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v U The SEPTEMBER 2016 SEPTEMBER Welcome to Your Voice, Your Choice Hi, and welcome to the Your Voice, profile Alastair McEwin, Australia’s to use your voice to achieve your Your Choice monthly newsletter new Disability Discrimination choice. from The Disability Trust. Commissioner, we hear from 15 year old Connor McLeod who designed If there is a topic, issue, program, This month you may have noticed some of the tactile features in the funding, article, event, or anything that we have a new format. What new $5 note, we catch up with for people with disabilities, their do you think? Let us know at info@ Bethany Hamilton and the latest on families and carers, and people disabilitytrust.org.au. her surfing prowess, and we have working in the sector, that we the usual NDIS update. should know about, then contact us This month we look at the Ultimate at [email protected]. Guide to the Rio Paralympics, we “Your Voice, Your Choice” aims look at the latest on the Canberra to provide the questions, and Editor: Sean O’Neill ‘cage’ story, we look at how over hopefully most of the answers, that 1000 reports of Abuse in NSW has will keep you informed and able only resulted in 18 prosecutions, we The Disability Trust NDIS Shoalhaven Information Services. Trust in Us. and Advocacy (SIA) The Disability Trust is a highly respected Kiama and Shoalhaven provider of services to people with a Providing information and individual disability. advocacy for people with disabilities, You can Trust us to provide the supports you need carers, families and service providers. We to live the life you choose! are a central point of contact for information provision about disability services including: The Disability Trust covers an area from South East , to South West Sydney, south through the • Programs, aids and equipment NSW Southern Highlands, Goulburn, Queanbeyan • Forums and workshops and the ACT, Cooma and south east to Bega, and all along the Coast from Sydney to the Victorian • Individual advocacy and support border. • Referral to appropriate services Make The Disability Trust your local NDIS provider. • Counselling - short term access to local Contact one of our NDIS Support Planners on counselling services 1300 347 224 or through our website www. Phone 4428 9002 or email info@disabilitytrust. disabillitytrust.org.au, or email info@disabilitytrust. org.au org.au Would you like to receive the Newsletter? Subscribe to the newsletter at www.disabilitytrust.org.au/newsletters

Or contact The Disability Trust at [email protected] 100—102 Jardine Street Fairy Meadow NSW 2519 Phone: 4295 9806 / Fax: 4255 8088 Website: www.disabilitytrust.org.au Twitter: @DisabilityTrust or www.twitter.com/DisabilityTrust Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Disability-Trust The newsletter is aimed at covering a wide variety of stories and issues across the disability sector. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of The Disability Trust. Should you have a story or information that you would like included in the newsletter please contact the Editor, Sean O’Neill at [email protected]. SPECIAL FEATURE Ultimate guide to the 2016 Rio Paralympics THE 2016 Rio Olympics are over, and the Paralympics are just getting started. Australia has been a successful Paralympic nation, most recently finishing fifth on the medal tally at the 2012 ; winning 32 gold, 23 silver, and 30 bronze medals at the event. 19, signalling Olympics and Paralympics in the end of the table tennis. The 26-year-old Games. jokes it was never her plan to become the first Australian to WHAT CHANNEL compete in both the Olympics IS IT ON? and Paralympics. Channel 7 will “It never was an ambition to be broadcast the the first person to compete at Paralympic both Games,” Tapper said. Games for the first time in “I’ve always just wanted to their history. compete at my best. I work The Games will towards that every training be broadcast session, so finally making the THE 2016 Rio Olympics are over, on 7TWO, with Olympic team is just a bonus.” and the Paralympics are just events set to screen across the getting started. ‘Screens of Seven’ with 7live. The Rollers – Wheelchair Basketball: 12 member team Australia has been a successful An free app, ‘7live featuring the Paralympic nation, most recently Paralympic Games’, will also The men’s Wheelchair Basketball finishing fifth on the medal tally showcase the events. team is one of the favourites at the London 2012 Paralympic heading into Rio, after walking Games; winning 32 gold, 23 silver, COMPETITORS TO WATCH away with the 2016 World Championship. Led by captain, and 30 bronze medals at the AUSSIES event. and Paralympic veteran, Brad Evan O’Hanlon - Athletics: 100m, Ness, The Rollers have won The 2016 Australian team of 336 400m medals in four of their past five features 178 athletes — including Olympics, and are hoping to add six pilots and guides for vision- O’Hanlon is the fastest Australian another to that collection. impaired athletes — one ramp ever, after posting a world record assistant, and 158 staff. It’s the time of 10.79 in the 100m event WORLD STARS largest team sent by Australia to in 2014. The 28-year-old has Matt Stutzman - Archery: USA a Paralympics since 1988, with cerebral palsy on his left side, and 89 of the athletes making their will be looking to add to his six Known as the ‘Armless Archer’, debut. Paralympic Gold Medals; three Stutzman incredible shoots from Beijing in 2008, and two without arms. The American was Here’s everything you need to from London in 2012. born without arms, and recently know about the 2016 Paralympic hit a target from 283 metres, Games in Rio de Janeiro. Kurt Fearnley - Athletics: 1500m, breaking the world record for 5000m, marathon, relay WHEN IS IT ON? the longest distance by any There Paralympics will be individual. The Opening Ceremony for the Fearnley’s fifth and final Games, Paralympics begin at 7:15am Stutzman’s method is intriguing, with the 35-year-old already setting the bow on his shoulder, (AEST) on Thursday, September having won three gold medals, 8, from the Maracana Stadium. and drawing it back with the six silver medals, and two bronze trigger underneath his jaw bone. Athletics and Swimming action medals. He then moves his jaw slightly both begin on Friday, September - Table Tennis: back, before putting a small 9. singles amount of pressure to release the bow. The Closing Ceremony begins Tapper is an extremely unique at 9am on Monday, September athlete, qualifying for both the Wollongong council taking action on access Wollongong is leading the way when it number one priority of the comes to access and inclusion for all its DIAP. citizens, according to NSW Minister for Disability Services John Ajaka. Mr Ajaka said he had encountered many people The minister made a visit to who were not able to visit Wollongong City Council in Early the beach, playground, September to mark the launch of shopping malls or offices its Disability Inclusion Action Plan due to problems with (DIAP), which will be required by all access, which is why he councils from July 2017 under the NSW directed councils to put Disability Inclusion Act 2014. the plans in place. The Plan was adopted by Wollongong “We need a change of Council on 27 June 2016 for attitude in government, implementation from 1 July 2016, local government, and it is the first completed Disability communities and Inclusion Action Plan in NSW. organisations, and by setting the example we to be just part of our community”. The plan outlines actions the council will ensure the rest of the community will take in the next four years to will follow,” he said. “Everyone should have access to our improve services for people with services, and the free opportunity to disabilities. It has some compelling “Mr Mayor, to you and your councillors, move through the city and enjoy this statistics about access in the congratulations on this plan. I’m sure wonderful location in which we live,” Wollongong area, including that many other councils will be looking at he said. almost 17% of all the respondents this carefully and following your great to a recent survey about access in example.” You can get copies of the Wollongong Wollongong listed ‘Fully accessible Council DIAP by calling 4227 7111 or services / facilities / events’ as the Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said he emailing [email protected]. believed all citizens had “a natural right gov.au. Warilla Girls Model Life Summer-Kiarah Lamont is not one for The Disability Trust funded the Unfortunately Summer did not place making excuses. Queensland trip, paying for Summer- in the Face Of the Globe competition. Kiarah and her mum’s flights