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An important attitude shift for West Aussies

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We all have the power to be more inclusive and to help people in our communities live more meaningful lives.
Camera IconWe all have the power to be more inclusive and to help people in our communities live more meaningful lives. Credit: photographer/Getty Images.

Imagine if you no longer had choice and control over your daily life: you lived in a world where you were subject to ongoing discrimination, denied access into public venues, and it was near impossible to find a suitable house to live in.

This is a living reality for over 410,000 people who live with disability in Western Australia.

When we asked how we could destigmatise the perspective hindering members of our community; to be more inclusive, Executive Director from People with Disabilities Western Australia Brendan Cullinan said we must first acknowledge ableism, to better understand and acknowledge that people living with disability have the right to live a meaningful life.

“We all need to understand and acknowledge that right. That’s the role all sectors of the community need to actually fully embrace,” Mr Cullinan said.

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“We have to acknowledge and ensure that people with disability have choice and control in their lives.”

A whole range of physical, societal and systematic barriers continue to adversely impact a person with disability from having choice and control.

“I think what was highlighted through the COVID situation was some unintended consequences, by putting information and services online that assumed people disabilities could access that,” Mr Cullinan said.

“Some people didn’t have the IT capability, didn’t have access to the equipment, and the information wasn’t in an accessible format,” he said.

“Whilst those barriers still occur, we’re still going to have these issues impact people with disabilities.”

Mr Cullinan and his team are currently working on sorting out NDIS issues, working with The Disability Royal Commission, and advocating for affordable housing.

“We need concrete steps identified and implemented to ensue traumatic and terrible situations stop occurring to individuals and their families,” Mr Cullinan said.

“The goal is to ensure that these things never occur again.”

Although we have a long way to go, the government is taking measures to ensure ableism is acknowledged, for example, The State Disability Strategy, a 10-year vision for a more inclusive Western Australia.

“Obviously now the key part is going to be implementation, making sure that it’s well-resourced and gets the desired outcomes,” Mr Cullinan said.

There’s an Australian Disability Strategy currently being developed and expected to be released later in the year.

Shift Accessible Homes, a Rocky Bay company, is empowering people living with disability with choice and control over their new Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA); exciting news for people living with disability who are after independent living, contemporary housing and connection to the community – with inclusion at the forefront.

“Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought; it’s not just installing a wheelchair ramp once a building is completed,” Rocky Bay CEO Michael Tait said.

“It’s considering people of all abilities from the beginning of any project, using a consultative and inclusive approach to design.

“When buildings and public spaces are designed to cater for all abilities, the entire community benefits.”

The WA government has acknowledged the need for developments like this one, buildings that not only work for but with people living with disability, to ensure that new housing developments are taking into consideration the accessible needs for people with disabilities.

“Anything that increases affordable housing options and allows choice control for people with disabilities to live in the environment in which they choose, is very good,” Mr Cullinan said.

Shift, a Rocky Bay Company, are shifting attitudes community-wide with their new Specialist Disability Accommodation. The homes feature widen doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs, ensuite bathrooms and intuitive assistive technology that can really make a difference in daily lives. To view the developments and vacancies visit Shift.

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