The Man on the Melbourne Tram

Was it because he was dressed like everyone else? 

Was it because he wasn't rocking in his seat and counting cards? 

Was it because he didn't look disabled? 

Last week a Facebook user posted a photo of a man on a Melbourne tram and detailed her encounter with him as she saw it. The man was accused of being intimidating and threatening towards young women and more specifically young women of Asian decent. He was accused of being a drug user and called predatory. The post attracted in excess of 80,000 likes and was shared more than 10,000 times.  Immediately comments appeared under the post that called for various violent acts to be perpetrated against the man in retaliation. Among the frenzy of people tutting and mindlessly sharing the story was a prominent feminist activist and author, Clementine Ford, someone who does not shy away from publicly revealing the faces and names of alleged perpetrators. Hastags such as #silentnomore and #fightlikeagirl were added to the story and assisted in its circulation. The story was also picked up by the mainstream media and was published by online news outlets. Several hours after the story broke people who knew the man contacted the original poster, privately and publicly, and advised her that the man had Autism and often asks for high-fives on the tram (this has not been verified). It was suggested that he was not a violent person and was well known to at least some tram users. The post was not removed by the poster until she began to receive threats via private message. The threats against the poster were not necessary however it was also not necessary for her to post an identifying image of the man on a public forum with inflammatory remarks attached.

So why? Why was this story shared en masse without any questions being raised about the veracity of her claims? And why, despite his face being shared 10,000 times, was this man all but invisible to the poster and the eager social media sharers?

Upon first reading the article it occurred to me that the man was socially inept; he hadn't physically grabbed anyone nor had he verbally abused anyone. Lets have a look at the way the interaction is written about:

Both of these examples have the female poster extrapolating a malicious intent from a few socially awkward encounters. I do not deny that the women on the tram possibly felt intimidated and frightened. I do not doubt for a second that the female poster believed that this man was behaving inappropriately. What I do doubt is our ability as a society to discuss and deal with issues relating to disability. 

The Daily Mail published a follow up article on the 10th October 2016 which reveals that the man on the tram has Autism. Doing a search of Facebook hash tags for the original posters name reveals a handful of admissions from those who shared the original article expressing regret that they hadn't looked into it more thoroughly before sharing. What is absent though is commentary from the original poster and high profile sharers like Clementine Ford.

Why are we afraid to talk about disability?

The behaviours exhibited by the man on the tram may have intimidated the women involved but how do we address that? There is an absence of dialogue surrounding people with disability; we don't talk about disability - we hide it and ignore it.

"Mentally ill people were popularly considered ‘dangerous’ and were confined and separated from the broader society. The location of asylums away from large population centres reflected this principle. Mental illness was out of sight, and mostly out of mind" 1

The segregation of those with mental illness and intellectual disability referred to above is not ancient history. In the 1960s the global civil rights movement led to the growth of advocacy for those who had been institutionalised; 'Mental Hospitals' and 'Asylums' were renamed and the Mental Health Act was established in 1962. It wasn't until 1992 with the establishment of the National Mental Health Policy that reform began. This policy was followed by the Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People With Mental Illness which found that, unsurprisingly, "People affected by mental illness are among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community. They suffer from widespread systemic discrimination and are consistently denied the rights and services to which they are entitled."2

Currently there are only a handful of Psychiatric Institutions still operating in Australia and the general consensus among those treating patients is that integration in the community is beneficial to those suffering from mental illness or intellectual disability. I would also add that integration is also of benefit to the wider community especially within the school environment; encountering difference on a daily basis imparts an understanding and an acceptance that theoretical ethics can not. Perhaps if the original poster had encountered similar Autistic behaviours previously she may have reacted differently? Perhaps if society was more aware of disability in general we may have not seen these vicious social media attacks on an unnamed man?

Perhaps a better way to deal with this would have been to speak directly to the tram driver or having taken the picture she could have spoken to the police about the incident. The police may have been aware of the man if he is a frequent traveller and may have been able to contact him or his family to deal with the issue head on. They may have also been able to direct her to resources that could assist in the future should she encounter him again. No one has the right to make someone feel unsafe, however when we are dealing with mental illness or intellectual disability we can not expect that the same awareness around personal space for example exists. 

We, as a community, need to educate ourselves about disability. We need to see disability as part of OUR lives even if we may not necessarily be affected by a disability ourselves. Maybe then we will be able to deal with incidences like this in a way that doesn't result in public shaming and torrents of abuse. 