and However Summer is looking forward The 11-year-old from Warilla has accommodation. to the Grand Final of the Miss Autism and global developmental Country Girl Australia in April 2017 delay – an intellectual disability in Brisbane. Summer previously which slows her development. won the Miss Country Girl Australia Summer-Kiarah doesn’t let the Regional Final in Penrith in early challenges in her life get in her way 2016, and will join 15 other regional or stop her from ‘dreaming big’ finalists in the Grand Final. and helping other people doing it Ms Brennan said “As you can tough. imagine, this is a lot for a little girl The animal lover doesn’t hesitate to take. But Summer has such a on spending some of her pocket beautiful loving personality and money each week on one item for although she has these disabilities either a homeless person or for and tragedies occur, she still does animal charities. Speaking to the Illawarra Mercury, everything she can to help raise funds Summer-Kiarah said she was looking and items for charities like Red Cross, This generosity of spirit saw ‘many forward to the competition. Rainbow Child Foundation and the people’ nominate Summer-Kiarah RSPCA. for the Face Of The Globe Modelling “I can’t wait. Hopefully I do well and Competition. get to go to London,” she said. “She recently donated a couple of boxes of items to RSPCA that she In late August Reanna headed up to Ms Brennan said she was very proud collected from friends and family or Surfers Paradise, Queensland to take of her daughter, who has for the bought with her own money. She part in the prestigious competition. past two years attended the Aspect also had two garage sales where she (Autism Spectrum Australia) school at sold donated goods to raise funds Reanna Brennan said her daughter Barrack Heights. for chosen charities, Rainbow Child was in the top 9 girls taking part in Foundation and RSPCA. the junior category. “I am very proud of her as she has overcome many things in life, “I’m very excited for this opportunity “The winner gets a sponsored trip including her several disabilities and for Summer to make new friends and to Paris and London next year,” Ms us having a house fire in 2013,” she gain confidence.” Brennan said. said. Autism cage student receives personal apology from Education Directorate The The family said it was now happy with the time. She resigned in January 2016. Director- the early transfer of the boy to high General of school, despite initial concerns. “I understand that verbal apologies the ACT and full support were given to the Education The boy was moved into high school family at the time of the incident,” Mr and in May, six months ahead of schedule, Rattenbury said. Training but the dedication of extra resources Directorate, Natalie Howson, has and commitment from staff has “Earlier this year, during discussions personally delivered a letter of apology proved beneficial. with the family, it was suggested to the child at the centre of the autism that a formal written apology to the cage scandal. ACT Education Minister Shane child would be beneficial in moving Rattenbury said he understood there forward. With my support, the new Ms Howson, who joined the was significant, regular contact with Director-General Natalie Howson directorate in June, met the boy the family at the time the story broke wrote to the student with a formal and his family and gave them the in March 2015. apology.” directorate’s continuing full support. Joy Burch was education minister at A thousand allegations of abuse for just 18 prosecutions in NSW More than 1000 incidents of abuse A further 210 criminal allegations The Ombudsman called for a specialist and neglect of people with disabilities have been made against “clients” or law enforcement unit to have have been reported to the state residents of these facilities for sexual jurisdiction over vulnerable people, government in the past two years, offences and assault, including assault such as people with a cognitive the NSW Ombudsman has revealed, causing serious injury and involving a disability and the elderly. but only a tiny fraction have been weapon. prosecuted. The Ombudsman said it was About 40 per cent of the employees developing a program to improve the These include nearly 500 criminal facing allegations were found to skills of people who worked in the allegations of abuse of people with a have behaved unacceptably, a sector. disability by employees and residents spokeswoman for the Ombudsman in supported accommodation, said. The system of reporting complaints according to figures published by the about abuse in government-run and Ombudsman. The total number of incidents reported funded facilities to the Ombudsman was 1140. But just 18 people have been was implemented in late 2014, the Some 275 of these criminal allegations prosecuted over the allegations. state government said. are against employees and include sexual offences, assaults and fraud “The decision to initiate a criminal A spokeswoman for the department against people with a disability prosecution is that of NSW police,” declined to say how many reports in supported accommodation an Ombudsman spokeswoman said, made to the Ombudsman had services run or funded by the state while adding it was not known how also been referred to the police for government. many investigations were pending. prosecution. LIMB DIFFERENCE NO BAR TO THIS LITTLE BOY IT’S not unusual for a mum to be arm, so it shocked me that a “I spent a lot of proud of her son – that’s what termination would even be time googling and mums are like. But the obvious joy considered as an option at watching YouTube and encouragement shown by that late stage of pregnancy. while trying to find Mornington’s Anita Duesterhaus for different ways I could her 18-month-old bundle of joy is “He was born at 38 weeks, help my son achieve enchanting. healthy and gorgeous, and his milestones,” she with the cutest little stump I said. Malakye was born without a right ever did see.” forearm and hand. “Finally, when he was almost one, Mrs Duesterhaus has set up an we were taken on by Biala Peninsula In the great scheme of things, such an Instagram page: malakyes_mummy, disability services in Mornington. omission should hardly be noticed, to share her son with the world. She so Ms Duesterhaus’s defence of her hopes it will inspire other parents “After six months, Malakye no longer progeny, even while he was in her facing a diagnosis of limb difference in needs to attend as he is at normal womb, is unsurprising. a child. development for a child of his age. “I was offered a termination at 34 Malakye was not classed as having a “I can’t wait to see what his future weeks,” she said last week. disability by Centrelink, which led to a holds as I know it will be filled with long battle for Mrs Duesterhaus to be great things.” “There was nothing wrong with my able to access disability services, such son other than he never grew his right as physio and occupational therapy. What it feels like to have an ‘invisible’ disability Metro UK concentrate in lectures. had little choice. website reporter On the surface I looked relatively I’ve had mother’s with small children Simon Robb healthy, but people who knew me tut at me, a member of staff at a talks about could see I was finding day-to-day life a supermarket asking me why I needed why it’s struggle. access to the disabled loo, and an important embarrassing confrontation with an No matter where I went, I would have elderly man at a coffee shop. to have all to plan ahead and make sure there was inclusive a toilet within reach. In front of all the customers, he said: disabled toilet. ‘Toilets like these are designed for Despite a number of recent campaigns people like me.’ Living with an ‘invisible’ disability is not on social media, bowel diseases like easy, especially when it comes to using Crohn’s and IBS are still considered a Back then I didn’t have the courage disabled facilities. taboo subject. to stand up for myself and asked my friend if we could make a swift exit. I was diagnosed with a bowel disease But recently Asda (a large English when I was 18 and had just enrolled at supermarket chain) issued a new This is why disabled toilet signs, like university. disabled sign depicting the familiar the one in Asda, is imperative for When I heard the words ulcerative person in a wheelchair emblem, but people who look physically-abled, but colitis for the first time, what I actually now including a standard man and beneath the surface suffer with health heard was, ‘wave bye bye to your social woman symbol. complications. life’. The sign reads: ‘Not every disability is I’m now in remission and haven’t At its very worst, I would need the visible’. needed to use a disabled toilet for several years – but there are people still toilet at least 17 times a day. I had Looking back, one of the hardest parts also dropped two stone, couldn’t out there who are faced with the same to deal with was people’s reactions to discrimination I was. absorb nutrients and found it hard to me using the disabled facilities – but I Australia’s new Disability Discrimination Commissioner Alastair McEwin Although Mr McEwin has only been snide comment that an employer with disability by in the job since August 1, he says that might make about an employee the able bodied, Mr his priorities as commissioner will with disability in front of others.” McEwin says. start with listening to the needs of the community. The ability to commute on accessible Commenting on transportation, to easily enter their questions about “I’m going to meet with as many place of employment and have the competition of disability communities and access to housing that is designed everyday tasks that stakeholders around the country for their needs, are also examples of were asked during within the next three to four months, discrimination he describes. the ABC’s recent I’m going to listen to them and ask ‘You Can’t Ask That’ them what they think the priorities However, Mr McEwin says, “most episode on people should be for my five year term,” he of [the discrimination] is around in wheelchairs, Mr says. attitudes” which he believes, are McEwin adds, “we need to get away everyone’s responsibility to change. from asking questions that focus Attention will also be paid to newly One place to start is with children purely on just their disability”. arrived Australians and people who and “school programs where they are speak English as a second language, taught to embrace diversity - not just “If you have someone in a wheelchair, with Mr McEwin saying, “all people about disability, but sexual orientation, they have hopes, they have dreams, with disability, no matter their people from overseas, people they hurt, they bleed just like anyone. background, no matter where they who come from disadvantaged I think it’s ok to ask around things come from, no matter what level of backgrounds,” he says. like, what does it mean for you to be socio-economic disadvantage they employed, but don’t focus specifically may have, will be on my radar.” “Teachers play a really important on the disability.” role in that respect and I urge the Employment barriers for older people government and the education Mr McEwin says that the attitudes and people with disability are also high department to think about the way often start young as “children are on his list, and Mr McEwin explains that they can work the curriculum and naturally curious, but if they see discrimination in the workforce comes about embracing human rights for something and they’re taught by in a number of forms including the far people with disability,” he continues. the adults around them to focus on from obvious. the negative, then that’s when their Another broader societal attitude that curiosity will be shaped in different “There is so much subtle discrimination needs to shift is around the negativity ways so again it’s a very subtle form of going on,” he explains. “It might be a that is often associated with people discrimination.” The cool thing you probably won’t notice about the new $5 note I’VE been on the note and mentally count, in my them there, but they wouldn’t do it looking mind, to five as I do it. here. Can you believe that?! forward to Before today, I could only tell the Me and mum had to find a way to tomorrow difference between coins. That’s fine prove that there was a need for bank since I for the tuck shop, but what about notes for blind people here. When was 12 — three years ago. It’s a big day when I get older? Mum won’t be 57,000 people signed my Change.org for me. Some people have used the around forever to help me. I realised petition, we kind of proved that need. word “historic” but I don’t know about I’d need to learn how to use notes, We could then ask those signers to that. I’m only 15. because — hopefully — when I’m contact the RBA and put the pressure older, I’ll have more money than just on. Still, they refused. Tomorrow is the day the new $5 bank coins to deal with! note enters circulation. I played a big Then me and mum went to Canberra part in its design. I heard that everyone I was already thinking about this when I and met a politician who worked in thought it was ugly, but I couldn’t see was given some money for a Christmas the treasury. We delivered our petition that. Literally. present inside a card, but had no idea to him. After that, things started to how much it was and how generous change and sound more positive. Today’s $5 note is Australia’s first bank or tight-arse the present-giver had note that blind people can read, which been! It was frustrating and slightly Tomorrow, me and mum will be I campaigned for. embarrassing. celebrating but we also want to thank those 57,000 people who’ve really I’m typing this using special software If I come across something that doesn’t helped Australia’s blind community. because I’m completely blind. sound right, I like to do something Technology has helped me to do stuff about it rather than just complain. So Now when I grow up, I won’t have other 15-year-old kids can do. me and mum logged on to Change. to rely on trusting that people have org and started a petition asking for always given me the right change. I can The $5 that comes out tomorrow isn’t the next print of bank notes to include feel the markings on the bank notes ugly to me. It’s the first Australian bank tactile markings. and tell them if they’ve given me the note that Australia’s 360,000 blind wrong change and also think to myself: people, like me, can read. At first, the Reserve Bank of Australia I did that. (RBA) refused to include tactile The part I played in its design you markings for the notes that come out Above all, it means I can be probably can’t see, but I can feel. It has today. I found out that Australia actually independent. I can’t wait for that. That tactile markings on it. I’m so excited prints banknotes with tactile markings feels good. to run my fingers over those bumps on them for other countries and sends Article by Connor McLeod How Smartphones Are Helping Australia’s Deafblind Community Reconnect barriers when he first received “Deafblindness is very much Australia’s his smartphone through a forgotten disability,” Able Australia‘s donation. Using a braille display, Scott Darkin says. “Nine out of ten he sent his first unassisted SMS deafblind people will experience to his sister. Every week he depression and anxiety and the simple collected phone numbers from act of donating an unwanted phone is old friends, family and supports an easy way to show your support to and reconnected with his lost Australia’s deafblind community”. world. “We know there are approximately Through these conversations, 25.5 million unused mobiles sitting in Instead of collecting dust in a drawer, his independence grew to a point homes and business around Australia” your old smartphone could be used where he was actively arranging his Spyro Kalos from MobileMuster says. to assist on of the 288,000 Australians own social life, using taxis and going living with no hearing or sight use on holidays. He quickly learned how iPhone 4 and above, Samsung Galaxy technology to reconnect with family, to take photos and was able to send S4 and above, LG Nexus 7 and above, friends and the wider community. them to his friends so they could share Nokia Lumia 540 and above are eligible for donation to the program. Not-for-profit mobile phone recycling in what he was doing. program MobileMuster is collecting Every week he explored new territory Each smartphone is checked to unwanted smartphones during the on his phone, like setting an alarm to confirm it is working, and any data month of September to be donated to wake up in the morning, checking the left of the phone is wiped to ensure Able Australia, where they will be used weather or using a calendar instead privacy. to educate people with deafblindness of relying on his memory. Michael Information on where the drop off on how to use speech recognition and says his life has been transformed by Braille readers. points are located, as well as how to his smartphone and it enables him post the phones in yourself is at www. Michael Doherty broke through many the independence that we all take for mobilemuster.com.au. granted. You Can’t Ask That New look JobAccess TV Drama Focused You Can’t Ask That is a TV series currently on ABC. It gives the public website launched On Autism Renewed a chance to ask the awkward, The JobAccess website