International Day of People with Disability

Today is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) where we celebrate the contributions and achievements of all Australians with disability and this year's theme is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”.

What is disability

Disability is a difficult term to define as there is no singular definition. The definition is dependent on the context in which disability is being considered. A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. A disability may be visible or hidden, may be permanent or temporary and may have minimal or substantial impact on a person’s abilities. two people with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways. Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see.

Real stories

We would like to use this as an opportunity to showcase one of our colleagues and their experience.

We all have a role to play in ensuring people with disabilities can reach their full potential and participate in all aspects of community life. Let’s all take action this December, and all year round, to make our community and workplace more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

“I was born with a cleft palate and hearing loss. At one year old a surgeon fixed the palate, and he did a great job as no one can tell visually. Doctors always compliment the surgeons’ work and I take it as a personal achievement even though I’m pretty sure I didn’t help him much at the time.

I was very hard of hearing throughout junior school, and I was in a part time support class. Surgery improved my hearing to a point where I could eventually go into mainstream classes, and I thrived throughout my education years.

I still have life impacting hearing loss, but I’ve learned to live with it. I do a lot of compensating behaviours to try and hear people - wearing headphones, tilting my head to use my good ear, focusing on one voice at a time in larger groups and focusing on facial cues.

I answer questions that have never been asked, accept invitations that have never been offered and hear sounds that have never been made.

We live in a world where we can share our disabilities, seek assistance, or keep our health battles private. I am glad to be myself at work and thrive in a job that I love.” -Anon

How can I support people living with an invisible disability?

• Words are powerful - The words you use and the way you portray individuals with disabilities matter. For a helpful guide read Language tool People with Disabilities and Charter Mental Illness Language Tool
• Show patience
• Don’t make assumptions - VIDEO| 5 reactions to accessible parking
• Listen to people’s stories: Read – International Day of People with Disability (idpwd.com.au)
• Information about how you can get involved and help break down barriers (both structural and attitudinal) for people with disability can be found on this website.