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The Forum > Article Comments > Breaking the disability deprivation cycle > Comments

Breaking the disability deprivation cycle : Comments

By Andrew Bartlett, published 6/10/2006

Principles agreed on to address the grave needs of people with disabilities still await action

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Andrew Bartlett’s thumbnail sketch of the disability industry in this country is virtually irrefutable: the decades of indifference and neglect of some the most vulnerable citizens of our class-divided society is diabolical.

Tragically, the good Senator’s choice of words and broad concepts such as ‘government(s)’, CSTDA etc has effectively precluded him from raising any question of accountability for this appalling state of affairs. For instance sentences such as "Without such indicators, CSTDA aims and objectives cannot possibly be known and the needs and wishes of those with a disability will remain a matter of assumption and guesswork.”

True! … But by Whom? Who failed to provide indicators of the quality of life of people with disabilities and their desperately needed supported accommodation choices, respite facilities, education and employment opportunities? Which particular, well-rewarded individuals or class of individual ‘players’ are responsible?

"Governments are currently saving billions of dollars ... by relying on the community sector and carers to provide essential services and support for people with a disability.”

Indeed they are – some $33 billion according to their own ‘official’ calculations. But saving for whom? … or what? In other words, Who benefits or profits from such ‘savings’? How much of such ‘savings’ are diverted into the pockets of wealthy shareholders and obscenely over-paid ‘executive’ employees of huge national and foreign corporations in the form of ‘tax breaks’, industry assistance packages and other ‘incentives’? ... Corporate Welfare! How much has been diverted to fund Australian involvement in military misadventures in far-off foreign countries that pose little or no threat to our nation?

How many of the well-rewarded ‘executive’ public servants … sorry, Public Managers, within the various bureaus such as Treasury, Finance and Human Services have received performance bonuses for ‘cost savings’ derived from ‘deinstutionalisation’ and ‘restructuring’ the disability industry?

Moreover, the regular announcements these days by State and Common-wealth Treasurers of record, multi-billion dollar budget surpluses exposes the hypocrisy and flawed ‘ethics’ of those who ‘manage’ our beleaguered disability industry and the broader polity in which it is embedded.

Sowat
Posted by Sowat, Saturday, 7 October 2006 2:25:50 PM
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Governments are saving millions by relying on community carers?

This is no doubt so, but it implies that caring for disabled people is a Government responsibility in the first place. Why should this be so?

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that disabled people should be cast adrift, nor am I blind to their need. But we do have to have some really clear thinking about disability, where it begins and where it ends.

All people are equal and have equal rights. But we know this is not really true, just a nice ideal. Some people, including those who have to care for disabled children or relatives or friends are dealt out with an awfully unequal hand. But, in my opinion, to lambast Governments for their failure is merely a populist rant.
Posted by Fencepost, Saturday, 7 October 2006 7:07:45 PM
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One aspect of being born with, or aquiring a disability is that you can't hang it on a nail at knock off time and put it back on next morning. It's with you 24/7,at work,play,or sleep. Technology has brought some relief, but theres a lot to be done yet. I was a 'welfare to work' proponent in 1972 when I left school and felt I could contribute something (I wasn't sure what) instead of claiming a full disability pension I was entitled to. Lessons I have learnt :1. Never mention that I have a disability at job interviews ( some diabilities are not visible). 2. Some work 'mates' will treat you like a lesser human being. 3. Being able to complete an equal amount of work as an able bodied colleague sometimes brings jealousy. 4. Forget about getting promoted. 5. Be prepared for name calling and 'jokes' being played on you. 6. Be prepared to be isolated from the other workers. 7. Develop a very thick skin.
I'd like to report that things have improved but then I notice that a few years ago, an epileptic association spent a couple of million dollars trying to convince the general public that those with epilepsy have human qualities. We are disabled, not necessarily dumb. We want to live,love, and laugh too
Posted by aspro, Sunday, 8 October 2006 2:15:08 AM
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Onya Fencepost!