*** Since writing this article I have noticed a few anti-feminist websites and bloggers posting equally vicious and awful things to social media about the original poster and others who shared the post. I don't blame the woman involved for being frightened nor do I blame 'feminism'; what is lacking is an acceptable and inclusive dialogue about disability - nothing about us, without us!

If you or anyone you know is affected by challenging behaviours in children or adults who are on the Autism Spectrum you may find the following resources helpful: 

Challenging Behaviours Toolkit

Autism UK 

NICE Pathways
References: 

1. The Road to Recovery - a History of Mental Health Services in Queensland 1859-2009

2. Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People With Mental Illness

Other:

Daily Mail Article with the original post.

NDIS Portal Glitch Stretches to 8 Weeks

Glitches with the National Disability Insurance Agency’s portal and payment system are persisting with many service providers and NDIS participants questioning the Government’s lack of action.

The National Census website, which was brought down by alleged hack attempts, was immediately scheduled for investigation and repair to bring the site back online. In comparison the NDIS portal, through which participants manage their funds and make payments to their providers, has been working inconsistently for the last 8 weeks. As the weeks roll by one starts to wonder if the delays are a reflection of the Government’s commitment to the NDIS.

The Australian reported that some providers have had to turn away patients due to the delays in payment;

Speech pathologist Diana Bleby said she was owed more than $5000 by the NDIS and was now drawing on a line of credit to sustain her practice in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

“I don’t work as a speech pathologist to earn the big bucks,” Ms Bleby said. “We get some payments from the NDIS but it’s highly unpredictable. My line-of-credit loan is getting less and less flexible and I need to pay rent and contractors.” (Puddy, 2016)

Where will this leave patients? It is more likely than not that the patients have had to sit on waiting lists in the first place  just to be seen by their providers  and now they face cancelled appointments and breaks in treatment because providers can not afford to continue working without payment.  As a break in treatment could have devastating effects on a patient’s progress, many families are being forced to pay for treatments themselves to avoid being thrown back on to a waiting list.

Kate Bradbrook's family includes two children who are eligible for NDIS funding, a 12-year-old and a five-year-old. The elder child had her plan approved before the end of June but despite a planning meeting, the younger child's approval has been delayed because of the glitch.

 "My planner told me to start booking therapy when we had our planning meeting," Ms Bradbrook said. "She said it wouldn't take long for his plan to be approved. It's ready to go, everything's done, but because of the current issues with the system, his plan can't be approved."

Ms Bradbrook said NDIS told her any therapy he had received would not be covered until his plan was approved. "I'm probably up to $1,000 out of pocket, which I've been told won't be reimbursed," she said. (Waldhuter, 2016)

Unfortunately it seems that the general public’s disregard for people with disability resonates with the Government. How else can we explain the difference in the way that the census website was dealt with? Is it that the Census is a money-making endeavour where the NDIS is seen as a drain on the public purse or is there a more deep-seated issue at hand? With the NDIS we were told that PWD would finally have a voice; we can HIRE our own providers and we can FIRE them if they don’t live up to standards. The promise of self-determination and self-management, through the use of the NDIS Portal, has ended up in a huge technological bungle and no one who can do anything about it seems to care.

For too long PWD have been pushed to the fringe of society; we have been told we need to be grateful for what we get and not to complain about poor service levels. The introduction of the NDIS is the biggest change to the social services landscape since the introduction of the universal healthcare system in the 1970s.  It promised increased funding, autonomy and integration. It promised that PWD would be in control of their lives and their futures. Sadly these glitches have, at least temporarily, taken away the promise of self-management and replaced it with worrying delays and unexpected expense.

The Government needs to reassert its commitment to the NDIS by ensuring the portal is fully functioning and by taking the concerns of PWD and service providers seriously.

On the 5^th August Minister for Social Services and Disability Services Christian Porter announced a review of the implementation of NDIS IT system would be undertaken and has made assurances that what they deem as the ‘central issues’ with the portal have already been resolved.

The NDIA has advised that service providers will be compensated for the delays in payment and that affected parties can contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to discuss.

Works Cited

Puddy, R. (2016, August 4). Cash-strapped providers ‘turn away patients’ due to NDIS bungle. The Australian. Retrieved from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/health/cashstrapped-providers-turn-away-patients-due-to-ndis-bungle/news-story/6d412d8af84c1a9e12fa3d6816f6088b

Waldhuter, L. (2016, August 10). NDIS providers entering eighth week without payment as families face approval delays. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-10/ndis-providers-entering-their-eighth-week-without-payment/7711754

New Year's Eve Accessibility Info

Each year, the Sydney New Year’s Eve event is viewed by more than a million people around Sydney Harbour and more than a billion people worldwide.  