has been A television show built around the embarrassing, naive, funny, silly, redesigned by the Department of story of a family dealing with their compassionate, even prejudiced Social Services, in consultation with child’s autism diagnosis will return questions they’ve always wanted to ask, people with disability, employers with more episodes. but never had the courage or proximity and service providers. The new to do so. The first 2 episodes featured website aims to improve access to SundanceTV said that it has picked questions to short statured people relevant information about disability up a second season of “The A and people who use wheelchairs. Go employment. Word.” to www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/you- cant-ask-that to see the episodes. The JobAccess suite of services The one-hour drama premiered consists of the National Disability in July on the cable channel after Recruitment Coordinator, the National airing on BBC One in the United Kingdom earlier this year. SOCIAL MEDIA FOR Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline, the Complaints Resolution and Based on an Israeli series called PEOPLE WITH A Referral Service and the JobAccess “Yellow Peppers,” the show focuses DISABILITY service, which have been combined on 5-year-old Joe, who has autism, under one provider. Social media allows anyone with and his family. internet access to connect with The website is at www.jobaccess.gov. The boy’s parents are learning other people and publish their own au. to adjust to their son’s new label content. Through it, we receive a while his aunt and uncle are wealth of information and interaction working to rebuild their marriage that allows us to keep up important Review of Guardianship and his grandfather, a recent relationships and get things done. Act 1987 (NSW) widower, owns the family brewery. However, for people with a disability such as a hearing, sight or mobility The Justice Department is conducting impairment, social media websites a review of the Guardianship Act 1987 and applications have their own (NSW). Disability Knowledge barriers. On 30 June 2016 they released their Clearing House In late 2011, Media Access Australia first consultation package, which undertook research on the contained background papers A new research hub is breaking accessibility of the most popular social (including an easy English version), an new ground in providing up to date media sites. Funded by the Australian easy-to-answer survey and a video research for both people with disability, Communications Consumer Action about the review of the Act. their families and carers and service providers. Network (ACCAN), the ‘SociAbility: Between September and the end of social media for people with a 2016 they will be releasing a number The Disability Knowledge Clearing disability’ review was published in of further consultation packages and House is an online library developed by 2012, enabling all users to have equal inviting submissions on topics of the NDS Centre for Applied Disability access to the inclusion which social Conditions for alternative decision- Research (CADR) to house or link to media allows. making arrangements, Decision- what will eventually be thousands of making models, Supporters and academic papers, other published Yet the social media landscape decision-makers: appointment, changes rapidly and some tools research and online resources about powers, responsibilities and disability. decline or disappear, others add accountability, NCAT and key agencies useful new features, and some new , Medical and dental treatment and When complete it will be the most tools surge ahead in popularity out of restrictive practices, Miscellaneous comprehensive collection of disability nowhere. So Media Access Australia (terminology and other amendments research evidence and resources in has updated the information for 2016. to the Guardianship Act 1987). Australia. The result is a web-page where you’ll You can use each Question Paper or Importantly the Clearing House will find the latest updated details on the video to guide your submissions. house summary Research to Action social media tools, their accessibility You can also complete the surveys to Guides on important issues identified issues, and how best to overcome share your views, instead of or as well by disability sector stakeholders accessibility challenges using a variety as making a formal submission. They including people with disability, of web and mobile solutions. This aim to encourage a larger number their families and carers, front- includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, of people from the community to line practitioners, advocates and Blogging tools, YouTube, Instagram engage with the law reform process. researchers. and Skype. More information is at www. Have a look at the new website at The web-page is at www. lawreform.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/ www.cadr.org.au/clearing-house. mediaaccess.org.au/web/social- lrc/lrc_current_projects/Guardianship/ media-for-people-with-a-disability. Guardianship. Childbirth not the same as ‘buying a bag of chips’: disability discrimination case The decision of a judge to dismiss strong conclusions a disability discrimination case expressed by the which he described as a “trifle” and primary judge in the “nothing more than a try-on” has hearing and his reasons been overturned on appeal in a (for example, that [Mrs development described as a victory for Hinton’s] claim was the the rights of people with disabilities. equivalent of a “bag of chips”, was a “try on”, was Central Coast woman Kate Hinton a “baseless trifle”, was launched a case against Westmead “doomed”, depended Private Hospital after it was unable to on a proposition that provide a sign language interpreter for was “rubbish”, and was her husband Anthony, who is deaf, to an obvious “abuse of help him communicate with medical process”) that his Honour might be appeal as a victory for people with a staff during the birth of their first baby caused to decide the case on other disability. last year. than its merits,” the Full Court decision “This is a significant case for the The couple ended up having to switch read. Hintons and the broader deaf to the public Westmead Hospital, Full Court Justices Berna Collier, Jayne community,” he said. which provided an Auslan interpreter Jagot and Melissa Perry rejected Judge free of charge. “We thought the judge clearly Street’s characterisation of the case, misunderstood the case and the The matter came before Judge finding: “It is hardly a trifle (and still less issues involved and are pleased that Alexander “Sandy” Street in the Federal equivalent to buying a ‘bag of chips’) the Full Court rejected the judge’s Circuit Court of Australia, where for a woman not to be able to deliver interpretation. he dismissed the case in February, her baby in the hospital of her choice comparing Mrs Hinton’s request merely because the hospital refuses “The case is about ensuring to her “buying a bag of chips” and to provide her husband with the that people who require Auslan expecting the shopkeeper to provide interpreter required to ensure he can interpretation have the same an interpreter. participate in the birth in the same way opportunities as anyone else to that a woman with a partner who can participate in the birth of their child. Kate Hinton launched a case against a hear would be able to participate.” hospital after it was unable to provide “It also involves broader considerations a sign language interpreter for her Last year, the Full Court also overturned of patient safety: partners and husband, Anthony. another of Judge Street’s ruling that support people play a vital role in Virgin Australia had the right to refuse communicating medical information in In late August the Full Court of the to board a guide dog belonging emergency situation.” Federal Court of Australia unanimously to a man with a cerebral palsy and overturned Judge Street’s decision, sight and hearing impairments. The In a powerful demonstration why the allowing the case to proceed under airline was ordered to pay $10,000 Auslan interpreter was important, there the Disability Discrimination Act and compensation. were complications with delivery of the ordered that it not be heard by Judge Hintons’ baby at Westmead Hospital Street. Jonathon Hunyor, chief executive of in May last year, with the interpreter the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, keeping Mr Hinton informed as the “In the present case, the fair minded which is running the case on behalf of baby was taken to the Neonatal lay observer would identify from the Mrs Hinton, described the successful Intensive Care Unit for treatment.

