Other aspects - disability

What is disability?

The concept of disability is complex, and there are historical, social, legal and philosophical influences on its interpretation. The experience of disability is unique to each person but there are common impacting factors. There are common aspects also in the rights of people to access specific disability services provided directly or indirectly by governments. The need for some agreed definitions, largely to ensure that disability support programs are fair about who is to receive benefits and why, has prompted much discussion and debate, both in Australia and internationally.

The following excerpt from the 1997 edition of Australia's welfare, a biennial report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, provides a useful summary of current thinking about the concept (this excerpt is reproduced here with the kind permission of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).

Disability and definitions

Disability is usually conceptualised as being multi-dimensional for the person involved.

There may be effects on organs or body parts, for instance impairments in the mobility of joints or bones. There may be effects on certain activities, for instance lifting or gripping objects with the hand. There may be effects on a person's participation in a full community life; for instance, environmental modification or equipment may be needed so that the person is enabled to work in their usual employment.

To present data on disability and disability services it is necessary to classify or summarise people's needs and relate them to service data items and definitions. Classification necessitates balancing two important but sometimes countervailing requirements. On the one hand, it is important to try to use appropriate and acceptable terminology which acknowledges the full extent of people's experience. On the other hand, clear service and data definitions are needed so that it can be seen who is eligible for and receiving services. Inevitably, data definitions and quantitative data represent an uneasy compromise between the drive towards and the resistance to such simplification, classification or labeling.

Three dimensions of disability are recognised in the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH), the 1980 definitions being set out in Box 9.1.

A new version of the ICIDH is now being drafted, to embrace developments in the field since 1980, and criticism of the first ICIDH. A range of countries, including Australia, is involved in the work with the World Health Organization, as well as organisations representing people with a disability. One of the major developments is the more specific recognition of the social construction of the third dimension of disability. It is being proposed that this third dimension be renamed 'participation', and that its definition recognise the critical role played by environmental or contextual factors in restricting full participation (Box 9.2).

Physical health and autonomy (including opportunities for worthwhile social participation) have been argued to be the two primary, universal prerequisites for human wellbeing (Doyal & Gough 1991). The evolving ICIDH concepts-impairment, activity (limitation) and participation-can thus be situated in a broader framework for universal needs and wellbeing.

These definitions and terminology are therefore in a state of flux. In this chapter, the words of the new draft ICIDH will generally be used, except when referring specifically to some existing data sources which define and contain data items such as 'handicap'.

 

Box 9.1

Definitions of the ICIDH 1980

The International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH), provides a conceptual framework for disability which is described in three dimensions-impairment, disability and handicap:

Impairment: In the context of health experience an impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function.

Disability: In the context of health experience a disability is any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.

Handicap: In the context of health experience a handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or a disability, that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal (depending on age, sex, and social and cultural factors) for that individual.

Impairment is considered to occur at the level of organ or system function. Disability is concerned with functional performance or activity, affecting the whole person.

The third dimension-'handicap'-focuses on the person as a social being and reflects the interaction with and adaptation to the person's surroundings. The classification system for handicap is not hierarchical, but is constructed of a group of dimensions, with each dimension having an associated scaling factor to indicate impact on the individual's life.

Source: WHO 1980 cited in Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (1997).

 

Box 9.2

Definitions of the new draft ICIDH

In the context of health condition:

Impairment is a loss or abnormality in body structure or of a physiological or psychological function.

Activity is the nature and extent of functioning at the level of the person. Activities may be limited in nature, duration and quality.

Participation is the nature and extent of a person's involvement in life situations in relationship to impairments, activities, health conditions and contextual factors. Participation may be restricted in nature, duration and quality. Participation is considered within seven broad domains: personal maintenance; mobility; exchange of information; social relationships; education, work, leisure and spirituality; economic life; and civic and community life.

