Australia

As COVID-19 cases rise, disability advocates say CDC isn't doing enough

Artists unmask disabilities in push to break barriers and challenge attitudes around music in Australia. (Mar, ABC News)

advertisers striving for inclusiveness through disability representation (Mar, ABC News)

Australian advertisers striving for inclusiveness through disability representation. (Mar, ABC News)

"I'm about to drown": one phone call Sam Connor received during the recent floods. (Mar, Hireup)

Disability sector demands inclusive disaster preparedness (Apr, Probono)

Pleas for NSW flood survivors with disability to be prioritised for urgent housing, care. (Mar, ABC News)

Floods can worsen inequality. Here are 4 ways we can ensure people with disabilities aren't left behind (Apr, the Conversation)

The case for philanthropy in disability: “Deloitte Access Economics used HILDA data to examine benefits to health and wellbeing ($57bn), employment ($25.6bn) and education ($1.7bn) if Australia deliberately includes people with disability. This analysis shows that the cumulative inclusion dividend is $84bn per annum.” (Feb, Achieve Foundation)

Disability royal commission says neglect and abuse costs $46 billion a year. Analysis quantifies economic impacts: “The cost of system failures – such as lost productivity due to low employment – was calculated at $27.7 billion. [...] Interpersonal maltreatment – such as violence in the home, sexual violence, child abuse and neglect – was costed at $18.3 billion.” (Feb, The Sydney Morning Herald)

Suggesting NDIS cuts to pay for expensive submarines is the latest attack on disabled people. “The last few weeks have seen an intensification of the predicted pre-federal budget attacks on the NDIS, with a wide range of articles and interviews being published, and the conservative social media in full agreement. These pieces are often shared alongside disgusting slurs against disabled people.” (Mar, the Guardian)

Disability services need to employ more people with lived experience. “New research from the University of Sydney finds almost a quarter of Australian disability services do not employ any people with disability, and 20% employ less than three people with disability.” (Feb, Phys Org)

“There’s been no apology for a mistake that nearly killed me.” The disability community speaks out on Robodebt. (Feb, Hireup)

National Disability Insurance Agency scrutinised woman’s social media posts to challenge her eligibility for the scheme (Mar, the Guardian)

‘Devastating impact’: Rise in proportion of disabled students expelled from Victorian government schools during COVID pandemic. “We expect it to be worse this year,” she said. “Every time students have gone back to school following a lockdown period, we have seen both formal and informal exclusions increase.” (Apr, The Age)

Could a national body for ‘Scientists with Disabilities’ level the playing field? (Women's Agenda)

Research reveals employer attitudes to disability. “The survey of Australian Network on Disability’s 400 member organisations, including some of the country’s biggest corporations, major universities, and government departments, found 68 per cent do not have targets for the employment of people with disability.” (Mar, Pro Bono)

Australia is lagging when it comes to employing people with disability – “it will need to take affirmative action.” (Feb, The Conversation)

Many Australian bosses believe disabled staff faking impairment. (Feb, Daily Telegraph)

People with disability working for legal pay as low as $2.27 an hour, inquiry hears (Apr, the Guardian)

Remembering Stella Young a webpage dedicated to her life and memory. (Mar)

Remembering Stella Young a statue of Stella in her hometown, Stawell. “I am not a snowflake. I am not a sweet, infantilising symbol of fragility and life. I am a strong, fierce, flawed adult woman. I plan to remain that way, in life and in death.” (Mar, Northern Grampians Shire Council)

Perth family facing deportation as son's Down syndrome diagnosis deemed taxpayer burden. (Mar, ABC News)

Detainees with disabilities in 'spiral of hopelessness' “People with disabilities in the criminal justice system feel like they exist in a "black hole" after an international torture prevention body cancelled a visit to Australia.” (Mar, ABC News)

Trapped, stripped of assets, and silenced. And it’s all perfectly legal photo-essay feature on challenging public guardianship. (Mar, ABC News)

My talking, flameless stove How my talking induction stove gave me the confidence to cook. (Mar, ABC News)

The Disability Pandemic:

”I lived in two worlds during COVID. One that suddenly got more open and inclusive, where I was asked to talk at events, on television, to Senate committees. I pasted lipstick on, and calmed my frizzy hair, adjusting a badly fitting shirt, so I could tell the world that disabled people needed help. Then I would scrub it all off, limp to the kitchen and face the anxiety swarm about there being no food.” (Meanjin)

Australia’s disability strategy 2021–2031 outcomes framework: first annual report (Feb, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)

We've Got This: Stories by Disabled Parents edited by Eliza Hull. (Mar, Black Inc Books)

Paralympics Australia announces new plan for Para-sport to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. “Paralympics Australia (PA) has called out the inequity in funding and support for the Para-sport system” (Mar, ABC News)

‘Devastating’: woman with a disability met with disbelief after sexual assault, royal commission hears. (Mar, the Guardian)