Expert spokespeople for International Day Of People With Disabilities 2020

What do you think when a people with a disability turns up for a job interview?

Or when you are getting your morning coffee in a bustling café and a person in a wheelchair is waiting in line?

What do you see?

Do you see the person, or do you see the disability?

One in four Australians live with a disability. Even though the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) was passed by Parliament over 20 years ago to protect people with disability from discrimination, Australia is predominately an ableist nation.

Ableism suggests that a person with disability, whether it be physical or intellectual, needs to be fixed in order to fit into society.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in the last 12 months, among people aged 15 and over with disability living in households, an estimated:

• 1 in 4 experienced some form of discrimination

• 1 in 3 avoided situations because of their disability

• 1 in 3 of those who had challenges with mobility or communication had difficulty accessing buildings or facilities

• And less than half of people with disability who are of working age are in employment.

So, what do we need to do to change this?

Life Without Barriers is determined to disrupt barriers facing people with disability, including access to meaningful employment.

We must eradicate any discrimination and bias for more inclusive workplaces. It is a fundamental right in Australia to have access to meaningful employment and the economic, social and personal benefits that it provides.

This year to coincide with International Day of People With Disabilities on 3 December, Life Without Barriers is championing the theme to see the ability in disability.