d4d Blog

The National Disability and Carers Alliance Congress held in Melbourne last week was the perfect platform to gather the disability sector together; a gathering to see what we agree on, what we already know, what we don’t know and what we need to do moving forward.

We all agree that transformation has to occur within the broken disability sector. The NDIS has created enormous debate and discussion, at times uniting our differences into a Draft Report produced by the Productivity Commission. And whilst this remains on the National Agenda, it is a watershed moment for us all.

We all know that the Productivity Commission has highlighted the numerous flaws in the Sector – under-resourced, underfunded and so on and so on. And congratulations go to Commissioner Patricia Scott and Assistant Commissioner Jon Walsh for their empathetic ears. When the Commission delivers its Final Report on 31^st July of this year, we can expect some minor amendments to the Draft Report, but there will be no wholesale changes to its initial recommendations.

We also know that tri-partisan support exists for the NDIS, and yet with that said, there remains extreme scepticism from all four corners of the Disability sector - stakeholders, advocates, people with disabilities, carers.

The Honourable Bill Shorten opened the Congress and identified what we all know, that people with disabilities live a life in exile, essentially as second class citizens. We also all know that the desperation of carers provides a national economic goodwill to the tune of about one billion hours of unpaid work, and when measured approximates to a $30b bill to the taxpayer. We also all know that the ongoing antipathy persists between various disability groups. This burgeoning disunity blocks transformation and as Shorten puts it, gives us “asymmetrical bargaining power” in the political arena.

Bruce Bonahady, one of the Congress’s Convenors, continues to be a marvellous mouthpiece for the NDIS movement, now that Bill Shorten has vacated the national disability stage as the Parliamentary Secretary of Disabilities. His appointment as The Federal Assistant Treasurer is a welcome one, a new role that economically strikes a sweet political chord to the tune of our disability cause. Bonahady’s passionate knowledge as an economist, a philanthropist and carer was on full display for us all to see at the Congress. His direction was loud and clear, we need to unite and provide choices to us all. And so again we, as a political party have a responsibility to unite the warring factions and demonstrate to Australia that we are all in this together.

And it is in this moment, that we are faced with what we don’t know. The question that begs from the Congress is as follows - As the Federal Government ponders the recommendations by Productivity Commission, will it all amount to nothing?

It is uncertain whether the NDIS campaign driven by John Della Bosca will achieve a favourable outcome for the disability sector. They have over 17000 names registered pledging support to their campaign. Applause to those within that campaign for their ongoing commitment to raise its awareness under the “Every Australian Counts” banner. The message from Della Bosca was that we all understand the need for a NDIS and therefore what we need to do now is to speak to the unconverted. Speak to family members, friends and acquaintances outside of the disability sector and call your local MP to get on board to create further awareness. All agreed.

And then there is the Mad as Hell Campaign, an example of how the desperation of a minority group can move the sector. With over 20000 people pledging their support to their cause, Sue O’Reilly and Fiona Porter champion this campaign and are both carers of children with a disability. They have taken the Government, the Coalition and the Greens to task, questioning the validity of their tri-partisan support. A recent letter posted to the Prime Minister Julia Gillard as well as Wayne Swan, Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop, Joe Hockey and Bob Brown invites them to take a “walk in my shoes” before a response is given by the incumbent government to the Final Report from the Productivity Commission. And of course if the Canberra Pollies are too busy to accept an opportunity to spend, care for, entertain a person with a disability through the week, the weekend will do fine, because O’Reilly and Porter understand intimately that “supporting a person with severe dependent disabilities is a seven-day-a-week job for the many tens of thousands of parent/carers around our nation.” And it is possible, as it is with the well intentioned motives of the NDIS campaign, whether the desperate efforts from the members of the Mad as Hell campaign will deliver the necessary favourable outcome to the Disability Sector.

The cynic within me, suspects that the government will simply “cherry pick” and splash a minor percentage of the recommended $6.5b into the sector in their response to the Final Report. The result, the unmet need of people with disabilities will not be met and a crisis driven model will persist. And we can opt to choose, to veer from this way of cynical thinking.  But for too long we have been disappointed by ailing systems, excessive bureaucratic processes and broken political promises - no wonder our scepticism permeates. Shorten clearly validated that in his opening address at the Congress, and I quote “the door to the NDIS is only slightly ajar.” And that says it all.

