Money, mindset and jobs brighten future for disabled

People with disability in Australia are falling further behind in society, suffering financially, socially and emotionally, according to a new book.

Governments need to spend more money on disability services and support to ease the strain on families and carers, says the co-author Dr Gerard Goggin.

Dr Goggin is an Australian Research Fellow based at the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies at The University of Queensland.

The book is a collaboration with leading Australian disability expert, and person with a disability, Associate Professor Christopher Newell, University of Tasmania.

Their book, Disability in Australia: Exposing a Social Apartheid, is a snapshot of the future for people with disabilities which will be launched at a public disability seminar at UQ tomorrow (Thursday, November 11).

“It’s looking at the question of where are we at in Australia today with disability issues. Is it a fair go? Is it a just society are we making progress?” Dr Goggin said.

Dr Goggin said it was disappointing that people with disabilities were not given a fair go given that one in five Australians live with disability.

He said employers were often scared to hire people with disabilities but new technology could often help accommodate them.

He even extended the fair go ideal by calling for one Olympic Games for all athletes, whether disabled or not.

“There is no real reason why you couldn’t have the one Olympics.”

He said the Olympic movement had overcome gender and racial discrimination in competition so disability was the next hurdle.

Dr Goggin will join five expert presenters at the seminar Disability, Power and Justice in Australia: An Audit at the Social Sciences and Humanities Library conference room (building no. 2), UQ, St Lucia.

From 2pm to 5pm, the presenters will explore challenges for people with disabilities, practices of power in the lives of people with disabilities, and prospects for transforming Australian society to ensure justice and fulfilment for people with disabilities.

For more information, visit http://www.cccs.uq.edu.au/?page=17635.

Media: contact Dr Goggin (phone: 0428 668 824, email: g.goggin@uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communication (phone: 3365 2619, email: m.holland@uq.edu.au).