People Like Us

People like us

The concept that I should be isolated, by labelling because I have a visible physical, intellectual, behavioural or any other disability, serves only to feed people’s fears and misconceptions. As long as we insist on labelling and discussing incompasity a social inclusion model or any social support system is not going to work.  Sadly that at the present time includes the NDIS.

The foundation principle for the frame work of the NDIS is that we are all equal and as Australians living with disabilities we are entitled the same as everybody else. In terms of the NDIS we’re talking about lifestyle choices. Choices around:-

·       Schooling

·       Education

·       Employment

·       Postal Address

·       Sport

·       Type of dwelling

·       Hobbies

·       Access to therapies and services

In part until now the lifestyle choices for people living with disabilities has been determined or at least restricted by their post code or access to income.  A choice to live in Alice Springs for a family with a child with profound disabilities is not realistic, unless the family has decided that living in Alice Springs is more important to them than accessing specialized educational services and therapies to enable the child to reach your full potential.

Here I want to say, that is their right! That is there choice! Therefore, that is the right choice for their family.

In some cultures the family or “the clan” is the most important structure in their life (or lifestyle), such as indigenous Australians. However, the perception is the Gen Y’s tend to be self-indulgent.  They want to live in the here and now!  They may feel that they need to live in the middle of the action!

No one truly questions you post code, unless you or your family are living with disability.  Suddenly because I am different in one way or the other,my “lifestyle choices” can be questioned. The socially acceptable “norms” shift. As a single female with a physical disability, it I chose to live in Kings Cross – Sydney NSW my decision would be questioned. Even though I have a degree and proven abilities in confident in decision making.

Hang On! What happened to my life, my choice?

Where did my right to make choice end? Simply because you ‘feel’ the right to make a judgement on my choice?  If I am not making a choice that is illegal and I don’t have an adult guardian then no has a right to stop me from living in Kings Cross. Now, if I wanted to become a drug dealer, and required my support workers to use a gun and inject my drugs, then that a different matter.  The very labelling system we use to help those living with disabilities gain the support and assistance that they need, divides us. With the disability label comes this sense of ‘the right to judge our choice’. Whether or not there is an intellectual or cognitive impairment.

Before we even think about how the NDIS will shape the disability sector under privatization and market driven forces. While you argue if someone with cognitive functioning disorder has a right to be supported to see an adult movie or if people with intellectual disabilities have the right to have a relationship. Before you begin to argue that a person is not able to live independently.

I argue you haven’t grasped the very foundations of lifestyle choice and how it affects the NDIS. Before you argue hours, types of supports, programs, organizations, personnel, specific, goals and certainly activates and if a client can have vegemite on toast for breakfast, you need to pick up your camera and refocus. Under the NDIS diagnoses’, labels and negative attitudes are not central in the planning of support needs.

The planning process is around the persons goals. These goals will be largely influence by an individuals or families lifestyle choice. Someone living in Mt Isa is not going to want to be supported to have surf lessons. Before we talk about activities and what you think their week should look like or if they can be supported to go night clubbing, you need to grasp what a lifestyle choice is and the types of decisions lifestyle choices affect, such as housing.

What areas of their lives are involved and ensure the social norms and expectations aren’t going to change simply because a disability is acknowledged. We do not said to some because they are indinigious they can’t live in the city. Yet we tell many people, too many people in my opinion the need to live in a group home or supported accommodation. How would you like it if the government decided it was in your best interest to live with a bunch of strangers because your family could no longer carer of you or to move you to a group home on the Gold Coast when you’ve lived in Toowoomba your whole life?  What if I chose you friends, the people I think it’s ok to hang about with? This is the type of disempowering environment people like ‘us’, people with disabilities, live under.   

We don’t want to choose what time we go to bed, we want to talk about where we live, if we can work, what support we need to find work, and what type of lifestyle we can then afford.  Maybe living on the DSP means I can’t afford sky diving lesson or to go out drinking every Friday night.

If the NDIS is to work people need to grasp the people with disabilities are just like us. They too are connected and plugged into the world. People with disabilities are somehow connected to someone, even if that person is not presently in the person’s life. Everyone had a mother at some stage. Regardless of the level of impairment everyone has some level of emotional attachment to someone. To be human is feel and to make choices. As humans we don’t always make the right choice.

Some of us chose to smoke or drink too much alcohol. Many people chose to eat the wrong types of foods or too much of the right kind of foods.  Mostly it’s only our GP’s that question these choices.  People living with disabilities shouldn’t have to justify eating a pizza.  People living with disabilities are just like us.

The make both good and bad choices, just like you. Until we drop the labels and stopping moving the goals posts according to a diagnoses we will never experience the joys of living in a inclusive society. The NDIS cannot, on its own achieve this goal.

Only when we are seen as people like you, will our choices not be judged.