The Swan Federal Budget delivered some promising change into both the mental health sector and the educational sector for children with disabilities. The ongoing political rhetoric that continues now from Gillard and Swan has a strong emphasis on bringing the budget back to a surplus in 2012. Hampered by the excuses of the lingering effects of a GFC, a poor fiscal climate from the Queensland and Victorian floods, points us to a lack of interest to the Final Report from the Government.  And Abbott could follow suit. And so it is up to us to keep the NDIS on the national radar.

And finally the ultimate question that begs is - What do we need to do to keep the NDIS on the national radar if the Government ignores the recommendations from the Productivity Commission? And the answer is a simple one – Remind ourselves that this is not the end, it is just the Beginning!


Rick Neagle
dignity for disability (d4d) President

It is with enormous pride and pleasure that Kelly Vincent, MLC announces the winners of Dignity for Disability's 2011 arts competition: 'My perfect South Australia for People with Disabilities Would Be...'

Prizes of five hundred dollars each will be awarded to two winners per each of the competition's categories: visual arts and word arts.

THE WINNERS ARE:

WORD ARTS
ZOE MILLER &
JENNIFER WATERS

VISUAL ARTS
ANDREW BECK &
ROD FLIGHT

'We received many entries - more, in fact than I was expecting!' said Kelly Vincent, 'and it was not easy to pick the winners, but in the end, these were the stand-outs.'

'Jennifer Waters, who is a family carer to her grandchild with Autism, shows that she is able to think beyond her own personal experiences in her essay. She emphasises the importance of early intervention, education, and teaching children to live with their disabilities from the moment they are born.'

Miss Vincent said she was deeply moved by the poem entered by eleven-year-old family carer, Zoe Miller.

'Zoe's entry simultaneously demonstrates the simplicity with which children and young people view the world, and a wisdom beyond her years.'

The visual art entries were of an equally high standard.

'To me, Andrew Beck's painting, Hope emphasises the importance of unity, not just for the disability sector, but for the human race; it emphasises acceptance. It is a truly beautiful piece.

Rod Flight's painting, I Am, depicting a man in a wheelchair looking out to the sea in the company of his dog, reminded Miss Vincent that: 'even though we have some long and onerous battles to fight, our disabilities do not have to stop us from enjoying the simple things which can sometimes help “make it all worthwhile”.'

Miss Vincent thanks and congratulates each of the winners, and looks forward to presenting their awards at her celebration of one year in Parliament on April 10th 2011.

Last night, d4d held its first Board Meeting for the year. Our various sub-committees, which have been very active over the last six to seven weeks reported to the Board. We have met on a regular basis to begin realising our goals for 2011. The focus will be to further strengthen the party by increasing our membership base and raising funds through our long list of fundraising strategies and events. Your precious support is valuable and there will be more to come during the year about these activities.

Our primary focus is to support our MLC Kelly Vincent in the Parliament Office. This will be achieved by developing numerous policies around Kelly so that the d4d brand becomes stronger and stronger. Kelly, as the face of d4d, continues to represent our party in the media and the public with consistent flair and professionalism. The d4d Policy Development Sub-Committee has become very active as we strive to send Discussion Papers out to our members for comment on various policies. The Sub-Committee has considered our issue of being transparent through this process and so we’ve held strong debate over the proper protocol. We aim to develop policies immediately on supported accommodation and unmet need and as we proceed forward, the Sub-Committee will streamline the processes involved and begin forming other policies on education, employment and transport and so on. As I’ve said these Discussion Papers will be circulated around for input from our d4d members, so please join as member of d4d and have the opportunity to direct these evolving policies.

As always our message of human rights and dignity through choice will form the heart of our policies. People with Disabilities and the Carers within our communities are tired of the “welfare based” funding models offered to the Disability sector. It is time that the State Government and the Social Inclusion Board acknowledge that it is the right of people affected by disability to have the same opportunities as others.

Of course the hot topic at present is the recent release of the NDIS Report by the Productivity Commission. The feeling is buoyant in the Disability Community. It is an exciting time! After recent discussions with John Della Bosca, the NDIS Rally originally scheduled for March 23rd will be rescheduled at a later date, closer to the release of the Final Report and will be rebranded “Every Australian Counts”. The NDIS political campaign will support the new rally with its resources. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to attend community group meetings to further promote this scheme. Take time to speak to the unconverted, spread the word. Aim to tell 5 of your friends outside of the Disability Sector about the strong economic and social benefits of the NDIS. And it is important that all disability advocates and supporters work closely with NDIS to give a powerful and united voice under the “Every Australian Counts” theme.

