|
About us
Background
The Aboriginal Disability Network grew out of a grassroots recognition
that Aboriginal people with a disability were not receiving appropriate
support services, and that some of the few services specifically targeted
at assisting Aboriginal people with a disability, are disappearing. A
core aim of the Network is to facilitate communication between people
with an interest in the area of disability, allowing them to be fully
informed of the available services which may be able to assist them.
The group had its first meeting at WACOSS in 1998 and this was followed
by a seminar held at Clontarf entitled 'Aboriginal Disability… What's
the picture?' Supported by WACOSS and Disability Services Commission,
the seminar's high attendance confirmed that disability in Aboriginal
Communities is of concern to many people
The success of the seminar has strengthened the group with many of the
participants joining. Group meetings are now held two monthly at Derbarl
Yerrigan.
Membership
Current membership covers a diverse range of interests in disability,
from people with a personal interest in disability, through to people
interested in employment and rehabilitation, research, advocacy, home
and community care. Members also include occupational therapists, psychologists,
doctors, case workers and coordinators, academics, wellness and recreation
workers, and people interested in pediatric, hearing disability, intellectual
disability, psychiatric and prevention issues. Anyone who is interested
in putting their name on the mailing list and attending meetings should
provide their details to Michael Wright
Subcommittees
The Aboriginal Disability Network has a number of special interest groups.
Advocacy
For information about the Advocacy sub-committee:
Eric Leipoldt
Phone/fax: (08) 940 52995
Phone: (08) 9306 9164
Email: ealeipol@student.ecu.edu.au
Employment and rehabilitation members:
Goals:
- To bring focus and attention to disability, stress and injury management
problems in the workplace for Aboriginal people.
- To facilitate identification of problems regarding employment and
disability and to generate positive solutions from with the Aboriginal
community.
For information about the Employment and Rehabilitation sub-committeee
contact:
Margaret O'Neill
Phone: (08) 9336 1491
Email: deneill@argo.net.au
Research
For information about the research sub-committee contact:
Hilary Rumley
Phone:
Email: hrumley@cylenne.uwa.edu.au
|
