Progress Stalled on Disability Issues - New Report

A new report shows that despite a series of high-profile campaigns since the first International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981, people with disabilities and their carers still face an uphill battle for equality.

The report – released on the International Day of People with a DisAbility on Friday 3 December 2004, analyses the progress made since 1981 from the perspective of people with disability and their carers.

The Living History Project was conducted by Scope, the Association for Children with a Disability and Headway Victoria.

Scope Chief Executive Officer, Vici Funnell, says the survey confirms trends that have been emerging for some time.

Funnell says it’s time to call on governments to get serious about these issues. While some good progress has been made since the first international awareness day in 1981, we now have an opportunity to build on that progress or to continue to let it slide.

The Living History Project found:

– Thinly stretched resources have led to a slow-down in progress towards a totally inclusive community for people with a disability
– The growing number of ageing carers is facing physical and mental exhaustion as increasing support needs are largely ignored
– Despite more than two decades of concerted effort, the equality message is still failing to get through as people with disability continue to be marginalised
– Physical barriers largely remain in place denying people with disabilities access to a range of buildings, installations and facilities
– People with disabilities continue to suffer discrimination in education and employment
– Increasing levels of anxiety and stress over potential loss of security arising from changes to or cancellation of funded programs

If you would like an electronic summarised version of the report just send us an e-mail with SCOPE in the subject line to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au.