We look forward to the ongoing support during 2011. It will be an exciting year, transformation is real and nearby!

Rick Neagle
d4d President

The trauma handed out by a group of boys to the young teenage boy who has a disability at Craigmore High School continues to remind us all that bullying is still rife in our school system. People with disabilities continue to suffer remaining isolated and persecuted. The government has put in place a series of Peer Review programs to extinguish this problem, to no avail.

Forgetting not the serious physical injury (a broken nose) sustained by this young man, he will live now with further significant psychological issues ranging from an inability to adapt into the community, a potential for serious mental health issues, embarrassment and further alienation. The horrific nature of his injuries are a constant reminder to our government that bullying has not disappeared from within our school system.

Immediately before the State Election in March 2010 I was on Leon Byner’s radio morning show on 5AA with the previous Minister for Education, the Hon Jane Lomax-Smith and the Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redman (previously the Shadow Minister for Disability in 2006 State Election). I spoke of the many examples of bullying experienced going on in the school yards of South Australia by our constituents, the carers and parents of their children who have a disability.

The minister was convinced that the policies relating to bullying strategies was working in Government schools. She was wrong. After the interview with Leon Byner, the phone lines were jammed with our constituents telling the 5AA listeners that they were home schooling their children because of inadequate funding, inexperienced teaching practices and prolific bullying.

We will continue to see this kind of behaviour alive in our schools unless someone stands up and says enough is enough. One could argue that the Peer Review programs are a good intervention but evidence at Craigmore High School demonstrates otherwise. It takes courage from other more able students to adapt and adopt this program.   It doesn’t matter whether this was an isolated case. What happened happened! And one case is one too many.

I met with the current Minister for Education, the Hon Jay Weatherill, last week - he fully understood the problem at hand. We discussed this issue, amongst others, and I convinced myself that the qualitative policy measures could work for the betterment of young children and students with disabilities. Obviously not – quantitative measures indicate otherwise! Nevertheless I believe the Peer Review policies in place are adequate. What is obvious though is that there is not enough of the funding for education going in to supporting these policies.

Albeit my glass remains half full – within all of us, there exists a heart and a good sense of community to welcome and to protect our vulnerable people.

Rick Neagle
dignity for disability (d4d) President

Just prior to Christmas the National Disability Services CEO Conference was held in Canberra.  The Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Mitchell Fifield gave “The view from the Opposition” on the ailing Disability Sector. He highlighted specific elements on the Oppositions disabilities agenda – one of these elements was the education of Children with Disabilities. Consumer choice for education (like all things in the Disability Sector) is extremely limited in the SA Disability community. Families suffer with the lack of choice in educational models for our children. In his Media Release Senator Fifield stressed that there is a high need to deliver on consumer choice.

My son, Mitchell Neagle, is fortunate enough to be educated in a Catholic School - the St Patrick's Special School. This school currently operates with 48 children to 50 staff - basically a 1 to 1 ratio. The staff consists of a speech pathologist, an OT, a specialist music teacher, an art teacher as well as teachers and SSOs with specialist skills to teach children with disabilities. Every day Mitch can't wait to go to school - he puts his back pack on immediately before breakfast. He is stimulated to learn and his vocabulary is now extraordinary. He runs like a gazelle through the school gates.

His previous school was in the public education sector which was grossly under funded with a teacher to student ratio of 1 to 8 and with no therapy in the class. His SSO was a computer which he fought over with other kids with special needs. St Pat’s costs me a small fee of approx $4K per year - and most of the remaining $66K per child is funded by the Catholic System. A previous sceptic, I now applaud the generosity of the Catholic faith. At the coalface they tend to the sick at the Mary Potter Hospice Centre, to the homeless at the Hutt Street Centre and the disadvantaged children in Special Needs Schools.

My son belongs here in St Pat's where staff, children, families, friends and locals are all integrated into the school environment and out into the wider community. He loves his friends there. He likes being with his own kind in the same way that different cultures remain together and integrate themselves respectfully into different societies and communities. If Mitch was currently in a mainstream school, he would not receive the same benefits from his education. He would be isolated even more at this stage of his life. As a consumer with limited choices of options, I know now that he has a strong chance of gaining independence and possibly become an economic resource for our state of SA.