Context includes the features, aspects, attributes of, or objects, structures, human-made organisations, service provision, and agencies in, the physical, social and attitudinal environment in which people live and conduct their lives.

The draft ICIDH2 has been issued as a public document for field trial purposes. The final version is planned to be published in 1999.

Source: WHO 1997 cited in Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (1997)

 

Box 9.3

Areas of limitation, restriction or impairment identified by the ABS

Affirmative responses to any of the following categories 'screen' the person into the ABS survey, where the limitation, restriction or impairment has lasted or was likely to last for 6 months or more:

  • loss of sight, not corrected by glasses or contact lenses
  • loss of hearing
  • speech difficulties in native languages
  • blackouts, fits, or loss of consciousness
  • slowness at learning or understanding
  • incomplete use of arms or fingers
  • difficulty gripping or holding small objects
  • incomplete use of feet or legs
  • treatment for nerves or an emotional condition
  • restriction in physical activities or in doing physical work
  • disfigurement or deformity
  • long-term effects of head injury, stroke or any other brain damage
  • a mental illness requiring help or supervision
  • treatment or medication for a long-term condition or ailment, person still restricted
  • any other long-term condition resulting in a restriction

This list thus creates the implicit definition of disability for the survey. In ICIDH 1980 terms, the ABS notion of disability ranges over impairment, disability and even handicap and health condition.


The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has published also a valuable discussion paper entitled 'The definition of disability in Australia - moving towards national consistency'. To download a PDF version of this discussion paper, click here.

More detailed discussion of physical and intellectual disability is provided in two other publications from the AIHW: To download a PDF version of 'The definition and prevalence of physical disability in Australia', click here. To download a PDF version of 'The definition and prevalence of intellectual disability in Australia', click here.

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Summary of disability among Indigenous Australians

An excerpt from Australia's Welfare 1997 (section 9.2), (reproduced with the kind permission of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).

There has been little progress since the publication of Australia's Welfare 1995 in establishing national prevalence estimates for disability among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The problems lie in definition and conceptualisation, as well as in survey sampling methods.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey results showed 2.8% of people aged 25-44 and 1% of those aged 15-24 reporting severe or profound handicap in 1994 (ABS 1995b). While these results appeared similar to those for the general population, reported in the Disability, Ageing and Carers Survey (Table 9.1; AIHW 1995:246), the two surveys were not considered strictly comparable.

Rather, it could be expected that rates of disability among Indigenous people would be higher than those of the general population, because of their higher rates of disabling conditions. For instance, Indigenous people experience higher rates of injury, and respiratory and circulatory disease-all often associated with disability (ABS & AIHW 1997). A study in a New South Wales region, using ABS definitions, found rates of severe handicap about 2.4 times higher than the total population (Thomson & Snow 1994). Subsequent studies of service use are consistent with this finding; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory were twice as likely to be users of disability support services (Black & Eckerman 1997) and made greater use of Home and Community Care (HACC) services at younger ages (Jenkins 1995).

The difficulty in obtaining better data on disability among Indigenous people is threefold:

  • the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey had an adequate sample size on which to base reliable estimates but, because it covered a wide range of material, there was little detail on disability, and it was not considered strictly comparable to other disability data;
  • the Disability, Ageing and Carers Survey had adequate detail on disability but inadequate sampling of Indigenous people for reliable estimates; and
  • there is not wide confidence that concepts of disability used in either of these ABS surveys are adequately developed for use in Indigenous communities.

If population surveys are to establish useful prevalence estimates, cooperative work is needed, involving Indigenous people, to develop an acceptable conceptualisation of Indigenous disability, including testing the socially and environmentally constructed notion of participation. It is hoped that a first step in addressing this issue will be taken during the Australian testing of the ICIDH revision. The two technical issues identified above, relating to survey design, must also be addressed.

