AASW Recording | Disability Advocacy

Presentation 1: Ableism

Presenter: B-J Dee Price

The traditional expectation in Australia is that people with disabilities have been hidden, segregated, kept away from the mainstream. Ableism is the assumption that people with disabilities need 'fixing' and defines them by their disability.

Around 18 percent of Australians live with a disability, but their lives would be much easier if all buildings were designed well, if they could see and hear and experience what the rest of us take for granted. Changing physical structures costs money, but that’s probably the easy part. Changing minds is the real challenge. Do people assume you are of average intelligence? Do people look at you with pity? Do people claim you are an inspiration just for getting out of bed?

How do we stop looking at disabled people as different and start making life more accessible and welcoming for people with a disability?

Presentation 2: The importance and benefits of teaching self-advocacy to individuals who live with an intellectual disability

Presenters: Debbie Knowles and Ian Cummins

This presentation is about supporting individuals to increase their confidence and skill level so they have the courage to speak up and make their own decisions. Many Our Voice SA members offer peer support to others who are not yet able to self-advocate.

This webinar was presented by the AASW SA Branch.

Presenters

Betty-Jean (B-J) Dee-Price, is a researcher, humanist, disability advocate and holds academic status in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University South Australia. Her primary research interests include complex disability, severe communication disability, research inclusion, and education.

Debbie Knowles is a Developmental Educator and a Registered General Nurse: she has worked in the field of disability for over fifty years. Her current role is as Project Leader for Our Voice SA which involves supporting members of Our Voice SA to self-advocate for a life they have chosen for themselves. This happens by supporting individuals to increase their confidence and skill level so they have the courage to speak up and make their own decisions. Many Our Voice SA members offer peer support to others who are not yet able to self-advocate.

Ian Cummins is the Chairperson of Our Voice SA, (OVSA). He joins Debbie to answer questions following her presentation. Ian lives with an Intellectual Disability and he was instrumental in establishing Our Voice SA and has worked tirelessly for many years, utilising his contacts in government and the disability field to ensure OVSA grows and has sufficient funding to operate successfully. In recent years Ian, in conjunction with Purple Orange, has attracted funding for three separate Our Voice SA Projects; this Funding has enabled Our Voice SA to continue to increase support to people who live with an Intellectual Disability to become self-advocates; advocate for their peers; secure work in open employment as Peer Mentors; and has significantly grown the membership of OVSA. Ian’s ultimate goal is to secure recurrent funding for Our Voice SA.

AASW Credential: Disability