One of the precepts of Liberal Democratic government and a civilised society is protection of the more vulnerable among us. This was made even more essential with the rise of Capitalism some 3 centuries or so ago resulting in the advent of the modern State, following widespread social upheaval across most of Western Europe.
Failure by the ‘people’s representatives’ and the ‘civil service’ to administer the polity in a fair and just manner for all will inevitably result in an un-civil society, characterised by treachery, conflict and general backwardness.

Hope someone close to you never has a stroke, serious motor vehicle or industrial ‘accident’, has the misfortune to give birth to a child with complex deformities, or develops one of the many disabling forms of cancer or dementia.

Always remember, anybody can become a full-time family caregiver (unpaid Carer) at the blink of an eye … forced to give up PAID work and care for a spouse, child, parent or other close relative 24/7/365 for the princely “benefit” of $96 per fortnight Carers Allowance (the much more generous “benefit”, the Carer Payment of $502 per fortnight is means-tested!), without any hope of annual holidays, superannuation or the pleasures of ‘retirement’ … like every other ‘worker’! Of the 2.7 million family Carers nationally, 288,630 receive the “Allowance” and only 83,797 are in receipt of the Carer Payment.(2003-4 figures)

Contrast this with the $10.4 billion in Family Tax Benefit ‘A’ and the $12.8 billion in Family Tax Benefit ‘B’ (2003-4) doled out to Howard’s struggling Middle Class “Aussie battlers” to help raise their non-disabled children. Even millionaire families are able to dip into this honey pot; not that they desperately need it of course! And yet Howard, Abbott and Costello et al all claim to “govern for all Australians”. Yeah, right!
Posted by Sowat, Sunday, 8 October 2006 11:49:07 AM
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Perhaps another populsit rant would be to lambast private enterpirse for not delivering on disabilitiy services Fencepost!

I really fail to see your point - where does the responsibility begin and end to your way of thinking?

DO you suggest that those dealt an unequal hand as you put it are just suffering "bad luck" - and while we do the serious thinking you suggest those with disabilties languish.

How about those who have been dealt a "good hand" simply have some oof thier chips taken away to offset the disadvantage of those with bad luck - giiven the randomness of Luck - that would be fair.

Right now families carry the burden of disability and the philosophy of the present government is that that is the natural order of things
Posted by sneekeepete, Monday, 9 October 2006 10:16:59 AM
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No matter which political party is in power, disabled will be forsaken as all political parties is akin to; Same code, different jersey. Maybe the minor parties are different but not being a political to ever hold government, they can afford to hold whatever policy they like no matter how loopy it may be.

Under the Howard Government, being disabled has definately become an eyesore on society where they, like the mentally ill, are lepers of modern civilisation. We saw the mentally ill thrown onto the streets in the late 1980's, now it is the disabled that have started living on the streets. Well, they and young families in increasing numbers.

Look at how people are checked for the Disability Pension(DSP). Even if 100 Specialists wrote in support of the applicant, it is a public servant with no medical learning who reach a decision on how the person looks on the day, not allowing for good and bad days and, the fact that many disabilities does not equal a major disfiguration of the face.

With "Howard's Way", we are seeing people on their death bed ordered to seek fulltime employment. Also, to receive the DSP, one must have a permanent illness yet with people being forced onto Newstart, their permanent illness eliminates them from being exempt from seeking work when they are sick. Should a person be hospitalised for epilepsy/asthma/MS/etc, for let's say, one month, they still must seek employment or lose their benefit. Yet if you suffer from a virus, you can take time off from seeking employment.

Clearly, this demonastrates that the Howard government is callous to people who are not of perfect health who are unable to perform a morning jog. Speaking to the average person on this, I have met many people who still support this policy on the basis that such people don't deserve anything.

What has become of Australia?
Posted by Spider, Monday, 9 October 2006 3:11:26 PM
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I can see where Aspro is coming from and there are many people who work for low wages
in organisations trying to help those with disabilities.
They do it because they feel it is well a worth while job.
They don't do it as charity they do it because it is a calling.