Social media for people with a disability Social media allows anyone with of the most popular social media nowhere. So Media Access Australia internet access to connect with other sites. Funded by the Australian has updated the information for 2016. people and publish their own content. Communications Consumer Action Through it, we receive a wealth of Network (ACCAN), the ‘SociAbility: The result is a web-page where you’ll information and interaction that allows social media for people with a find the latest updated details on social us to keep up important relationships disability’ review was published in media tools, their accessibility issues, and get things done. 2012, enabling all users to have equal and how best to overcome accessibility access to the inclusion which social challenges using a variety of web However, for people with a disability media allows. and mobile solutions. This includes such as a hearing, sight or mobility Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogging impairment, social media websites and Yet the social media landscape tools, YouTube, Instagram and Skype. applications have their own barriers. changes rapidly and some tools decline or disappear, others add The web-page is at www.mediaaccess. In late 2011, Media Access Australia useful new features, and some new org.au/web/social-media-for-people- undertook research on the accessibility tools surge ahead in popularity out of with-a-disability. Women’s Carer Free workshop for Carers Social Group at Shellharbour Are you providing care for Do you care for a family member or a family member, friend or a friend who has a chronic or mental neighbour who has a disability, illness, disability or is frail aged? mental illness, chronic illness or is frail? Come to our three day workshop and learn how to manage stress, meet other Come along to our Carer Group carers and find out about services that and meet others, have fun, go can help you. Lunch is provided. on outings , share stories and find out what is out there for To register please phone the you. Wollongong Hospital Social Work Department on 4253 4501 or email Held every Tuesday from [email protected]. 10am to 11am at the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, The course is for 3 weeks on Tuesday 2 / 10 Belfast Ave Warilla. 11th 18th and 25th October 2016 from For more information call 9.30am to 2.30pm at The Disability 4255 6800 or email gabim@ Trusts Shellharbour Office at 11a / 75 womenshealthcentre.com.au. Cygnet ave, Shellharbour City Centre. Walk of Pride for Mental Health It’s Time for Wollongong’s fourth and make some noise as we march Walk of Pride with our banners held high! The Walk of Pride is about The march is on Thursday 13th compassion, hope and pride. We October 2016. would like to see the community come together and find Meeting outside the IPac Theatre acceptance and understanding as in the Civic Plaza, Burelli Street, mental illness touches all of our Wollongong at 9.30am. lives in one way or another. RSVP to Arafmi on 4254 1699. Bring your bells, drums, whistles Ables Kids Fund The next Kids Fund Nightclub Allocation Committee Its time to party again at Meeting will be Ables. This month we have held in Sept 2016 the Superhero party at The to distribute charity Free Healthy Food Grand Hotel on Fri 9 September funds raised by Kids Sessions starting at 7.30pm. Next month we Fund to children have the hugely popular and very aged up to 18 years old. For people with a disability 18+ and scary Halloween party, also at The their carers. Grand Hotel. All applications for funding need to be received by 30 Sept 2016. For Crossroads Christian Fellowship are More information is at www. information on Kids Fund eligibility holding free healthy food sessions. criteria or application forms please Come along to these events facebook.com/ AblesWollongong. go to www.kidsfund.org.au. For all where they will have healthy food enquiries please contact The Disability preparation demonstrations, healthy Trust on 4255 8000. food sharing and meet new and old friends. You will have the opportunity to learn about good health and how Art Exhibition and Grand Opening to improve your health and well- Come & to 4pm, at Community Gateway, 26 being. Come along and try the tasty support Atchison St Wollongong. treats including Soups, Stir frys and Illawarra Art talent! This event has grown out of the IDO Snacks. Expo Art Competition and into its There are 4 sessions - Fri 7 Oct, Fri 4 Come own showcase of the artistic talent in Nov, Fri 2 Dec and Fri 3 Feb 2017. Each along Wollongong. session is from 7pm to 9pm and is at to the inaugural Everyone is welcome to this free event the Congregational Church Hall, 33 and we would love you to support Market St, Wollongong. Ability Artists Art exhibition, showcasing art created by people the talent on display. There will be To register ring Claudia on 4228 7270. with a disability in the Illawarra, on Guest Speakers, Art for sale and Saturday September 10th from 10am refreshments available. Minnesota man with disability wins round in fight for job promotion State’s ruling on hiring practices could portable refrigeration units. Agencies have little incentive to hire have broad ramifications, experts said. these workers, because doing so could Although Opportunity Partners cost them thousands of dollars in In a groundbreaking decision, the disputes the decision, the Minnetonka- payments through state and federal Minnesota Human Rights Department based agency said it is changing its disability programs, advocates say. found that a large non-profit likely hiring practices to allow recipients of violated a worker’s civil rights when disability services to be considered for “This case is a poster child for why it denied him a promotion because regular work at the non-profit. so many of these facilities are not a he received services for a cognitive pathway to competitive, integrated disability. Legal experts said the decision employment but are instead a is among the first of its kind and dead end,” said Alison Barkoff, a State Human Rights Commissioner highlights the conflicts that many national disability rights advocate in Kevin Lindsey found “probable cause” disability service providers face when Washington, D.C., for the Centre for that Opportunity Partners, one of they provide on-the-job training and Public Representation. Minnesota’s largest employers of other support services to people people with disabilities, discriminated who also work in their facilities. These For the rest of the article go to www. against Bradford Teslow, 59, of St. Paul, workers are often classified as “clients” startribune.com/minnesota-man-with- who receives state-funded job support or “persons served,” even though disability-wins-round-in-fight-for-job- services at the Bloomington assembly they perform work and often want promotion/387357271. plant where he packages parts for to be considered regular employees. Promoting Disability Access NSW YOUNG PEOPLE WITH and Inclusion DISABILITY NETWORK People with Disability Australia (PWDA) is liaising with The Department of Social Services (DSS) was proud to universities, TAFE, advocacy organisations, schools sponsor this year’s Disability Access and Inclusion Award and community groups in NSW looking for input from category at the National Awards for Local Government. young people with disability about a ‘Young People with The category recognises the important contribution local Disability Network NSW.’ Take five minutes to complete an governments make in implementing the principles of the online survey (at www.surveymonkey.com/r/VMLW5N7) to National Disability Strategy 2010-2020. help identify the most important issues for young people with disability. Kiama Municipal Council, , is the winner of the 2016 Disability Access and Inclusion Award for their Kiama Dementia Project. NSW: Disability Justice Project This project aims to make Kiama a more dementia friendly The Disability Justice Project (DJP) is a two-year capacity community where people with dementia are supported to building project in NSW funded by ADHC (Ageing, Disability live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value. and Home Care) designed to build disability services sector capacity that will best support people with cognitive 40% to 50% Discounts available to disabilities who are in contact, or at risk of contact, with the justice system. The project is made up of Information replace your fridge or TV resources, free training across NSW, Leader workshops and The NSW Government is offering a 40% discount on fridges an app with clear information about legal rights. and a 50% discount on TVs so you can replace them with new, energy efficient models and save energy and save Go to wwwdisabilityjustice.edu.au/the-project for more money on your energy bills. The discounts are offered to information. people with a health care card, low income health care card, pensioner concession card or veterans’ affairs gold card. To take advantage of this offer you must be a NSW resident Preparing for Emergencies and your fridge must be at least six years old, or you own a plasma or cathode ray tube (CRT) television and want to The Physical Disability Council of NSW has redeveloped replace it. a website which assists people with disability and their supporters to prepare for personal emergencies and natural For more information go to www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ disasters. households/appliance-replacement-offer.htm. The website provides easy access, step by step action plans as well as tools and resources, including articles and videos, to National Disability Practitioners prepare for personal emergencies such as fires in the home, National Disability Practitioners (NDP) is a membership personal safety, preparing service animals and pets, etc. association for disability support workers which focuses on strengthening occupational standards, building This is a unique and important resource for people with sector networks and creating professional development disability. opportunities. It has resources, the latest news, a calendar of events, even its own TV show. NDP is a division of National Please feel free to check it out, use it and recommend it to Disability Services (NDS). For more information go to www. others. Check it out at www.imokay.org.au. ndp.org.au. BETHANY HAMILTON: SURFING WITH ONLY ONE ARM ISN’T AS HARD AS BEATING THE STIGMA Since losing her left arm during a shark be placed in the disabled division … attack 13 years ago, Bethany Hamilton I don’t surf disabled or compete in a has had to adapt on the waves and try disabled category.” to change the way others perceive her Hamilton’s comment follows Serena In Bethany Hamilton’s mind, winning Williams’ statement at Wimbledon that the ESPY award for best female athlete she preferred the phrase “one of the with a disability would have been like greatest athletes of all time” to “one of “rewinding back to square one”. the greatest female athletes of all time”. Slater said of her performance in Fiji. “I think everyone should have a full Square one being the fateful day 13 The nomination came on the heels surf with one arm strapped to their years ago when she was attacked by of her best performance to date side and attempt not only to paddle a 14ft tiger shark and lost her left arm. in a World Surfing League (WSL) out but put themselves in position Which is why, this year, she withdrew competition. In May, she took at heavy spots like Pipe, Jaws, and her name from consideration. third place in the Fiji Women’s Pro Cloudbreak, and try to get up on a Competition. In the process, she beat short board. I’m scared to try it myself Hamilton, now 26 and one of the most six-time world champion Stephanie and ridiculously impressed with her well-known surfers in the world, has Gilmore and current top-ranked surfer talents.” overcome substantial challenges in Tyler Wright. She also landed her first pursuing her dreams as a professional WSL Big Wave award nomination this To Hamilton, the fact that she surfs surfer. But she says the hardest thing year for her performance on the wave with one arm is irrelevant. she still struggles to adapt to is the way Jaws in Maui in January, just six months others perceive her and treat her. after giving birth to her first child. “I don’t look at it like, ‘Wow, I did a really good job with one arm.’ It’s just, ‘Wow, I “It’s funny,” she chuckled, “when I first Her performances left her peers in awe. did a good job on that wave.’” heard I was going to be nominated for an ESPY the first thing I thought “The hardships she overcomes to For the rest of the article go to www. was: ‘Whoa, I’m going to be up for best perform at the level she does in the theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/25/ female action sports athlete!’ It didn’t ocean is arguably unparalleled in men’s bethany-hamilton-surfing-espy-award. even occur to me that I was going to or women’s sport,” surfing legend Kelly

Disability awareness campaign run by mid north Maltesers “Look on the coast service reaches worldwide audience light side of disability” A disability than 10 million views globally, through awareness social media and a website. Maltesers features actors with disabilities campaign in the latest ads in its “Look on the light being run Ms Todd said one in five Australians side” campaign. by Early had a disability, and community Connections, inclusion fostered social well-being as The Mars UK brand launched the an alliance well as economic advantages. ads after winning BBC Channel 4’s of five early ‘Superhumans Wanted’ competition, She said the television commercial which awarded £1m in commercial intervention highlighted the plight of a mother services from airtime to the brand that presented the shopping with her child, and showed best creative idea with disability at its Taree to Coffs Harbour, is achieving her need for support and inclusion. major success, reaching audiences heart. worldwide. “It shows some local stories about individuals who are working in the The three spots feature disabled actors The Accept Difference campaign aims community, so that personal message telling amusing stories of awkward to encourage greater social inclusion about inspiration from families, about everyday situations that involved their and acceptance of families with the challenges they’ve faced and how disability in some way. The ads will disability. their children are being included in the debut during the opening ceremony of community,” she said. the Rio Paralympics. One of them, which Last year the campaign received tells the story of a deaf woman whose federal funding, allowing it to expand “It’s also showing the comparisons hearing aid is swallowed by a dog, will into paid advertising on television, between what’s happening now use British Sign Language and have no radio, press and outdoor sites in the and what we’d really like to happen, subtitles, a first for English TV. region. in terms of accepting people with differences.” See the ads at www.adweek.com/ Beth Todd, director of the Hastings- adfreak/british-candy-brand-will-air- based Early Intervention Program, said For more information go to their funny-ad-entirely-sign-language-no- a 30-second television commercial website at www.acceptdifference.org. subtitles-173288. was spearheading the campaign. au. The commercial had received more Welfare groups plead with PM: keep $4 a week payment for poorest Australians A coalition of Australia’s leading lowest incomes, including pensioners, to survive on the lowest incomes in welfare groups has written to sole parents, single-income families, Australia, living in poverty,” they wrote. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull family carers and Newstart recipients,” and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten the groups wrote in their letters to the If this budget saving is successful, pleading for the preservation of a leaders, dated August 19. new welfare recipients will actually be social security supplement worth worse off than if the supplement had between $4.40 and $7.05 per week “Its removal will mean a loss of $4 a never been introduced because the and paid to some of Australia’s poorest week to the $38-per-day Newstart boost took into account the regular people. allowance, which is well below the CPI-linked increase. poverty line and has not otherwise The energy supplement - originally been increased in real terms since Bonnie Millen, acting president of introduced in 2013 as carbon tax 1994.” People with Disability Australia, has compensation for people on the said the transfer of this expenditure Newstart allowance, pensions The groups assert that a broad is “robbing Peter to pay Paul” and and family payments - is included range of unions, business groups that “we should not be making trade- in the $6.5 billion of cuts that the and political leaders have supported offs and false economies between government has urged Labor to increasing Newstart and that this specialist disability support and support after previously