Disability

The rights enshrined within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) are inherent, universal and immutable, and should be recognised across all aspects of community life. Disabled people1 have the right to equitable access to opportunities available to other members of society, and they should be able to exercise this right without discrimination.

Disabled people have the right to realise physical, social, emotional, intellectual, cultural, educational and spiritual development, and must be provided with access to services that will support their choices, assist them to be as independent as possible, and enable them to participate meaningfully in all aspects of life. Disabled people have the right to live in a healthy environment free from neglect, abuse, violence, intimidation and exploitation.

Aims

The Greens (WA) want:

  • improved overall quality of life for disabled people, and their protection from deprivation, hardship and poverty
  • disabled people to be integrally involved in all levels of decision and policy making, including the planning of their own needs and of services for other disabled people
  • disabled people to be enabled to participate fully in all aspects of life including education, training and employment
  • an end to discriminatory attitudes and practices at all community levels
  • disabled people to have access to all community services in a safe and considerate environment
  • a broader understanding and acceptance that people may experience levels of disability, that may fluctuate throughout their lives, arising from persistent mental or emotional distress

Measures

The Greens (WA) will initiate and support legislation and actions that:

  • ensure that there is no disadvantage for people with any type of disability, irrespective of funding and delivery models for services
  • provide programs and services that are flexible and responsive to people’s individual needs
  • provide equitable support and services for people experiencing psycho-social conditions and mental health difficulties
  • ensure adequate physical access throughout the community, including to cultural, sporting and recreational activities
  • provide improved flexible accommodation options for people with disability, including accommodation that is age-appropriate
  • improve access to education, training and employment through the removal of structural barriers (see also The Greens (WA) Education policy)
  • recognise, respect and support the important role of carers and families in the lives of many disabled people
  • ensure that disabled people are not discriminated against when applying for positions in the workplace, nor exploited by employment agencies
  • ensure that the findings of the royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with Disability are followed up with regulatory frameworks to reduce the incidence of future mistreatment
  • develop stronger regulations to address corruption and misuse of funds within charitable and not for profit organisations that operate in the disability industry and ensure that whistle-blower complaints are fully investigated
  • ensure that voluntary directors and committee of management members of a charity or company limited by guarantee, that operate in the disability sector, are fully aware of the legal responsibilities of such a role, and the requirement to comply with all the regulations that apply to such entities
  • provide accessible means for disabled people and their carers and families to bring complaints, including complaints of discrimination and exploitation, and ensure appropriate advocacy support is available for these people
  • address the over representation of people with intellectual or cognitive disability in the criminal justice system and improve the provision of legal services and support to people with disability (see also The Greens (WA) Justice policy)

(see also the Australian Greens Disability policy)

Footnote

1. Disabled people - The Greens are advocating for the use of identity-first language instead of person-first language, i.e. disabled people instead of people with disability. There is a lot of discussion in the disability community about preferences on these terms and there is no definitive right or wrong. However identity-first language is strongly linked to disability pride and reclamation of the word 'disabled'.

Disability policy ratified by The Greens (WA) in 2020