The government does have responsibility to support those with disabilities just like it supports those
who become redundant and are unemployed. Additionaly parents need relief and respite is needed otherwise the mental health system will
have to deal with the parents.

The problem however will get worse unless the government does something about groups who marry their cousins.
There should be a law that cousin marriage is illegal and should be a disqualification for migration if your parents are cousins or the
applicant is married to their cousin.

The Midlands health service in the UK has discovered that the risk of
genetic defects is 13 time greater where cousin marriages are involved.
Posted by Bazz, Monday, 9 October 2006 4:44:09 PM
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Well, gee, wasn't that a helpful intervention? What degree of cousinhood is acceptable? Second? Seventy-third? Two hundred and ninth, once removed? Might you be talking about the first cousin marriages relatively common on the sub-continent (which includes India - it's not exclusively Islamic)? If so, say so: don't drop those coy little hints. Hot damn, but don't Indians and Pakistanis seem to have thrived numerically in spite of all those birth defects? BTW, among christians, only catholics proscribe first cousin marriages. And I bet you find papists a bit suss, too.
Posted by anomie, Monday, 9 October 2006 7:24:43 PM
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Well the report did seem to be in regard to first cousins.
The British parliamentary members did discuss legislation and that
seemed to be only related to first cousins.

I have a feeling from the tone of your reply that you are skeptical.
Believe me this is no politically incorrect matter but indeed a
very serious matter, after all you are paying the bill.

Just in case you think it is an only in the UK thing the NSW Health
Dept was concerned about the number of births with genetic problems
at Auburn hospital. They sent a genetist to study the matter and she
found that by interviewing the mothers that a large percentage were
married to their cousins.

It does not matter what the race, this is a real and tragic problem.
What I find odd is that rural communities permit it.
Yet farmers know well the problems of inbreeding stock. Perhaps their
religion gives them the idea that it does not apply to humans.

I can't remember the links and they have long gone but if you go to
the BBC web site and do a search on cousin marriage it will produce
an item on the BBC documentary and that has links to the
parliamentary enquirey. Try the NSW Hansard for the Auburn report.
Posted by Bazz, Monday, 9 October 2006 11:11:09 PM
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No mention of where the money is coming from Andrew?700,000 on DSP,many of whom are long term unemployed ,alcoholics,drug addicts and lots of lay abouts who are just too lazy to get out of bed.
This is mainly a result of it being too easy to get onto Social Security.The result is that those who are in real need suffer,while the bludgers vegetate.

We can also vastly reduce the number of Pollies and Public Servants Andrew,and there would ample money for people in real need without taxing the tripe out of the middle and working classes.We are the most over Governed Country on the planet.
Posted by Arjay, Monday, 9 October 2006 11:41:12 PM
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Arjay, you obviously have no idea at all of how HARD it is to apply for and actually receive DSP. Hell, I sat before a review panel appealing to have the DSP. I sat there is tears due to the pain I was in yet what did they write? So n So shows no obvious sign of discomfort or pain. They lied in other parts of the government forms as well so I could not get it.

If I took them to the Supreme Court for this payment, the government paperwork consisting of their lies is taken as truth in the court and mine are instantly frowned upon by the court and blissful people such yourself. Apparently, taking anywhere up to one hour to stand up and get to the toilet is NOT a disability. Not to forget the occasional fall, finding myself somewhere without knowing how I got there, etc. These are ignored by the government instead, saying that I have actually stand on my feet so I can work fulltime as a cashier.

Were I to lie on government forms like they lied on them, I would be up on criminal charges for welfare fraud. This government should be in prison for its criminal treatments of the people they are ment to represent instead of the foreign globalists who they crave attention from like an under favoured dog.

Bazz, you seem to think that all people with a disability is an inbred. Marrying amongst your own bloodline does not cause defects but increases your chances.