Efforts are being made to promote the use of standard 'Indigenous identifiers' in service data collections, for instance in two relatively new collections, involving the AIHW, relating to disability support services. Using such data to evaluate service access by, and adequacy for, Indigenous people will only be possible if there is ongoing effort to improve corresponding population data on disability among Indigenous peoples.

Disability and handicap among Aborigines of the Taree area of New South Wales

This report, published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, summarises the findings of a census of disability and handicap among Aboriginal people living in the Taree area of New South Wales. Of the 907 Aboriginal usual residents of the Taree area included in the study, 227 (25.0%) were identified as having one or more disabilities, 124 (13.7%) as being handicapped by their disability and 46 (5.1%) as being severely handicapped. To download a PDF version of the report, click here.

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Policies and strategies

General

Ageing & Disability Department- NSW
Disability Policy

Australian Human Rights and Equal Oppurtunity Commission
Disability Rights

Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, Australia
Commonwealth Disability Strategy

Department of Human Services- SA
Policy Statement; Disability Action Plan

Indigenous

Media release: 31 January 2000. Hon. Larry Anthony, MP. Minister for Community Services $255,000 for Indigenous Disability Advocacy.

Media release: 3 December 1999. Senator Jocelyn Newman, Minister for Family and Community Services, and Senator John Herron, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. Joint Working Party for Indigenous Disability Network.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Department of Family and Community Services' National Disability Advisory Council are together organising the formation of a working party to address Indigenous disability issues. One of the working party's first tasks will be to consider the viability of the proposed National Indigenous Disability Network, a new initiative designed to develop networks and facilitate information exchange between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people with disabilities. The working party is to be comprised primarily of Indigenous Australians.

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Guidelines

Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Disability standards and guidelines

Kuipers P, Allen O (2004)
Preliminary guidelines for the implementation of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approaches in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Australia.
Rural and Remote Health;4(online):291. Retrieved from http://rrh.deakin.edu.au
View full paper (HTML)
View full paper (PDF)

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Programs and projects

Currently no information collected and/or compiled

Health promotion resources

Currently no information collected and/or compiled

Lessons learned

National Disability Administrators (2004)
Sharing stories: exploring good practice for disability support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in rural and remote communities.
Canberra: National Disability Administrators
View HealthInfoNet abstract
View report (PDF - 938KB)

Case studies

Currently no information collected and/or compiled

Evaluations

Currently no information collected and/or compiled

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Published resources

Journal articles

2008

Leonard H, Nassar N, Bourke J, Blair E, Mulroy S, et al. (2008)
Relation between intrauterine growth and subsequent intellectual disability in a ten-year population cohort of children in Western Australia.
American Journal of Epidemiology;167(1):103-111
View abstract: PubMed
View website: National Center for Biotechnology Information

Panegyres PK, McGrath F (2008)
Huntington disease in Indigenous Australians.
Internal Medicine Journal;38(2):130-132
View abstract: Internal Medicine Journal
View website: Blackwell Synergy

2007

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007)
Intellectual disability in Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability;32(3):222-225
Hawkwers, ACT: Alzheimer's Australia
View article: Informaworld (PDF - 170KB)
View article: Informaworld (HTML)
View website: Informaworld

Marshall CA, Kendall E, Catalano T, Barnett L (2007)
The spaces between: partnerships between women researchers and Indigenous women with disabilities.
Disability and Rehabilitation;30(3):191-201
Hawkwers, ACT: Alzheimer's Australia
View article: Informaworld (PDF - 163KB)
View article: Informaworld (HTML)
View website: Informaworld

2006

Archer J, Bunby R (2006)
Epilepsy in Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Far North Queensland.
Medical Journal of Australia;184(12):607-610
View paper: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View paper: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 227KB)

Jassar P, Hunter GF (2006)
The importance of Hand Talk in communication rehabilitation among Aboriginal Australians in the Northern Territory [letter].
Medical Journal of Australia;184(10):532
View paper: MJA (HTML)
View paper: MJA (PDF)