backing or budget measure contrasts with the income support”. promising to consider them. government’s decision to retain tax cuts given to wage earners as The intervention from the welfare The Australian Council of Social compensation under the carbon tax groups comes as the Inclusive Service, Australian Youth Affairs package. Prosperity Commission of the Chifley Coalition, Australian Unemployed Research Centre, Labor’s think tank, Workers’ Union, Carers Australia, Jobs They also argue that it is releases modelling saying that the Australia, National Welfare Rights “unconscionable” to pursue this cut increase in Australian inequality Network, The National Council of for new welfare recipients, saving the between 2011-12 and 2013-14 will cost Single Mothers and Their Children, budget $1.3 billion over four years, individuals $500 a year by 2019-20. while cutting company taxes and People with Disability Australia and The report, which says the cost of Welfare Rights Centre have called the income tax for people earning over $80,000, costing $9 billion in total. inequality will grow to 3 per cent of move “alarming”. GDP over the next 25 years, is evidence “Denying the energy supplement to “Australia cannot afford such tax cuts that Australia is “paying the price for new social security claimants will cut when the government is moving to increased inequality”, according to payments to 2.2 million people on the cut the incomes of people struggling executive director Michael Cooney. Quadriplegic cattle farmer Rob Cook Arts Activated Conference proves it’s about brains as much as brawn There are only 12 days to go to our Arts Activated Conference, Tuesday Quadriplegic Rob Cook has refused In 2008 Rob had everything he ever 20 - Wednesday 21 September at to let the difficulty in getting carers to wanted. Carriageworks. The Conference his family’s remote cattle station in the The 27-year-old champion bull rider showcases the accomplishments Northern Territory stop him from being of people with disability, as leaders, a cattleman. was working on Suplejack Downs, married to the love of his life Sarah, and arts practitioners, audience and He has relocated to Central they had just had their second child advocates, alongside best practice Queensland and started an unusual when a routine aerial muster went initiatives from arts and culture new beef cattle venture, which horribly wrong. industry. It has established itself as includes running his own butcher the must attend event for those shop. The helicopter, which Rob was a interested in innovative practice passenger in, crashed and left him and inclusive arts and disability Rob and his wife Sarah went from paralysed from the shoulders down. programs. working the 400,000-hectare station “Suplejack Downs” in the NT, to a Doctors advised the Cooks against For more information go to www. 2,000-hectare property at Bucca near returning to Suplejack Downs as it was aarts.net.au/artsactivated. Bundaberg. so far away from medical care, but the couple were determined to give their “We tried real hard to stay in the boys, Braxton and Lawson, a chance at Northern Territory but getting station life. carers who want to live and work in such a remote area was a logistical For four years they managed, but the nightmare,” he said. difficulty in getting carers to move to and stay at Suplejack Downs — the “It wasn’t that we were looking for a most remote cattle station in Australia sea change, it was out of necessity.” — forced them to move to Queensland where they have set up a new cattle Routine muster changes life forever business. NDIS MYPLACE PORTAL EXPLAINED NDIS Update On the same day the NDIS began There’s been a delay in approved full transition a new payment portal, plans too. So while people are having myplace was released. It’s been getting NDIS planning meetings, they aren’t some pretty bad press since then, receiving their plans and funding here’s why. packages. What is myplace - myplace is the online What’s the impact - It’s been very NDIS hub. It’s where NDIS participants difficult for service providers as they’ve engage with their chosen providers had to go into their reserves to pay and how all NDIS money is directed. staff and keep their organisations afloat. A lot of NDIS providers are not- Self-management When was it established - myplace was for-profit, so this is especially tough. launched on 1 July 2016, the same day hiccups the NDIS began full transition. Before Some providers have said that without Many carers say that self-managing that date there was another online solutions, they won’t be able to keep an NDIS plan gives them more choice portal being used. providing services. This is the case for and control. However, some recent many sole traders. hiccups have made self-managing There’s been a lot of talk about it difficult for families new to the NDIS: in the media recently, why is that - It also means the NDIS transition has You’ve probably heard about myplace been slower than initially planned. • Teething problems with the because its launch wasn’t a successful Its not clear yet if this delay will have new online portal have left one. The complex system wasn’t well wider impact. many people waiting for weeks tested and it’s caused problems for for payments to be processed, providers and participants since the What’s happening now - The issues leading to out of pocket costs and beginning. have been well-documented and delays in plans being approved. action is being taken. The Ministers • Previously people self-managing What are the problems - The main responsible for the NDIS, Jane Prentice their funds were given a ‘float’, or problems are to do with the payment and Christian Porter have been one month’s advanced payment, system. When NDIS providers provide involved. Minister Porter called for a this will no longer be the case. services, they put in a claim for major review to understand the issues funding. This claim is supposed to and resolve them. The Review was Go to www.myplace.ndis.gov.au/ be processed within two days. The released in early September. ndisstorefront/participant/self- issues with the portal mean this hasn’t managing-budgets.1.html for more. happened. It’s also meant that people What about wider impact - Its pleasing who are self-managing their packages to see the government taking action haven’t had access to their funds. and realising how serious this is. NDIS Champions needed The Inclusion Hub is a new online tool to support Australian families, Commonwealth Continuity of Support Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program practitioners and communities with the resources they need to navigate the The Continuity of Support program to receive their current services National Disability Insurance Scheme will make sure older people with from their current service provider. (NDIS). disability who are not eligible for the Transition to the new continuity of National Disability Insurance Scheme support arrangements will start on 1 The website has been developed by (NDIS) continue to be supported as December 2016, and will continue in Early Childhood Intervention Australia the NDIS is rolled out across Australia. stages until it’s finished by June 2019. (ECIA). Service providers are receiving letters The Commonwealth and NSW Experts have selected all the best from the Commonwealth Department governments are working together available resources to support families of Health (DoH) which outline to make sure the transition is smooth, and children with disability and/or the Continuity of Support (CoS) so that there is minimal disruption developmental delay. It is the goal of arrangements for older people. to your current services wherever The Inclusion Hub to make it easy for possible. families, early intervention providers, It is not expected that services early childhood educators, medical for clients will need to change. You do not need to do anything to professionals and the community to Importantly, DoH states that, “If a register for the new continuity of have available to them resources, ideas client lives in a group home, it is a support arrangements. Your service and stories all in one place. priority to ensure that they remain provider/s will be in contact with you living in their current arrangements.” to talk about your transition to the The Inclusion Hub encompasses It specifies, “This includes clients who new arrangements and when you can a resource directory, a glossary of live in a house where there are also expect the change. common terms, webinars, articles, people