To the best of my knowledge St Ann's, the sister school to St Pat's, is the only other school with the same model in SA. St Patrick's is a provider of an Education System that is funded in the main by charitable donations. These children are lucky and it is about time that governments take ownership of the ongoing need in the sector to provide further choices. This, and other models, would be a worthwhile investment for other children languishing in the system, destined to be dependent on an ailing disability sector and an economic burden on our society when they reach adulthood. With a prison system crowded by a great number of people with intellectual disabilities and a prison system that spends much more money per inmate than an educational system does to educate a child with a disability, it must make total sense to change the Federal Government's attitude to the schooling of our children who are disadvantaged!

I have always felt that it is better to ask some of the questions than know all the answers. On reflection, I'm so glad that I rang and pestered the Principal of this marvellous school every fortnight over a 2 year period so that my son could access these services. Sometimes I ask myself, why did I have to do that? What if Mitch didn't have a pestering and persistent father? Why is it that other consumers are not able to access this service? And I don't know all the answers. But what I do know is that according to the UN Convention of Rights of People with Disabilities every child with a disability has an undeniable right to receive choices to an appropriate education! Charitable organisations can only extend so far. Governments can go much further!

Rick Neagle
President
Dignity for Disability

The Golden Rule of disability etiquette is not about being politically correct, just about good old fashioned respect and courtesy. The 2010 Disability SA Conference illustrated again how we need to be wary of making decisions on behalf of people with disabilities. Graham Mylett from DANSA gave this personal recollection of what disability etiquette is truly about.

“During a meeting another person assumed that I wanted my information in a particular way. There were two options, but she made the decision for me about which option I could have. My friends watched with interest, and I suspect amusement, to see how I would respond. I smiled sweetly and asked politely for both options. That way I could decide for myself. Sadly I don’t think she got the point. Giving me the choice at the outset would have been the way to go.”

Dignity for disability is about providing people with disabilities with respectful channels to own their “dignity through choice”. The tide against the past Orwellian approach is now significantly strong and we need to stay on this path of respect and deliver the disability etiquette into the Community so that people can own their decisions for their own lives and make their own choices.

The strongest advocates for the disability community are people with disabilities themselves. In March of this year the Hon Kelly Vincent MLC was asked by Patrick Emmett from 7.30 Report whether she felt equipped to handle the pressures of political life due to her youth. Kelly quipped instantly and I quote “I am more than equipped. I have already had 21 years as an Advocate in my wheelchair and so, I have more experience than most. In this state at the moment, you become an advocate for your rights from the moment you are born if you're born with a disability, because you will have to fight for equipment, you will have to fight for transport, for accommodation. And so, really, there's not a lot of choice.”

Rick Neagle
d4d President

The 2010 Disability SA Conference provided a mantra for the Sector to move ‘forward together”. What is clear to me is that there has already been a positive shift in momentum within the Sector. The Hon Kelly Vincent MLC has already affected real change by preventing expenditure cuts in the 2010 State budget and rather, delivering an increase in funding of $97m over the next 4 years. Kelly and d4d have also put the Mandatory Reporting Bill firmly on the Parliamentary table. And then there is the Social Inclusion Board championed by Monsignor Cappo who highlighted the faults of our current system and gave strong assurances that he will recommend a strong shift in social change for the ailing disability sector to the Labor Government. There be will the implementation of a strategic plan by the Social Inclusion Board by mid November 2011.

The NDIS is still set firmly on the Federal Government radar supported by sound economic evidence from Bruce Bonyhady and the Productivity Commission. Past history of enthusiasm from the previous Parliamentary Secretary in Disabilities the Hon Bill Shorten has instilled hope in to the Sector which has continued despite his absence from the Disability Portfolio. Support from newly appointed Federal Senator Jennifer Macklin as the Families Community and Disability Senator who has a strong track record of social reform from previous portfolios, along with Senator McLucas as the Parliamentary Secretary in Disabilities, will now allow Senator Bill Shorten to wave his economic wand over the disability Sector as the newly appointed Assistant Treasurer.

