The Rebuttal

Hey there! Guess what? I have retired. Yesiree – I have. My last day at work will be the 26th September 2024. I have been privileged to have worked these last two years back in the Deafness Sector. First with Expression Australia and now with Deaf Connect. Both have wonderful staff who are enormously committed to the Deaf community. As a Manager of Employment and currently 1:1 Support it was my great fortune to lead two great teams. It is a great way to go out. I will take stock for a year, address a couple of minor health issues that need surgery; then who knows!

I wanted this article to be totally positive. Alas, the disability sector has reared the ugly side of its head today. It was a 35-year career and when I recount what happened today, I wonder if it was all worth it. Did I, we, us actually make progress. Seems that we are forever taking two steps forward and four back.

So, today one of Australia’s top disability advocates declared that they were down to their last $114 in the bank. They have worked for decades in the sector and have been at the forefront of many great changes, including the NDIS. For this they have $114 to show. Take note, all you well paid CEOs and politicians!

So, this decorated advocate was invited to speak at the upcoming National Disability Summit. It’s a huge thing. Bill Shorten the current NDIS Minister and Michael Sukkar, the Shadow Minister for the NDIS, are keynotes. The timeless Graeme Innes is speaking too. The agenda is broad and includes disability workforce, sustainable disability employment, quality solutions etc etc. It’s the place to be for answers, no doubt. Organised by Informa and at $1895 a pop for two days, it had better be good.

$1895, let that sink in. There won’t be too many people with a disability there. What with 45% of them living in poverty. What with our hero advocate who has given decades of their life down to their last $114. There won’t be too many grassroots people there. No matter, the bigwigs know what they are doing. Don’t they?

Back to my hero friend-advocate who is extremely poor. They were invited to speak at the conference. Yay!!! Except, they were told they would have to cough up their own airfare for themselves and their carer. Cover their accommodation as well. I would hope their conference rego was covered. I am not sure at the time of writing. But what I do know is that this advocate is promoted prominently in the conference program.

So, they cannot go. Conference is next week. They have posted as much on Facebook and Linkedin. Some kind people have offered to cover their airfares and possibly some other expenses. Thats very nice but think of this; one of Australia’s premier disability advocates, who has given their life to the disability community and who knows disability back to front, has been asked to work for free, with no expenses covered. Sustainable employment, my arse! AND, people are having to offer our hero advocate charity for them to be able to attend! How shameful is that??

And this conference organiser has form. About a decade ago they refused to provide me with an Auslan interpreter for a disability employment conference, no less. They asked me to bring my own. They relented after their keynote speaker threatened to pull out in support of my quest to get them to pay. You see, I knew all the speakers and sponsors and emailed them all about the organisers refusal to provide me with access. Highlight was said keynote speaker starting their speech reminding the organiser of their obligations to provide access. I hope they noticed my little fist pump at the time.

So, I am retired. 35 years I have busted a gut to improve things for people with a disability and now this! You have to ask – Was it all worth it!