here: https://www.focusonability.com.au/FOA/films/2125.html Lindas Story https://www.focusonability.com.au/FOA/films/2123.html Kristys Story https://www.focusonability.com.au/FOA/films/2124.html Pams Story https://www.focusonability.com.au/FOA/films/2126.html Steves Story

11.01.2022 If you haven't checked out this month's newsletter from Disability Advocacy Network Australia - DANA yet, there is #disability news and events from: - Australian Government - NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme - Australian Human Rights Commission - Disability Leadership Institute... - Children and Young People with Disability Australia - IDEAS Disability Information - OurCommunity.com.au and lots more! You can read it below: https://mailchi.mp/dbdadd7f3909/fjy0w98mk7-4437618 #disability #advocacy #disabilities #HumanRights #DisabilityRights

11.01.2022 We are often asked to consider alternative options at school. Sometimes he is not taken to the oval at school or to specific classes because he has to walk further or negotiate stairs, etc. They assume he will 'get tired'. Down Syndrome Australia has written a submission on the 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education. The Disability Standards are meant to ensure that students with a disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as studen...ts without a disability. You can read more about Down Syndrome Australia's submission here: https://www.downsyndrome.org.au//submission-to-the-disab/ #InclusiveEducation #education #DownSyndrome #inclusion #disability #disabilities

10.01.2022 Congratulations to our President, Liz Reid on receiving her Order of Australia (AM) this week. Liz was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June for her service to people with a disability, to youth, and to social inclusion. Liz has spent her life advocating for those who have a limited or no voice and to ensure they have the same rights and freedoms as all Australians.

10.01.2022 The NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme has published some Easy Read information today on #IndependentAssessments. You can download the information in text at: https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/2665/download... You can download the information in PDF at: https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/2664/download You can also find more information about Independent Assessments on the NDIS website at: https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/independent-assessments #NDIS #NDISIndependentAssessments #IndependentAssessments #disability

09.01.2022 Today is International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL). IDSL is a special day aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sign language - not just to those who are Deaf, but society as a whole in terms of human rights and the ability to be heard and understood. Despite there being over 70 million Deaf people in the world, only 2% of this number has access to sign language education. ... Sadly many countries do not recognise Sign language as a language but only as a mere gesture. International Day of Sign Languages works to promotes human rights and sign language rights throughout the world. If you are interested in learning more about Sign Language please visit on the organisations listed below: Deaf Australia Inc Deafblind Australia Deafness Forum of Australia #IDSL #IDSL2020 #SignLanguage #deaf #Auslan

09.01.2022 OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Our colleagues at YDAS - Youth Disability Advocacy Service are looking for applicants for their Young Leaders Program. If you're a Victorian with a disability between the ages of 14 and 19 you can apply. ... Applications close Monday, so make some time this weekend for a chance to be involved. Info and application here: https://www.yacvic.org.au/ydas/get-involved/youngleaders/ #DisabilityRights #Youth #YoungPeople

08.01.2022 Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) have made an Easy Read info guide about friends. You can find out Why friends are important What makes a good friend... How to meet new friends You can get the guide on the CID website or you can contact them on 1800 424 065. https://cid.org.au/resource/friends/ #EasyRead #IntellectualDisability #disability #friends

08.01.2022 This is exactly why people need to see people with disability in the community, living our lives, working, socialising with friends and family, and being a valued part of the community. This also shows why we need advocates with disability speaking out. Not people without disability speaking about us, about our needs, about our lives. It needs to be led by us - people with disability! Rosemary Kayess spoke on Q&A last night about how she felt when COVID-19 started and the...Continue reading

08.01.2022 A message for women. Across the globe, September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. This year over 2,000 Australian women will die from one of the seven types of gynecological cancers. Here is an important video message for all deaf and hard of hearing Australians from Cindy Lu Bailey OAM, Australia's most celebrated Deaflympian and WomenCan supporter. Here is the link to access the video (captions & Auslan):... https://youtu.be/FIlUNKMgh4M Below is some important information: There are seven types of gynaecological cancers: ovarian (fallopian tube), cervical, endometrial (uterine), vulval, vaginal and two rare placental cancers If women experience symptoms such as vaginal bleeding; pain, pressure or discomfort of the abdomen; pain during sex; lumps, sores or wart-like growths; or changes in bowel or bladder habits, they need to visit their general practitioner and have further investigations Many women falsely believe that the cervical cancer screening (formally pap test) guards them for ALL gynaecological cancers. It does not. The only gynaecological cancer which has an early detection method and vaccination program is cervical cancer All Australian women aged between 25 - 74 years of age who have ever been sexually active are recommended to have a Cervical Cancer Screening Test once every five years to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. This screening test is accessed via their General Practitioner at no additional cost Gynaecological cancers are the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in women with 6,500 Australian women being diagnosed every year. Gynaecological cancers have a lower survival rate (70%) than breast cancer (91%) You can learn more at: https://www.womencan.org.au/event/save-the-box/home #deaf #Auslan #HardOfHearing #HearingLoss #SaveTheBox #GynaeCancerAwarenessMonth Women with Disabilities Victoria Leadership Network: Barwon Hub Women with Disabilities ACT

