Life to Live

The history of people with disabilities in Australia - 100 years

A resource guide prepared by: Disability Services Australia Ltd

Finding a Voice


For people with disabilities, "finding a voice" means having the ability to influence decisions about their lives, whether social, economic or political.

Dating from the early 1980s, many organisations were formed across Australia by people with disabilities to represent these interests and to improve opportunities and services for people with disabilities within the community.

For people with disabilities, Government legislation since the 1980s has played an important role.


Legislation

There have been two important pieces of Commonwealth Government legislation since the 1980s. Both are aimed at improving life for people with disabilities by enhancing opportunities for living and working within the community, and recognising that all individuals are equal, regardless of disability.

For the greater part of the 20th Century, many people with disabilities were separated from society or unable to access services because of their particular disability. It was during the 1970s in Australia that attitudes towards people with disabilities began to change with an increased focus on supporting people with disabilities and their families within the community.

The United Nations played an important role by issuing the Declaration of Rights of Disabled Persons in 1974, then declaring 1981 the International Year of Disabled Persons. Throughout the world, these things helped raise the level of awareness about the rights of people with disabilities.

In the early 1980s, largely due to pressure from the community, the Australian Government began a review of services for people with disabilities, which led to the Disability Services Act 1986.

The Act led the way for the inclusion of people with disabilities more widely in the community in terms of housing, education, employment, accessibility to services and equal opportunities. It also provided a basis for Government funding (both Commonwealth and State) for various organisations and services for people with disabilities.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992, as an extension of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Act 1986, was created to make it unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability.

In 1996, the National Disability Advisory Council was established as a link between Government and people with disabilities to liaise with and advise Government on a wide range of policies and services for people with disabilities.

The focus today continues to be that of providing more lifestyle and employment choices for people with disabilities, together with a broader range of services to accommodate their needs.

Organisations

Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC): The Human Rights Commission was established in 1981. Its role was promote and protect the rights of all Australians, including people with disabilities. In 1986, a new commission was established with wider roles and responsibilities - the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission. It is the objective of the Commission to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities and to promote wider acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. For further information www.hreoc.gov.au

ACROD: ACROD is the national industry association for disability services in Australia. It was established in 1963 and today has more than 570 members who represent thousands of services for people with disabilities throughout various states and territories. ACROD plays an important role in influencing government legislation and funding with regard to quality services for people with disabilities. For further information www.acrod.org.au

ACE National Network: ACE National Network is a national body which represents the many State organisations who provide employment assistance and support to people with disabilities in the regular workforce.

Organisations for People With Disabilities: Dating from around the time of the International Year of Disabled Persons (1981), many organisations were formed in Australia by people with disabilities to represent their own political, social and economic interests.

Today, a number of groups represent people with disabilities at a national. These include:
* The National Caucus of Disability Consumer Organisations
* Blind Citizens Australia
* Head Injury Council of Australia
* Physical Disability Council of Australia
* Deafness Forum
* National Council on Intellectual Disability
* Women with Disabilities (Australia)
* National Ethnic Disability Alliance

In addition, there are numerous organisations and associations which represent various disability groups at a state and local level.

Discussion and Further Reading

Questions to Explore in Class

1. Why is it important that people with disabilities have a say in their own future?

2. How has Government legislation improved opportunities for people with disabilities?


Creative Ideas

* Find out about the United Nations International Day of People with a Disability (December 3rd each year). Write a short story about it or paint a picture which represents the theme of that day.


Further Reading

Visit these websites and read more about "finding a voice":

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission www.hreoc.gov.au
United Nations www.un.org