2005

Leonard H, Petterson B, De Klerk N, et al. (2005)
Association of sociodemographic characteristics of children with intellectual disability in Western Australia.
Social Science and Medicine;60(7):1499-1513
View abstract: HealthBulletin

2004

O'Neill M, Kirov E, Thomson N (2004)
A review of the literature on disability services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (peer-reviewed)
Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin;4(4): Reviews 2
View HealthBulletin review (HTML)
View HealthBulletin review (PDF-226 KB)

Kendall E, Marshall CA (2004)
Factors that prevent equitable access to rehabilitation for Aboriginal Australians with disabilities: the need for culturally safe rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation Psychology;49(1):5-13
View HealthInfoNet abstract

Vindigni D, Griffen D, Perkins J, Da Costa C, Parkinson L (2004)
Prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions, associated pain and disability and the barriers to managing these conditions in a rural, Australian Aboriginal community.
Rural and Remote Health;4 (online)(3):230
View article: Rural and Remote Health (HTML)
View article: Rural and Remote Health (PDF - 431KB)

2003

Leonard H, Petterson B, Bower C, Sanders R (2003)
Prevalence of intellectual disability in Western Australia.
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology;17:58-67
View HealthInfoNet abstract

Prior to 2000

  • Ariotti, L. (1999). Social construction of Anangu disability. Australian Journal of Rural Health. 7, 216-222.
  • Armstrong, M.J., Fitzgerald, M.H. (1996). Culture and disability studies: an anthropological perspective. Rehabilitation Education. 10, 247-304.
  • Bostock, L. (1991). The Meares Oration: access and equity for people with a double disadvantage. Australian Disability Review. 2, 3-8.
  • Germanos-Koutsounadis, V. (1990). "Fair go" access and equity issues for Australians with disabilities who are from non - English speaking backgrounds [NESB], Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, women and from remote areas. Australian Disability Review. 3, 3-10.
  • Gething, L. (1994). Aboriginality and disability. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal. 3, 29-34.
  • Gething, L. (1995). A case study of Australian Aboriginal people with disabilities. Australian Disability Review. 2, 77-88.
  • Gething, L. (1997). Sources of double disadvantage for people with disabilities living in remote and rural areas of New South Wales, Australia. Disability and Society. 4, 513 - 531.
  • Illin, E. (1990). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Townsville region in conjunction with the Aboriginal rehabilitation officer and the Commonwealth rehabilitation service. Australian Disability Review. 3, 20-21.
  • Macali, L. (1999). Overcoming double disadvantage - Indigenous people with a disability in the labour market. Access. 5, Oct/Nov, 25-27.
  • Maher, P. (1999). Disability in the Australian Aboriginal population. Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange.
  • Smallwood, Gracelyn. (1987). The Aboriginal and Islander community. Australian Disability Review. 1, 8-10.
  • Wolstenholme, R. (1996). Caring for Aboriginal people with disabilities.
  • Ziersch, T. (1990). The reintegration of Aboriginal children with significant physical disabilities into remote communities . Australian Disability Review. 3, 24-30.

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Reports and publications

2007

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007)
Disability support services 2005-06: national data on services provided under the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement. (AIHW category no. DIS 51)
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View report (HTML)
View report (PDF – 711KB)
Section 2.3 contains information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service users.
View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Department of Indigenous Affairs (2007)
Disability access and inclusion plan 2007-2011.
Perth: Department of Indigenous Affairs
View report(PDF – 168KB)
View website: Department of Indigenous Affairs, Western Australia

2006

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (2005)
Indigenous young people with cognitive disabilities and Australian juvenile justice systems.
Sydney: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
View HealthInfoNet abstract
View report (PDF - 175KB)
View website: HREOC

ACT Health, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service ACT Inc (2006)
A new way: the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and family wellbeing plan 2006 - 2011.
Canberra: ACT Health
View HealthInfoNet abstract
View report (PDF - 1.0 MB - large file warning!)
View website: ACT Health