under the age of 65 who will newsletters, downloads and more. be receiving support under the NDIS.” More information is at www.agedcare. health.gov.au/programs-services/ Check out the Hub at www. Until clients transition to the new commonwealth-continuity-of- theinclusionhub.com.au. arrangements, they will continue support-programme. The End of State Based Registration and Compliance From an article by Luke Bo’sher from operating in multiple jurisdictions. practice. The NDIA is unlikely to play Disability Services Consulting. a role in complaints because this will For the past two years, governments be done by an independent body. But At the COAG Disability Reform Council have been talking to people with whether the NDIA will undertake on meeting on Friday 2 September state disability, families and service providers provider registration and compliance governments made a huge decision about how providers should be checking against the standards is not about how the NDIS will work for registered in the full NDIS, including yet clear. providers. They decided that the who sets the registration requirements Federal Government will take over and quality standards. The quality and safeguards piece of registering providers and assessing work is critical to the NDIS’ success. their compliance with national quality State Disability Ministers agreed to It will be the barrier to low quality standards. hand over this role to the Federal providers coming into the NDIS market Government once we get to full and the enabler for participants to have And even more than that – a new scheme in 2019. This makes sense a way to air (and hopefully rectify) their national, independent complaints given the NDIS is a national scheme, complaints when providers perform system will be introduced alongside with a national roll out. This is likely poorly. an NDIS Code of Conduct to allow to mean that there will be a single participants to resolve grievances. registration process for providers across The two big pieces of the NDIS left to Australia, with the same compliance work out are this one on quality and Creating a national framework for requirements wherever they are safeguards and the approach to ILC quality and safeguards and registration providing services. (Information, Linkages and Capacity is a massive decision that will Building). Both have the potentially to dramatically simplify the compliance There is very little detail at this stage make the NDIS work, or to completely burdens on providers, especially those about what this will all look like in hamstrung the Scheme. NDIS: COAG council meeting to discuss major IT setbacks in insurance roll-out The COAG Disability Reform Council The communique showed was launched that has led to this saga. met in early September to discuss governments would endorse a major IT setbacks that have slowed recovery strategy to get a backlog of The NDIS MyPlace portal replaced an the roll-out of the National Disability plan approvals back on track by the old system and promised to make Insurance Scheme (NDIS). end of this year. planning and payments easier when it was introduced on July 1. COAG released a communique from Figures released show that 15,000 the meeting which concedes that the people have been declared eligible But the system repeatedly crashed NDIS is behind schedule and that the for the National Disability Insurance and thousands of NDIS participants delays have been “unacceptable”. Scheme since July, but less than 2,000 and service providers have faced of them have had care plans approved. weeks waiting to get claims and plans The new NDIS MyPlace online portal approved. has been plagued with problems, Chief executive of National Disability leaving thousands of people without Services Dr Ken Baker said the roll-out The Federal Government approved care plans, which would of the new system was rushed. commissioned an urgent review into give them access to health care and problems with the MyPlace website equipment. “It’s caused considerable stress and last month, and promised 100 extra frustration and indeed cost,” Dr Baker staff for the National Disability It is the first meeting of state and said. Insurance Agency. territory disability ministers since the NDIS moved from a trial to a full “A key lesson out of this exercise is it In the next three years, it is estimated national roll-out. was the failure, I think, to test this new 430,000 Australians will have signed up system properly end-to-end before it to the NDIS. Inclusion Hub Are you NDIS The Inclusion Hub is a new online educators, medical professionals and tool to support Australian families, the community to have available to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) them resources, ideas and stories all in Ready? practitioners and communities with one place. The National Disability Insurance the resources they need to navigate Scheme or NDIS is the biggest the National Disability Insurance The Inclusion Hub has a resource change to the way people Scheme (NDIS). directory, a glossary of common with disability are supported in terms, webinars, articles, newsletters, Australia’s history. If you would The website has been developed by downloads and more. like to know more about the NDIS Early Childhood Intervention Australia call The Disability Trust on 1300 (ECIA). It is the goal of The Inclusion Check out the Hub at www. DISABILITY (1300 347 224) or at Hub to make it easy for families, early theinclusionhub.com.au. [email protected]. intervention providers, early childhood For Your Calendar…

Dementia Awareness Month - September Girls’ Night In – 1 to 31 October You are not alone...Dementia affects 70% of us. This event is an opportunity to gather all your www.fightdementia.org.au friends for a night of fun that also raises money to conduct research into and provide support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - September breast and Gynaecological Cancers. Contact 1300 656 585 or www.girlsnightin.com.au Cancer claims the lives of more Australian children than all other diseased combined. Over 10,000 kids Mental Health Month - 1 to 31 October are currently fighting cancer, 1 in 5 die within 5 years. www.cancer.org.au/news/#jump_2266 A national mental health promotion campaign funded by NSW Health to promote social and Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week - 5 to 11 emotional well-being by encouraging people September to increase mental health literacy. www. mentalhealthmonth.wayahead.org.au Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week is a national campaign that aims to create a more inclusive and Shoctober - Defibrillator Awareness Month – accessible community for everyone. www.sciaw. October com.au We are calling on workplaces to show they care World Suicide Prevention Day - 10 September about Cardiac Arrest Survival by hosting their own Shoctober Event as a Defibrillator Awareness The purpose of this day is to raise awareness Program. www.cardiacarrest.org.au around the globe that suicide can be prevented. www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/ Polio Awareness Month – October wspd/en www.polioaustralia.org.au Foster Care Week – 11 to 17 September Dwarfism Awareness Month – October An annual event that aims to celebrate and acknowledge the work of NSW’s foster carers. www.sspa.org.au www.community.nsw.gov.au/fostering-our-future/ issue-42/foster-care-week-2016 Amputee Awareness Week – 4 to 11 October Parkinson’s Awareness Week - 18 to 24 September Every 3 hours in Australia a limb will be lost due to diabetes. www.limbs4life.org.au www.parkinsons.org.au Down Syndrome Awareness Week & Buddy Walk - United Nations International Day of Peace - 21 4 to 16 October September On this day, people all around the world celebrate A global holiday when individuals, communities the lives and achievements of people with Down and governments highlight efforts to syndrome, creating a global voice, advocating for end conflict and promote peace. www. the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with internationaldayofpeace.org Down syndrome. www.downsyndrome.org.au/ events.html World Alzheimer’s Day – 21 September World Mental Health Day - 10 October This is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts The Day provides an opportunity for all on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and stakeholders working on mental health issues to dementia. www.fightdementia.org.au talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. www.who.int/mental_health/ world-mental-health-day/en