This is a common sense issue I share my lifestyle experiences about my disabilities and how the society treats me. My voice and the others' voices who have disabilities are not usually being heard in the mainstream media. Why people with disabilities have highest suicide rates in the world? (Disabled World, 2014).
Because we are different. Our behaviour, speech, reactions, thoughts and perspectives are different to the 'norm'. The mainstream society influence is not inclusive of having the diversity of perspectives. That why disability topic is easily forgotten in our daily topics especially within social networks, the parliament/congress and our media articles. One thing I determine this a truth of why people with disabilities are not usually confident to speak out sharing their experiences and perspectives. This is because the mainstream society and media in general is not confident to share communication with the disabled people.
Why we not including subtitles in the films? Why buildings doesn't have accessible ramps for wheelchairs and mobility scooters? Why the parliament is not considering a reform for social license for the businesses to hire people with disabilities? Why the media have no intentions to share personal perspectives of what having a disability means for the person?
There are so many questions among the topic of disability. Other 'diversity' themes basing on gender, same sex marriage and that are always been discussed in everyday life. This seems the world is forgetting about the more important part of our life is the handicapped population. Over 1 billion people on our beautiful planet have a disability (UN WHO, 2016). Why we don't talk about this? This is something I have learned so much is COMMUNICATION. This is what I observed in the past year among the conversations with my friends and the community groups I involve in. Speaking about communication strategies, the issues and solutions around rarely mentioned. This influence continues the segregation of the disabled individuals and communities away from the society and communities.
I am not going to blame the other awareness identity organisations that who dominates the conversations, but it about how the society sees. The mainstream media always pick up easily of debatable and criticised topics basing on beliefs. The ideologies of religions and other faiths focus on same-sex marriage, the refugees and women's participation in the society. From my perspective, this is NOT a most important discussion/topic of general life. I see the disability, the chronic and mental illnesses issues are highly important than worrying about other issues. It about improving the accessibility, awareness and communication for our building inclusive communities. The society designed for people with disabilities, chronic and mental illnesses means also inclusive for other identities and who are not disabled.
For example, build an accessible ramp for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Does this mean able-bodied people can't use them? Well, think hard. There are NO laws saying that the non-disabled people can't use these accessible ramps. What about captioning of television shows, films and meetings? People speaking in your own language is very accessible for the captioning because the deaf people speak the same language. You can read them if you want? Again, its inclusive for everyone.
We need to build a community, society and globe that supports people with disabilities, chronic and mental health illnesses. The design suits for everyone who is also able-bodied. This perspective is easy, and encouraging for inclusive community development. If we don't design the world that is inclusive, the debate of women's rights, same-sex marriage and so on will never be resolved. There is a correlation between disability awareness and communication awareness (IDRS 2009). Why this is a correlation? If we try to understand the different aspects of the person, like a type of disability. It all about through communication. Understanding the awareness means you will learn new about the communication strategies. This will go onto other awareness especially women's rights, same-sex marriage, the refugees and that because people in these identities also have disabilities too.
In aforesaid words, if we build a sustainable community that designs for people with disabilities. Like social housing. A affordable, accessible and inclusive destination. This will be accessible for other vulnerable people especially for homeless, cultural and low income earners. The sustainability around this platform of inclusive community also means accessible for able-bodied people. Access paths, community services, shopping, sports and other points of interests are all inclusive.
I demand the politics to build a reform for people with disabilities, chronic and mental health illness speaking their experiences in the parliament. We need a true leadership basing on experiences and knowledge rather than a leadership on others experiences. We have seen the ministers of disabilities and community development solely based on no experiences. Yet still, Australia ranks last in OECD countries in disability lifestyle.
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