By Hayley Dean, CEO Melba Support Services
In modern Australia, discrimination against people with disability remains an everyday reality. Despite progress in awareness and legislation, deep-seated biases – both overt and subtle – continue to limit access to employment, education, healthcare and community involvement.
These are not just minor barriers, but serious roadblocks that deny people with disability the opportunities, autonomy and respect each and every human deserves and should be entitled to. Confronting these biases head-on is essential if we are to create a truly inclusive society where everyone has the chance to participate fully and equally.
One of the most persistent forms of prejudice exists in the workforce. People with disability bring unique skills, perspectives and determination to the workforce, but still face significant barriers to employment.
The Australian Human Rights Commission reports that, 4.4 million Australians with disability are significantly less likely to be employed compared with those without disability. Only 50 per cent of working-age Australians with disability are employed, while 80 per cent of their counterparts without disability hold jobs. In addition to unemployment, people with disability experience higher rates of underemployment and poorer quality jobs.
I find myself wondering why, as my experience echoes the report findings that evidence demonstrates that people with disability have a positive work attitude and work ethos, and hiring people with disability can boost productivity and morale in the workplace.
Education, the foundation of opportunity, remains riddled with significant barriers for students with disability. Almost one in five students with disability who attend mainstream schools report not receiving adequate support, according to a report by Children and Young People with Disability Australia. This lack of support is a significant driver to a gap in educational outcomes, including high dropout rates and reduced academic achievement compared with students without disability.
Social exclusion in educational settings also has a significant impact with almost one quarter of students with disability report experiencing bullying, significantly impacting mental health, engagement and future educational aspirations. The combination of bullying with inadequate accommodations and support, push many students out of the education system prematurely, severely impacting their career prospects and ultimately their quality of life down the road.
The healthcare system should be a place of equality yet people with disability regularly experience biases that compromise the quality of care they receive. A Disability Royal Commission survey found that 40 per cent of people with disability had encountered discrimination from healthcare providers. People reported that their symptoms or pain levels were dismissed or that doctors made biased assumptions about their quality of life or desires regarding treatment options.
Despite awareness campaigns, people with disability still face exclusion from various social and leisure activities. Public spaces are often inaccessible and activities such as sports, art, and entertainment are often designed without consideration for people with disability. This exclusion is both physical – lack of ramps, accessible seating, and audio or visual accommodations – and social, as people with disability frequently encounter stares, patronising attitudes, even outright avoidance in public spaces.
I read recently that 45 per cent of people felt awkward around people with disability, with almost one-third actively avoiding socialising with them. Not surprisingly, this results in feelings of isolation, which again impacts mental health and overall quality of life.
The first step in dismantling these prejudices is to acknowledge them in their full scope. It is essential to educate the public about the diverse capabilities of people with disability and to enforce accountability in workplaces, schools and public spaces. Additionally, more robust policies and reliable enforcement mechanisms are critical to ensuring that people with disability have equal access to all aspects of life, from employment and education to healthcare and community participation.
Disability is not a rare condition; it is a part of the human experience that we all encounter directly or indirectly. Disability does not diminish a person’s humanity, we are all equal by virtue of being human and society should be a place where we all thrive. By eliminating prejudice and creating truly inclusive spaces, we are strengthening the social fabric and the richness of our communities.
Today (3 December) is International Day of People with Disability.
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