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006)
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Australia, 2004-05.
Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
View HealthInfoNet abstract
View report (PDF - 1.7MB - large file warning!)
View state and territory details

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2006)
Disability support services 2004-05: national data on services provided under the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement. (AIHW category no. DIS 46)
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View report (HTML)

Helps Y, Harrison J (2006)
Hospitalised injury of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 2000-02. (AIHW Category no. INJCAT 94)
Adelaide: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View report (PDF - 825KB)

2005

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2005.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics
View disability and ageing section

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Indigenous disability data inventory.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View report (HTML)

Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services (2005)
Aged and Disability Services 2005/2006.
Darwin: Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services
View report (PDF - 90KB)
View report (HTML)
View website: Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australia's Health 98
Section 3 The health of subpopulations
Section 3.1 describes the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This section provides information on life expectancy; mortality; causes of death; infant mortality; trends in mortality; hospitalisation; birth outcomes; risk factors; self-assessed health status; and health service expenditure.

Adobe Acrobat is needed to view this document (available at site).

Australia's Health 96
Describes the continuing low health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, along with some gains that have occurred.
View Section 1.5.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australia's Health Trends 1995 - includes a chapter on Indigenous health: mortality and survival; perinatal and infant health; chronic diseases; and population trends.
Adobe Acrobat is needed to view this document (available at site). 

Australian Medical Association

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Looks at disparities in health and social factors; life expectancy; trends in Aboriginal health; major causes of excess mortality; international comparisons; and where to now.

Other

National Disability Administrators (2004)
Sharing stories: exploring good practice for disability support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in rural and remote communities.
Canberra: National Disability Administrators
View HealthInfoNet abstract
View report (PDF - 938KB)

Thomson N, Snow C (1994)
Disability and handicap among Aborigines of the Taree area of New South Wales.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Series, No. 9
Canberra: AGPS, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View report (HTML)
Adobe Acrobat is needed to view this document (available at site).

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Theses

Ariotti L (1997)
'The newly planted tree': an exploration of Anangu perceptions of disability. Master of Science (Primary Health Care), Flinders University, South Australia.

Leipoldt Erik A (1998)
Aboriginal people with disability and their use of advocacy: a phenomenological approach. Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services), Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.

O'Neill M (1994)
Disability, Aboriginality and service provision in Western Australia. Master of Arts (Public Policy), Murdoch University, Western Australia.

Vindigni D (2004) Promoting the musculoskeletal health of Indigenous Australians living in rural communities: Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands. Unpublished PhD thesis, School of Medical Practice and Population Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle.
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View thesis: ADT website (PDF - 3.5 MB - large file warning!)

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Key references

  • Australia Disability Services. (1993). Service Consumer Profile Report. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health.
  • Gething, L. (1994). Aboriginality and disability. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, 18(3), 29-34
  • Gething, L. (1995b). A case study of Australian Aboriginal people with disabilities. Australian Disability Review, 2, 77-88.
  • O'Neill, M. (1993). Aborigines and disability literature review. Aboriginal Disability Project, Human Services Research Board, W.A. Council of Social Service.
  • Sinor, S. (1996). Aboriginal community action on disability: developing accessible services for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island background. Intellectual Disability Services Council (IDSC), South Australia.
  • Tate, B. (1992). Aboriginal disabilities. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, 16(1), 8-9.
  • Thomson, N., & Snow, C. (1994). Disability and handicap among Aborigines of the Taree area of New South Wales (Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Health Series No. 9). Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
  • Tipper, D., & Dovey, S. (1991). Bringing the Act together: the Disability Services Act and the support needs of Aboriginal people: case studies of service provision in Western NSW . Sydney: Planning and Research Unit, NSW Technical and Further Education Commission.

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Bibliography

If you have access to EndNote bibliographic software you may download our disability EndNote library containing relevant references from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet bibliographic database. If you use Netscape Navigator as your browser click the right mouse button and choose the 'save link as' option to save to your computer. If you use Internet Explorer you should choose the 'save target as' option.

