‘DisabilityCare’ Criticism Censored
21 March 2013 at 9:24 am
The Federal Government has been accused of censoring criticism of its rebranding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) President Craig Wallace has questioned a decision to remove responses and comments from Your Say, the Federal Government's online National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) forum.
Earlier this week the National Disability Insurance Scheme was rebranded DisabilityCare.
“Many people with disability, family and friends responded with criticism and dissatisfaction regarding the controversial new branding,” Wallace said.
“While there are different views about the name, it’s outrageous to remove the whole forum completely. This is a poor decision which doesn’t augur well for a scheme that is meant to be about user control and having more of a say about our lives.
“Many people are unhappy about the new name for the scheme feeling it is patronising and doesn’t reflect the nature of the new NDIS system which should put people with disability in control.
“That is why it has generated considerable comment. Removing the forum from the website just adds insult to injury.
"It’s called 'Your Say' – we should be allowed to have our say.”
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill passed the Federal Parliament today.
The Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin said that the new name reflected the principles of the NDIS that all Australians with significant or profound disability receive the care and support they need, regardless of how they acquired that disability.
People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWDA) is a national disability rights and advocacy, Not for Profit organisation.
The furore over the Government’s use of inappropriate and outdated langauge when referencing community memebrs with a disability is not just limited to the NDIS name change.
Please see this media release from Arts Access Victoria highlighting the inappropriateness and ramifications of the use of the word ‘tolerance’ in relation to people with a disability in the just-released National Cultural Policy:
http://www.artsaccess.com.au/2013/03/media-release-good-news-for-the-arts-not-if-you-have-a-disability/
Thanks
Chris Brophy
Arts Access Victoria
If it ain't broke – no need to fix it.
When a Government changes a basic detail, this means MORE details will follow.
I believe the NDIS as first promulgated is now too hard for our puny Federal minds, coupled with State and Territory intransigence, and this is the first step in diluting the concept.
Under NDIS, the passage was reasonably clear (read "Medicare").
Under Disability Care, onus and responsibility can be shunted to any number of current providers.
This is a typically despicable way for this current Government to duck out from under.