We have come a long way since the early 1980’s, where visual images of institutionalised people with disabilities created a culture bound by restrictive practices commensurate with the Nazi Concentration Camps. That Orwellian approach of sociological framework continues only to disempower people with disabilities limitations and rules. And yet there is strong evidence that the disability gradient remains strongly upward with a 7% increase in demand. What we need is a commitment from our major stakeholders to demonstrate a balanced mix of management and leadership skills to create a guiding coalition to unite the Sector. Complacency will only serve to maintain an unchanged narrow path for people with disabilities.

The United Nation Convention of the Rights for People with Disabilities is still the powerful tool for the major stakeholders to adopt within the disability sector to create a united claim. Already there is strong evidence that cost benefits exist with the implementation of a rights based approach rather than a charitable approach. There will be a reduction in organisational and bureaucratic expenditure, improvement in staff and workplace practices and an increase in economic benefits by the inclusion of people with disabilities in the economic participation of our country. A rights based approach will create etiquette for the disability sector. It will promote respect for the inherent dignity of people with disabilities. This not about being politically correct, just about some good old fashioned respect and courtesy.

Rick Neagle
President
Dignity for Disability

The d4d Policy Platform Sub-Committee is ready now to embark on the huge task of expanding the various disability policies located on our website. This Sub-Committee essentially will be a Steering Committee and will be responsible for conducting the consultative processes required to represent the entire Disability Sector. During these processes our philosophy of embracing the d4d party mantra of "dignity through choice" will continue, whilst we consult with the many experts within the Disability Community. These policies will be structured to reflect the United Nations Convention of Rights of People with Disabilities. We will select and then be guided by these experts as we collect data from the sector along with the many examples of violations reflected within the United Nations Convention.

After developing a White Paper we will ask for further submissions from the Sector so that opinion can be considered from all of our constituents. In this way, we will be able to formulate, and then publish our d4d policies with shared consideration and comment from Disability Advocates, People with Disabilities and Carers.

This process will be exhaustive, and yet enormously rewarding, as we endeavour to support our MLC with strategies to achieve realistic outcomes for the ailing Disability Sector. There are numerous policies to be formed on many matters such as respite, transport, equipment, access, education, supported care just to name a few. Our Policy Platform Sub-Committee believes that there are two objectives needing immediate attention to form policy on. Firstly the issue of accomodation, or rather the lack of it, is a major concern highlighted by the increase in unmet need. And secondly the issue of abuse, neglect, or rather protection of People with Disabilities by way of mandatory reporting.

I reiterate that our overall goal is to unite the fractured disability community by way of giving everyone the opportunity of their "dignity through choice".

Any feedback will be duly appreciated.

Rick Neagle
d4d President

It is just under a week ago that Treasurer Foley announced a number of spending cuts within the last State Budget. While the Disability Budget has not been reduced in dollar terms, and appears to be a bonus for the Disability Sector, it still leaves our sector languishing in despair.

Statistics from Disability SA show that the critical category one waiting list, which represents the number of people with disabilities who are homeless or in immediate risk of harming themselves, continues to rise. An increase of 55% over the last twelve months.

There are still 1097 people with disabilities on the supported accommodation waiting list. The government allowed for a paltry sum of only 29 new places, and with approximately 200 people added to the list just last year, it would take 38 years to clear this waiting list without a single extra person added. The funding increase was in the main generous to a number of bureaucratic processes.  Just another waste of money on management programs, publishing newsletters, creating policies and so on and so on ...

There are countless people asking - what happens to my son when I die? Who will look after him? Who will change his clothes? What can I do? What CAN you do Mr Foley?

Parliament sat on budget day and the superannuation Bill was passed by the Members of Parliament.  That Bill included a 6.5% increase for the Members of Parliament. Kelly Vincent, our MLC, voted against this outrageous increase in such a time of need!

Dignity Through Choice,

Rick Neagle
President of the dignity for disability Party

Physical Disability Council of South Australia in partnership with Physical Disability Australia present a joint forum to discuss the current Productivity Inquiry and to hear your views into Services and systems for people with disability in Australia.

Come along and share your views on this important event in disability history in Australia to be held at:

Adelaide - Julia Farr Association Rooms
104 Greenhill Road,
Unley

on 11th July, 2pm - 4.30pm. Afternoon tea provided also.

Register your interest by phone PDC SA on 8152 0966 (leave a message) or email admin@pdcsa.org.au to RSVP to this event.

Map for location can be found at: http://www.juliafarr.org.au/contact_us.asp

Rick Neagle