Download disability EndNote library (390KB - compiled August 2007)

If you do not have EndNote you may view the associated reference lists:

View disability reference list (Word doc - 306KB - compiled August 2007)
View disability reference list (PDF - 185KB - compiled August 2007)

Alternatively you may wish to search the HealthInfoNet bibliographic database for references about disability.

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Organisations

Australia

National

ACROD - National Industry Association for Disability Services
ACROD has membership with more than 570 organisations Australia-wide which are responsible for operating several thousand services to people with disabilities and their families.

Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association (ARATA)
An organisation that comprises a number of individuals who have an interest in technology for use by Indigenous people.

Centrelink

Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service

Down Syndrome Associations of Australia
A useful listing of the sites of all Down Syndrome Associations in Australia.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

National Council on Intellectual Disability

National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)

Office of Disability
Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services

Office of Hearing Services
Australian Department of Health and Aged Care

Physical Disability Council of Australia (PDCA)

Local government

Australian Local Government Association

Northern Territory

Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yannkunytjatjara Women's Council
A relatively new site for a trend-setting organisation in the provision of culturally appropriate services to Indigenous peoples by Indigenous people. The Council has a disability program operating.

Northern Territory Territory Health Services, Aged and Disability Services

South Australia

EnableNet
This site is being developed as a one stop site for information on disability and a meeting place for people interested in disability issues.

Independent Living Centre of South Australia
A well developed site that has a good equipment database.

Muscular Dystrophy Association of South Australia

Neurological Resource Centre of South Australia
A site providing useful information on common and rare neurological conditions.

South Australia: Department of Human Services

Western Australia

Centre for Disability Research and Development

Independent Living Centre of WA
A site with extensive information about assistive equipment for people in rural/remote areas. Their Mobile Unit caravan visits country areas.

Western Australia: Disability Services Commission of Western Australia

Queensland

Independent Living Centre of Queensland
http://cwpp.slq.qld.gov.au/ilc/ A site that describes the Mobile ILC team which visits remote regions of Queensland, including the Torres Strait. The service is currently developing an Indigenous website and videoconferencing facilities. See the site for information about the Indigenous Carers Support Kit

Queensland: Department of Families, Youth and Community Care, Disability Program

New South Wales

Aboriginal Disability Network - New South Wales

New South Wales: Ageing & Disability Department

Victoria

Victoria: Disability Services Division; Department of Human Services

Tasmania

Tasmania: Department of Health and Human Services, Support Services

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International

American Disability Association
A site providing information for people with a disability in the United States.

British Council of Disabled People
This organisation was set up by disabled people in 1981 to promote our full equality and participation within society.

Canadian Centre on Disability Studies
The centre is a university affiliated centre dedicated to research, education and information dissemination on disability issues.

Disability World
A Scottish site aiming to provide a simple and easy means for people with a disability to browse the Internet for useful information.

Disabled Living Foundation
A UK charity aiming to provide the best possible choice for people who use equipment to live a more independent life.

Disabled Peoples' Association- Singapore
This link has information on disability statistics, services, special events, disability data for various disability groups, publications, special olympics info, and world-wide travel links.

Down's Syndrome Association- UK
The Association is a membership led and driven organisation, and members receive regular newsletters and information about events and conferences organised throughout the year.

National Organisation on Disability (NOD)- USA
This organisation promotes the full and equal participation of US men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.

World Institute on Disability
A non-profit, international public-policy centre dedicated to carrying out research on disability issues and overcoming obstacles to independent living.

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Other information

Journals

Currently no information collected and/or compiled

Conference proceedings and abstracts

Kuipers P, Allen O (2004)
Preliminary guidelines for the implementation of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approaches in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Australia.
Rural and Remote Health;4(online):291. Retrieved from http://rrh.deakin.edu.au
View full paper (HTML)
View full paper (PDF)

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Other

Accessability
Helping people with disabilities to use on-line services.