You should look into the chemicals being put into our foods and other products we use. Not to forget what's in the air. On their own, they are mostly harmless but mixed together it becomes a lethal combination. Just as a bullet and a gun is completely harmless until you put the both together.
Posted by Spider, Tuesday, 10 October 2006 1:05:46 PM
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This is quite properly a highly emotional issue, and an intensely practical one too. Sowat replied to my provocative post by saying that government support for care for the disabled is necessary in order to prevent the chaos that would result were there no such provision.
I add, that such government support for the disabled is also a very moral and humane necessity and lack of it would offend all decency.
I am glad that $96 a fortnight allowance for carers, and $502 a fortnight for Carer's Allowance, is available. Whether these amounts are anywhere near what is really required is highly questionable.
But, again I ask, as a person brought up in a time and in a society when no such allowances were available, why do we have to bad mouth governments who are trying their best
Posted by Fencepost, Tuesday, 10 October 2006 7:26:39 PM
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But they aren't trying their best to help, Fencepost. They are making it as difficult as possible for those who struggle to survive while helping those who can afford to spend money on anything. No, I'm not some person who is jealous of others.
Posted by Spider, Wednesday, 11 October 2006 2:07:38 AM
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Well Fencepost, I assume you don't have a disability or care for someone who does. I come to this assumption because you lack the knowledge of how difficult it is to attain or access services and assitance. So many people here have made excellent comments! But I particularly like the way Spider expressed the government's treatment of those with a disability - criminal !! I have discovered it is easier to commit suicide than it is to ask for and get help.
I am need of a carer and am unable to find a single Government or Community organisation that will assist me,despite almost 400 phone calls. The irony of the whole situation is that I have someone who will assist me at no cost to myself or the Government....but she is not allowed to help me in the manner required by my situation because of a Qld government Department of Housing policy. Even though it would cost the government not a cent (in fact it would save them many thousands of dollars) and no one would be disadvantaged by my request I am still not allowed to have the carer of my choice - indeed the ONLY carer available to me! How fair or logical is this? It isn't!
I would be very interested in starting a legal class action suit against the QLD Government and am seeking other disabled people who would like to be counted in this. PLease contact me for more information at jaz2000@gmail.com . I am also particularly interested in hearing from Dept of Housing residents who have a disability and require a carer and are unable to access one due to departmental policies. I believe together we can win!!
Regards to all
Jaz
Posted by Jaz, Monday, 30 October 2006 11:38:41 PM
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Jaz is correct - together we CAN 'win' ..ie, have the urgent unmet needs of Australians with dependent disabilities AND their unpaid FAMILY caregivers (not just paid Care Workers) recognised by our well-rewarded "people's representatives" and "executive" bureaucrats.

At present, over 90% of the accommodation and support needs of people with dependent disabilities under 65 years of age are provided by parent-carers, partners or children. There are some 6,000 young people (under 65) with severe and profound disabilities forced to 'exist' in Aged Care nursing homes ... an appalling indictment upon those paid to 'manage' the disability "Industry".

Australians OVER 65 are able to access well-funded Aged Care accommodation facilities and care services, allowing their family members to get on with the benefits of PAID work careers, annual holiday breaks, Superannuation and retirement.

Meantime, ageing family caregivers (Carers) - their own health often broken by decades of stress and exhausting work - give up their homes, employment opportunities and 'retirement'to go on caring for their 50 and 60 year old 'children', because there is no place else for them to go. This 'saves' the Australian community over $30 BILLION Per Year!

This is a diabolical national scandal, and will only be stopped by united ACTION of the million and a half people being exploited and shamefully neglected by those paid to provide publically-funded disability services.
Posted by Sowat, Tuesday, 31 October 2006 10:59:08 AM
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Sowat, I would really love to discuss this with you. Please email me at jaz2000@gmail.com . I'd really be interested in hearing your views and experiences. If email is too arduous for you I'd be happy to establish contact by phone if that is easier.

This invitation applies to all who have posted here, and your family and friends. If I can get enough interest I'll start a yahoo group or forum to better handle this. But first I need to guage interest.

We need to unite in order to win. I am truly serious about a class action, so please help me and we can all help each other.
Regards to all
Jaz
Posted by Jaz, Tuesday, 31 October 2006 2:02:45 PM
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