The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) was an act passed by the Parliament of Australia in 1992 to enact the rights of people with disabilities in certain areas such as housing, education and provision of goods and services. It shares a common philosophy with other disability discrimination acts around the world that have emerged in
Making decisions is probably the most difficult area of caring for a loved one. I know I struggled with self inflicted guilt for many years, wondering if the choices I made were the best option. Adding to my fear was the uninformed advice those around me so freely pushed my way. I knew without doubt
As a Caregiver, if you feel anything like me you will be increasingly concerned and confused by the changes we see all around us. It is hard enough keeping up with the effects of bank closures in many towns, difficulty finding services that were not so long ago easily available, and higher costs for
As a Caregiver I don’t need to tell you the stress you often find yourself under when you put the welfare of others first and foremost, which can seem crushing at times. It is a given that coping with the issues of your own life, along with the issues of others who rely on you,
NOT CHOOSING WHICH DIRECTION TO TAKE IS IN FACT CHOOSING The past couple of years have given me a really good insight into the benefits of building a Core Group of Support Personnel. You see, I don’t just discuss the need for having good decision making skills, communication skills and strong relationships with the therapists
Disabled Surfers Association Of Australia Having cared for my son Rob, who has Cerebral Palsy, for literally decades, I was used to the feeling of gratitude such a parent has when good people go out of their way to help your child. It was a totally different feeling to look beyond the disabled and their
Just like carers across Victoria everywhere, I have been relishing life returning to normal. Finally after several months I had been able to visit my aging dad, see my grandkids, and feel thankful that my son who has cerebral palsy, was well and had managed to get through the worst of the Covid 19 pandemic
Enjoying some time free of stress is the want of all people who care for loved ones full time. Don’t believe for one moment that finding some time for yourself is the least of your concerns. If you don’t look after your health with purpose one small injury, or stressful hurt, sits upon all the
I chose to put a happy picture of my son Rob as the heading to this post. It links to a not so happy picture shared by Disability Rights Australia. Click on and it will become obvious why I couldn’t face writing a post whilst reflecting on the story in front of me. We have
Recently, I was privileged to officiate at an event promoting mental health awareness. Towards the end of the discussion it was my role to ask questions of the speakers on behalf of the audience. One question stood out to me personally, and I instinctively knew why it was being asked. The words on the card
There has been a lot of very hard won advancements in the way people with a disability are treated since the Disability Discrimination Act came into being way back in 1992. I remember the buzz in the room in which I was present as the main points were read to those of us with vested
A carer is someone who puts the welfare of a significant other foremost. That could describe most people in fact. But for the purposes of this blog, it is putting the welfare of another, who could not in all probability cope, or look after themselves independently, ahead of yourself. Parents or primary caregivers usually believe
Imagine finding yourself in the unfamiliar position of having to care 24/7 for someone else, especially if you have been living a relatively independent life, with decisions made based mostly on your own needs first and foremost. It can certainly come as a shock. The immediate thoughts that would come to mind are, what services
Have you ever been stuck in an elevator, lost in the bush, or broken down in your car on the highway. I know I have and it is cause for stress and panic when you find yourself faced with a situation you may not have experienced before. When you really look at those examples you
Over my 36 years, so far, as a Caregiver, I have had many instances where I thought there was no way I could continue without suffering a nervous breakdown. Indeed I did have 2 serious episodes and a great many years of self doubt, real sadness, and depressed feelings requiring medication. Much of my frustration
Having your special needs child accepted into the school of your choice has most likely followed the culmination of research, discussion, goal setting and many sleepless nights. A self congratulatory pat on the back is certainly deserved. It is a major step in the laying of strong foundations, and now it is time to help
There are few parents of disabled children who don’t need an advocate at some time or other. Even the strongest willed of us would be wise to seek the support of an advocate at stressful times in our lives. Having said that, unless you’ve had cause to understand the term, you may be unaware of
I expect my longest walk is shared by many other parents of special needs kids each and every day they attend school. As if it wasn’t hard enough taking my small son from the car, across the quadrangle, to the other side where his class was, on his first day at school, I also had
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES THAT HELP CARERS STRIVE AND SURVIVE PATIENCE Every new parent knows there is a huge amount of patience needed to care for new babies and small children. It is the sacrifice you make for having a family and it normally lessens as the child grows and moves into school. By
Hiding your childs’ disability is really quite easy if that is what you’re determined to do. At least you can keep it up for a time. Eventually though the truth with show itself, as it always does, and you will be left with far bigger issues than the one you are hiding from friends and
As the young mum of a disabled child, my major concern was staying healthy and strong so I could look after my son in the best way possible. Thirty six years later, and still caring for my son, I realize I have an added concern, the ageing of my father as well. This puts me
If you found it difficult to come to grips with parenthood thrust upon you way too soon, you are not alone. There is a process we go through for nine months before birth, not least being the slow realization a little person will soon be interrupting our sleep. As the impending birth approaches hormonal changes,
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