The Rights of People with Disabilities: Areas of Need for Increased Protection: Index
The Rights of People
with Disabilities: Areas of Need for Increased
Protection
A Discussion Paper prepared by the
National Council on Intellectual Disability,
(with the assistance of ACROD and Disabled Peoples' International)
for the
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1989
See also the Commission's Position Paper (MS Word) in response
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Employment
- Chapter 3: Education
- Chapter 4: Accommodation
- Chapter 5 : Criminal Justice System
- Chapter 6: Goods and Services
- Chapter 7: Conclusion
- Appendices
- Guardianship legislation by State/Territory
- II. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986:
Schedule 4: Declaration on the Rights of Mentally
Retarded Persons;
Schedule 5: Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons - III. The Federal Government's National Agenda for Women - Women
with a disability - IV. Education - Legislation & Policies
- Bibliography
Foreword
Australians place great value on individuality, yet being seen as 'too different' in our society often results in rejection, segregation and mistreatment. People with disabilities experience this discrimination, this feeling of being outside society, in many aspects of their daily lives.
Most discrimination against people with disabilities is not deliberate. It can occur as a result of unconscious attitudes or inaccurate assumptions, or failure to think through the impact of particular decisions, but most commonly it happens because we forget that people with disabilities are people, with the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen.
The National Council on Intellectual Disability has been active in defending the rights of people with intellectual disabilities since its inception in 1957, and was pleased to be asked to undertake this study for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, to identify key areas of of concern in defence of the rights of people with disabilities, with the support of the local chapter of Disabled Persons International, and
ACROD.
The infringement of rights of people with disabilities is not a new topic; countless reports and studies already exist to document it in detail. This latest Discussion Paper only touches the surface of the lives of people with disabilities, yet it clearly identifies a number of areas of concern where the rights of people with disabilities are being infringed, and even abused.
The National Council on Intellectual Disability does not claim that these abuses are widespread or rampant. The majority of organisations and individuals involved in supporting people with disabilities are both caring and responsible, and react strongly when abuses of rights are brought to their attention. Yet if such abuse does occur, for one person, in one part of this country, then that is still too much.
Perhaps this Discussion Paper will serve to rekindle the debate, and will result in constructive action by all of us to correct unfair practices, confront injustice, and legislate where necessary. Most importantly, I hope it will encourage all of us to refuse to continue to accept discrimination, wherever it may occur, and to accept people with disabilities as equal partners in community life.
Barbara Donovan
National President
National Council on Intellectual Disability