Australian Broadcasting Commission
A section of the ABC site devoted to issues relevant to responsible use of the media regarding Indigenous people.

Australian Communication Exchange
ACE is a national community-based organisation that aims to facilitate the empowerment of deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired Australians through the provision of efficient access to telecommunication and efficient delivery of leading edge products and services.

Chronic Disease Self-Management
A site that provides strategies for the management of disabling conditions such as arthritis, asthma, heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Disability Education Advocacy Australia
DEAA is a small business that provides people in the wider community with a better understanding into the needs, rights and concerns of people with disabilities.

Disability Information & Communication Exchange (NSW)
A site maintained by the National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID), which was established over 30 years ago to improve the quality of life of people with intellectual disability and to fill the need for national unity and information.

Disability Information & Resource Centre (South Australia)
A comprehensive site with a useful section with information on many different disabilities.

Disability International
Disability International is a magazine that provides information such as tourist information, career opportunities, and the latest technological advances.

Disability News
A newsletter produced by the Department's Disability Branches and reports on Commonwealth policy and program developments in the disability field.

Disability Services Commission, Government of Western Australia. Page containing useful disability links.

Disability sites on the World Wide Web
Provides useful links for information on specific disabilities; Downs Syndrome, Learning disorders, blindness, deafness etc.

e-bility.com
Provides links to a range of useful resources and services

EnableLink
Site includes disability news, a directory of disability organisations, an employment service directory, and a product and service directory.

HealthWrights
HealthWrights is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the health, basic rights, social equality, and self-determination of disadvantaged persons and groups around the world.

Interactive Disability Data
Provides links to a number of disability data cubes containing data about users of Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement-funded services.

Marcom Projects Pty Ltd Video Productions
A company that produces a large range of videos recognising the views of Indigenous peoples from Australia and the rest of the world.

National Industry Association for Disability Services. (ACROD)
ACROD, with a membership of over 560 organisations Australia wide, has a National Office in Canberra and Division Offices in all States and Territories.

NSW regional disability liason officers (RDLOs)
Aboriginal disability consultation project

The NSW RDLO's have been working collectively on State projects for the past six months. The projects have focussed on common areas of need identified across NSW. One of the State projects is the Aboriginal Disability Consultation Project.

The aim of this project is to identify the level of awareness of disability issues within Aboriginal communities and the subsequent level of service provisions currently being provided.

A pilot project was developed between an Aboriginal Consultative group and the NSW RDLO's to investigate and address disability issues within an Aboriginal community. As a result, the Arunga disAbility Group was developed, made up of Aboriginal Health Care and Education professionals, parents and carers of children with disabilities. Presently, the role of the RDLO is to assist in the identification of issues, develop linkages with educational and disability support services and assist in the development of the Arunga disAbility Group to be recognised as a supportive and proactive committee, encompassing disability and cultural needs for Aboriginal people with disabilities.

They are currently in the process of facilitating the development of a paper outlining the issues, outcomes and progression of the project. The paper will be made available to all Aboriginal communities with the aim that disability issues within Aboriginal communities can be identified and addressed within NSW.

VICNET Disability Page
This site provides links to Victorian, Australian and world sites carrying information on a whole range of disability areas and issues.

Working with Indigenous people with disability
Allied health professionals (AHPs) and carers who support Indigenous peoples in remote areas frequently comment on the difficulty in gaining access to support from other people who are in a similar situation to themselves. To help meet this need a database of such people from around Australia has been developed. By searching the database you can:

  • find people who have particular expertise or special interests that match your own.
  • establish and maintain contact with them via the contact details they have provided.
  • join by completing and submitting the application form available at the site

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You can contribute to improving the health of Australia's Indigenous people by assisting the HealthInfoNet's work
Last updated: 2 June 2008