The Rebuttal

… It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade

… And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

… But say a prayer, Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it’s hard, but when you’re having fun

… There’s a world outside your window
And it’s a world of dread and fear

Do they know it’s Xmas – Band Aid

It has been a strange year for me. I was working in my forever job at Expression Australia. I loved it there. I loved coming to work and being around people who were equally passionate about Deaf and Hard of Hearing issues. I loved my work mates and the ease of communication with them. I loved mentoring my team and imparting 35 years of wisdom, after all, you cant take it with you. I loved less, the Disability Employment Service. I have no kind words to say about it, but that’s another story that I have already told in these pages.

It was a joy to be able to help clients as well. Many were long term unemployed who had given up on work. Many were very lonely and their visits to me and the team helped to alleviate their loneliness. Some, far too few sadly, we were able to help into employment. Our world, with all its technology, is developing at such a rapid pace, it has forgotten to bring people with a disability along with it.

So many times we have had to tell companies and organisations that the wonderful technologies that they are developing, many through artificial intelligence (AI) are audio based and work in such a way as to exclude people who are Deaf and hard of hearing. They are also technologies that work rapidly and require quick responses and I suspect that people with cognitive issues and those who are neurodiverse find it difficult to access them. I know the blind man who had to respond to written questions on his screen couldn’t interact with the technology. He had to get his young son to try and help him. It is a travesty. But alas, that’s increasingly the route companies are using for recruitment and provision of services.

Despite these challenges, I loved my job. I loved it because I had the knowledge to be able to provide solutions. I was motivated and hungry to come to work every day. Unfortunately, I lost my job. Expression are going through some tough times. People were made redundant as Expression seek a way forward to be financially viable. I fully support the actions that they have taken and I hope they find a way that allows this grand old organisation to survive.

I possibly could have still been at Expression but I chose redundancy so that I could support my son and his partner with their sick son as much as possible. He is my grandson, not by blood, but we have adopted him. He is a cool kid. He has his challenges at the moment and I just wanted to be around if needed.

So I accepted another job that would be a more nine to five job to give me the flexibility to offer support. This was as a support coordinator. I work with people with disabilities who have very high needs and very large NDIS plans. Many of these plans are over half a million dollars and the needs of the participants are very high. It is really a privilege to be able to support them.

I have been struck by how sad some of their lives are. Many have no family supports. Many are in supported accommodation. Their only interaction is through the activities of these places and day services. The people they see as their friends are often support workers and the professionals who provide them with numerous therapies like behaviour support, speech, physiotherapy and so on.

This kind of conflicts me. I am a seasoned disability worker, I am supposed to be upbeat and positive. But if I am honest, I find it desperately sad that many of these people have no family and the majority of their interactions with people are those that are paid to help them. I asked what some of these people will be doing at Xmas. Some will be at their supported accommodation over Xmas with paid support workers and a few other residents because they have nowhere else to go. I really hope that they know its Xmas and get all the joy that they deserve!

… It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade

And that’s all I wish for this Xmas . That there be a bit of light. A bit of light for Expression so that they can survive another hundred years. A bit of light for my adopted grandson so that he can have fun at Xmas with his family. A bit of light for those people with no family who are relying on paid workers to ensure that they get to experience the spirit of Xmas. AND a little bit of light for those people developing programs and services so that they slowdown and think about people with a disability in a way that they are included for real from the start, and not just as an afterthought.

Everyone deserves a little bit of light – Let them know its Xmas time!

Merry Xmas all!