Revolutionary Thinking

As we march towards the introduction of the Disability Care Australian (formally known as the NDIS) we must ask ourselves if we as Australian’s are really mature enough to reorganised the true value of human life.  Are we ready to stand up and shout to the world that every life has equal value regardless of the peoples abilities.

This human rights statement is the driving force behind the NDIS campaign. For people with disabilities its not about the money, but the dream to belong. Sure, we want our basic needs and rights meet.  We are demanding equal standards of living, no one under the age of 60 should be force to live in a nurse home because, that is the only way the tax payer will fund 24 hour care,

For us the realization of the NDIS is about real inclusion for people with disabilities; their families and carers. The fundamentals that drive the NDIS legislation is not a funding reform.  Funding reforms in themselves can only hope to produce more income to support a growing population of people with disabilities.

The Australian Governments decision to introduce the NDIS into parliament is a recognitizies  of the rights of all people with a disability and their families, not just those who can like me voice the needs, desires and goals.  The start of Disability Care Australian on July 1 is not based on needs as various funding systems have done in the past, but the goals of people with disabilities and their families.

Almost universally, these people tells us that their individual goals are linked to their desired for social inclusion.  For many that’s the goal to live in a community of their choice and not to have some government department make that decision based on determine needs and service availability.  Disability Care recognises people with disabilities have the same rights to services regardless of whether the person and/or their families live in Hobart in Tasmania or Lismore in country NSW.  Services and equipment needs to be available where people live not centralized and capitalized in major Australia cities.

However are ordinary Aussies ready to make this fundamental shift in attitude from ‘caring’ for people with disabilities to ‘providing the care and support to enable people with disabilities to fully participate’ in our Australian lifestyle?  Because that ladies and gentlemen is what this piece of legislation demands.

After a week of debate, argument and opinion polls by television and radio programs, I’m not sure we in Australia have that type of maturity, although I hope we find it soon.  When we have the CEO of one of the finest retail companies in Australian claiming an increase in the medicare levy of 0.5% with hurt his companies bottom-line. Then it is plausible to draw conclusions about current attitudes to those with disabilities and their ability to full engaged in Australian society. We are neither seen as taxpayers nor consumers.

The look on the sales assistance face said it all, “Why are you letting her look at a $200 pair of shoes.” I am just a poor disable girl about to earn $55 hour. I definitely can’t afford to buy those shoes, nor would I appreciate there value.  Stereotypes are a strongly held as ever and its going to take more than the Prime Minster signature on a whitepaper to change this ingrained attitude that all people with CP have intellectual disabilities.  Poor thing stuck in a retail job at 55 because she was able to get a degree like me.  I really do feel sorry of these people without degrees and ability to challenge social norms.

I was not the only one on the receiving end of this attitude yesterday, as I sort out a lifestyle our Prime Minister states we are entitle too yesterday.  My friend and fellow top 200 Leaders with a disabilities in Australia Maralene encounter the same.  Poor dear with CP busking with a jumping castles (Do you know how much those thing costs to run an hour?)  Poor dear lets give her 10 cents.  Bloody hell that doesn’t get the thing in the truck let alone the fuel – a total insult to this future leader of our country.

These are the attitudes that stand in the way of the best chance to revolutionised disability care since federation!