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Wednesday May 23, 2012

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Australia turns back on disabled?

Posted by: Tom Elliott | 30 November, 2011 - 5:22 PM
Tom Elliott looks at the plight of Australia's disabled

I'd like to discuss the plight of disabled people in Australia.

According to a recent report issued by accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, almost half of all men and women here with a disability live in or very near a state of poverty.

This is a most damning statistic, and one that apparently places us at the very bottom of the OECD group of nations.

In addition, just 40% of disabled people in Australia have a job. This figure remains substantially below the figure for able-bodied people, of whom 80% are employed.

The lives of disabled Australians are made difficult in many ways beyond the obvious medical and lifestyle issues caused by their individual disabilities. Examples include the inaccessibility of most public transport, inadequate training and welfare funding and a shortage of carers, not to mention the unconscious prejudice towards various disabilities that must occur in a ‘body beautiful’ culture like ours.

My grandfather suffered from MS, and spent most of his adult life in a wheelchair. While he was generally accepting of his fate, he was constantly frustrated by people who assumed that because his body didn't work properly, his mind must have been deficient too.

I used to find it embarrassing, for example, when instead of asking him what he'd like eat, the question would always be directed towards my grandmother instead as though he was unable to express an opinion.

Although medical science is always improving, there will always be some disabilities that remain incurable.

Given the relative wealth Australia enjoys, it is intolerable we rank so badly in PwC's disability welfare survey. Great Statesmen like Churchill and Ghandi often opined that a society should be judged by how well it treats its weakest members.

Were these men still alive, I suspect they might assess modern Australia rather harshly.

PLAY: Tom Elliott investigates the important issue

Speaker deal precursor to new tax?

Tom Elliott TOM ELLIOTT: "Thursday's orchestrated move to shore up the government's majority in parliament is a prelude to some large and unpopular announcement to prop up the budget." Read Tom's blog which says a na$ty surprise is just around the corner.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Tom, I have never been so disappointed in you. Did it occur to you that the disabled adults start as disabled children?? I have a 6 year old with Cerebral Palsy, kidney failure and is deaf. I drive a 4 wheel drive and I park in disabled car spaces. His wheel chair is so big that I need a 4 wheel drive. I love the way able body and old people have educated opinions! NOT! Old people are not the only ones with a right to use disabled car spaces, my child didnt choose to have CP, kidney failure and be deaf. Old people are not the only people who listen to you Tom, think about what you are saying before you speak next time or at least try and cover all sections of the community. Very disappointed in you..... Anna

    Anna McKay Thursday 1 December, 2011 - 9:58 AM

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