Thank you Peter for that clear exposition of your position. Please now make some concrete suggestions on how your University (and others in similar situations) can extend to you the appropriate support and also reap the benefits for its own research program?

Dear Fencepost, This essays major purpose was to expose a failure in public policy, in regards to the lives of people with progressive disabilities.
Most Universities in Australia are public institutions and therefore subject to public policy and due to current economic stylings that develop a form of mutual obligation. The question I ask is within a public institution, like universities, can the research graduate who is progressively disabled be the benefactors of employment policies, dealing with research, according to the principles of mutual obligation?

Dr Gibilisco's article is certainly food for thought. Peter is clearly a giver not a taker. Public policy which enables people with progressive and degenerative conditions to contribute does not exist. That it doesn't indicates a stagnation in thinking, that apart from providing access to higher education to people with disability it is merely that, access, as if an expectation that people with disability who have availed themselves of that educational opportunity should be grateful. That people with disability would entertain the notion of wanting to give something back is beyond the ken of policymakers, which is unacceptable. If inclusion of and honour and respect for people with disability are to be more than just words then policy must look beyond passivity and "near-enough-is-good-enough" because it's not. A very thoughtful and thought-provoking article, thank you Peter.

Peter Gibilisco so succinctly points out that the mutual obligation of a society does not stop with allowing access. Access to our institutions of higher learning is patronizing when not followed through with opportunity for continued scholarship as a professional. Access is the easy part, the harder part for some unqualified reason seems to be acceptance and welcomed, sought after valued input. This would be forefront in removing the barriers that we as a society have set up for people with ability to do not fit our idea of ‘normal’.

It is up to us all as a community to demand supports for people with disability that allow individuals to challenge their abilities and for those unable to do so, to be offered individually appropriate social protections. In doing so we have to recognise limitations and offer support systems that respond so that ability becomes the criterion for all not disability.

Dr. Peter Gibilisco humbles me. Dr. Peter Gibilisco is one of our nations more extraordinary citizens, without whom our nation would be poorer.

Thank-you Peter
Nell Brown
Carers Alliance

I would like to see more responses to this article. I too admire the accomplishments of the author. What I would like to see would be suggestions on how the public policy might change for the better. When a research position is advertised in your area of expertise for example, what policies would you like to see in place that might favour your application? Are you advocating some kind of positive discrimination, or are you advocating a level playing field - but with additional supports that click in if your application is successful? Are you suggesting that new research projects be created and funded to utilise your expertise? Or what?

Education can HELP to empower people with disabilities (pwd) but it is not enough. I mistakenly believed that when I left university in 1980. It is hard enough for 'able' graduates - disability makes it even harder to adapt and live up to employers and colleagues expectations. Job roles within the workgroup may have to be changed this is(perceived to be)hard work. HR might think equal opportunity particularly in IYDP1981 but line managers often do not embrace EO.
Having interviewed Peter for a temporary job his disabilities made it difficult to employ him despite his insights and contacts.
Attendant care and aids and equipment cost money to do parially things that people without disabilities do for themselves without thought.scratching itches is only one of them !