07.01.2022 Deaf Australia Inc has released a media release this morning to launch their new logo. The launch of their new logo follows consultation with their members over recent months. You can watch Deaf Australia's announcement in #Auslan below. There is also an english version below the video. ... https://www.facebook.com/watch/

06.01.2022 The death of Skyhooks founding member Peter Starkie has brought to light the dangers of older men using ladders and the need for a national awareness campaign, says the nations peak brain injury body, Brain Injury Australia. Falls are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injury throughout the developed world said Brain Injury Australia (BIA) CEO, Nick Rushworth. BIA represents more than 700,000 people living with brain injury in Australia. ... You can read the full story at: https://www.news.com.au///2d78c5ebe5a9f73ccc7bf7aac3f966fe #BrainInjury #TBI #TraumaticBrainInjury #disability

06.01.2022 Disability Royal Commission Update - Next Public Hearing on 7th December. The next Public Hearing (hearing 9) will be about pathways and barriers to open employment for people with disability. It will commence at 9:30am AEDT on Monday 7th December, and run for 5 days. The Royal Commission will examine the importance of community attitudes and how those attitudes can operate as a barrier, or a pathway, to employment that hinder people with disability from finding their proper... place in society. The Royal Commission expects to hear from people with disability about their experiences both positive and negative in seeking open employment, as well as from advocacy groups, employers, government agencies and other interested groups. You can find out more about the next Public Hearing in the DRC media release at: https://tinyurl.com/y6yvwz3t And on the DRC website: https://tinyurl.com/yyq48fv3 #DisabilityRC #abuse #RoyalCommission #employment #OpenEmployment #DisabilityRoyalCommission #work #disability #disabilities

06.01.2022 The Disability Royal Commission hearings examining the experiences of First Nations people with disability and their contact with child protection services was held last week. Commissioners heard that just over 20,000 Indigenous children were in the system. CEO of the peak body Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, Richard Weston said the system was not geared toward identifying risk early and connecting families with services before the removal of th...eir kids. "The system pretty much operates on a report, substantiate, remove process," he said. Mr Weston said resources should be reallocated toward supportive programs delivered by Aboriginal run organisations. He said the cost of keeping children in care was far greater than keeping them out. NSW Department of Communities and Justice secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter told the disability royal commission hearing of the fear held by families and staff in the system. He said parents were afraid of having children taken "for no good reason", while staff feared contributing to the serious injury or death of a child. In his closing remarks, senior counsel assisting Lincoln Crowley said it was critical child protection systems recognise the ability of disabled parents to look after their children and provide support at an early stage. He said this was critical so children were not denied the right to live with their family. You can read the full article at: https://www.canberratimes.com.au//state-weighted-toward-/|760b4580a1b6e103979a98536b65adb3 #FirstNationsPeople #Indigenous #Aboriginal #disability #disabilities #DisabilityRC #abuse

06.01.2022 The Australian Human Rights Commission and The University of Melbourne's Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health are hosting a webinar on Australia's next National Disability Strategy. The new Strategy is a once in a decade opportunity to create change. They are inviting everyone who is interested in attending. You don't have to be from Melbourne to attend.... The webinar will be held on Thursday, 24th September from 1-3 pm (AEST) via Zoom. #Auslan and captioning will be available. For more details and to register, please visit https://events.humanitix.com/panel-discussion-national-dis/ Physical Disability Australia - PDA Blind Citizens Australia Disability Advocacy Network Australia - DANA Disability Resources Centre Women with Disabilities Victoria Disability Advocacy Resource Unit Polio Australia #disability #disabilities #NationalDisabilityStrategy #NDS #inclusion Senator Anne Ruston Children and Young People with Disability Australia First Peoples Disability Network #Auslan #captioning #deaf

05.01.2022 Disability Royal Commission (DRC) Update Today, the DRC published their report on Public Hearing 5: Experiences of people with disability during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. It said the Australian Government was responsible for two significant failings from the onset of the pandemic in late January 2020 when the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of international concern, until the establishment of the Advisory Committee for the COVID-19 Response for People w...ith Disability on 2 April 2020. First, neither the Australian Government nor its agencies made any significant attempts before 2 April 2020 to consult with people with disability or their representative organisations when planning how to respond to the emerging crisis, resulting in no additional funding being provided to disability representative organisations. Secondly, neither the Australian Government nor its agencies considered in any systematic or sustained fashion what measures were required to support and protect the safety, health and well-being of people with disability during the early stages of the pandemic. You can read the media release here: https://tinyurl.com/yxfbuuv3 And the report (including Easy Read) at: http://ow.ly/iQn850CxCgp #COVID19Aus #pandemic #COVID19 #disability #DisabilityRC #disabilities

05.01.2022 Around 70% of #children suspended from #school have a #disability. Schools need to do better by children with #disabilities and ensure that they are supported and included at school. This news story was on The Project last night. ... https://10play.com.au//the-issue-with-schoo/tpv201122eplmc #InclusiveEducation #education #disability #disabilities #ADHD #Autism

05.01.2022 We love that ABC Australia is sharing stories this week from people with disability to celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). Here's another great story - Sheree Somers writes about what it's like being autistic and she has some advice for us on how to make things a bit better for people living with autism. You can read the full story here:... https://www.abc.net.au//tips-for-better-communic/12894868 #autism #autistic #AutismAwareness #disability #DisabilityAwareness #IDPwD

04.01.2022 This week is National Week of Deaf People (NWDP). The National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) is an international celebration of Deaf individuals and the Deaf community. It provides an opportunity for the Deaf and wider communities to recognise and celebrate the achievements made by Deaf individuals and organisations whilst working to raise awareness and understanding.... There are many NWDP events scheduled throughout this week. For more information, you can visit the Deaf Australia Inc website: https://deafaustralia.org.au/nwdp/ #Deaf #disability #Auslan #SignLanguage #NWDP

02.01.2022 We call upon the Attorney-General Christian Porter to introduce legislation into the Australian Parliament to protect the confidentiality of information given to the Disability Royal Commission. If people with disability are not able to provide information to the Disability Royal Commission in complete confidence, there is a risk that the most severe cases of systemic abuse and neglect will not be exposed. It is vital to the success of the Disability Royal Commission that th...e appropriate changes to the legislation are made as soon as possible. You can read the full letter to the Attorney General on the AFDO website: https://www.afdo.org.au/open-letter-to-the-attorney-genera/ This Open Letter to the Attorney General is a joint letter from: Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Children and Young People with Disability Australia Disability Advocacy Network Australia First Peoples Disability Network Australia Inclusion Australia National Ethnic Disability Alliance People with Disability Australia Women with Disabilities Australia Children and Young People with Disability Australia Disability Advocacy Network Australia - DANA First Peoples Disability Network Inclusion Australia - National Council on Intellectual Disability National Ethnic Disability Alliance People with Disability Australia Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Physical Disability Australia - PDA Blind Citizens Australia Brain Injury Australia Deafness Forum of Australia Deafblind Australia Deaf Australia Inc National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum Polio Australia Disability Resources Centre Women with Disabilities Victoria Women with Disabilities ACT #Disability #DisabilityRC #abuse #violence

01.01.2022 This week is Disability Action Week. Disability Action Week (13-19 September) acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of people living with disability. This week, the Australian Network on Disability will be holding three webinar Able - All Abilities Awareness Sessions. These sessions have been designed to assist and support people with disability in the workplace, their colleagues and employers.... Days and Topics covered: Session 1 - Monday 14 September 3:30 - 4:00pm - Accessibility in the workplace and barriers to inclusion (30 minutes) Session 2 - Thursday 17 September 3:30 - 4:00pm - Workplace Adjustments and Inclusive communcation (30 minutes) Session 3 - Friday 18 September 1:30 - 3:00pm - (Full) Able - All Abilities Awareness Session (90 minutes) For more information or to register please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/able-all-abilities-awarenes #disability #disabilities #workplace #WorkplaceAdjustments #employment #diversity #inclusion #accessibility

01.01.2022 Last week, AFDO CEO, Ross Joyce gave evidence to the Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS at the public hearing into the NDIS Workforce. This NDIS Workforce inquiry examines the NDIS workforce, the size and composition of the workforce, as well as any challenges in attracting and retaining the NDIS workforce, particularly in regional and remote communities. We said that we think that there has been a lot of positive things that the NDIS has been able to achieve. However, we a...lso mentioned that as with any major change process being implemented nationally, there is a need to look carefully at some of the issues that are arising, and any unintended consequences from these issues. We also gave evidence that COVID 19 has really highlighted issues with workforce, particularly the workforce in the disability sector, such as casualisation and its implications in ensuring continuity of supports for people with disability during the pandemic. You can read the transcript of AFDO giving evidence at the hearing on our website: https://www.afdo.org.au/?page_id=7148&preview=true #NDIS #workforce #disabilities #disability