Courtesy of City of Sydney

The City of Sydney aims to produce an experience of Sydney New Year’s Eve that is safe, inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for all.

Whether you join the 1.6 million spectators on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore, or take part from the comfort of your own home, here is some useful information to welcome in the New Year. 

Top tools to plan your night!

·     Your one-stop-shop for everything accessible – sydneynewyearseve.com/accessibility

Vantage point mobility access information and route maps for selected locations sydneynewyearseve.com/vantage-points

 The official 2014 Sydney New Year’s Eve App brought to you by Telstra –  sydneynewyearseve.com/app

   

Other ways to be part of the night

Audio Description – A live audio description will be broadcast on 2RPH from 7.45pm on 1224AM, 100.5FM, 2RPH digital and online at 2rph.org.au. Highlights including 9PM Family Fireworks, Harbour of Light Parade and Midnight Fireworks Display will be audio described live from the foreshore by professional audio describers, bringing the 2014 Sydney New Year’s Eve program to life for listeners.

We recently attended a forum on choosing employment for youth with intellectual
disability. This forum was put on by The National Council on Intellectual Disability
(NCID) and NSW Council on Intellectual Disability.

The forum was initiated by the mother of a young man, frustrated with the lack
of opportunities available for people with disability to be employed in open
employment. We heard of some great experiences of people with moderate
intellectual disability being employed in mainstream or open employment, such as
Jane who now works at an Office Works store in Melbourne.
 
However, we also heard some not so great experiences of how hard it is for people
with an intellectual or learning disability to find a job, yet alone keep it.
And this seems to be a problem not just limited to intellectual disability. In Australia
the employment of people with a disability is 2.9 per cent, yet they make up 15 per
cent of the working-age population.
 
Usually people with disability who are seeking work might use a Disability
Employment Services (DES) to help them find a job. Some people have had great
experiences, whilst others might have had not so great experiences.
So how do you choose the right service for you? In the last 12 months the
Government has been keeping a record of the performance of these services
right around the country. The great news is that this information is available to
you. What’s even better is that the information can be filtered to give you a better
understanding of which service might be better at helping you get a job.
 
You can look up the providers in your area - and for instance if you have a physical
disability you can see which services have had the best record of helping people
with physical disability get a job and keep it.
 
The same goes if you have an intellectual or any other disability. This is really
important when choosing a DES as one service may have a great understanding
and experience in one type of disability and perhaps not much understanding or
success with another.

www.employment.gov.au/disability-employment-services-star-ratings

So what if you feel you don’t need an employment service to assist you find a job?
Usually if you have the skills and experience there shouldn’t be a problem getting
an interview. But what happens then when you’re face to face? As an employee or
prospective employee you do not have a legal obligation to disclose your disability to
an employer however disclosure may be practical in some situations.

An employer is allowed to ask you as a prospective employee if you have a disability
which would affect how you do the job. If your disability doesn’t then it’s not really
relevant. However, if you think it might and you choose to disclose your disability,
the way in which you do it can actually help people understand and not really see it
as an issue.
 
For instance if you choose to disclose the disability at an interview, you might bring
a letter from your doctor stating how it affects (or doesn’t) your capacity for work and
you might also provide your prospective employer a ‘fact sheet’ on your disability or
something similar. You’ve become an expert at disability, but remember that many
people may have no idea on disability, so helping them understand really helps in
making it become a non issue.
 
You may also like to let a prospective employer know about the Employment
Assistance Fund. This fund is available to provide financial assistance for work
related equipment, modifications and services. The types of services can include
Auslan interpreters, specialist support for employees with learning disability or
mental health condition as well as disability awareness training. The Fund may also
provide a free workplace assessment to help identify required modifications.
 
Then as any other candidate would do, tell them about your abilities, skills and what
you can bring and add to the organisation. Sometimes your experience of having
a disability can be a great way to sell your planning, negotiation and organisational
skills for instance. And of course you have skills which are just as good or better
than the next person, so make sure you tell your prospective employer about them.
 
There are a number or organisations and corporate entities that have made it a
priority to offer employment opportunities to people with disability. These come in
the way of open employment, mentorship and paid internships. You can find out
more about some of these programs by visiting Australian Network on Disability’s
website at www.and.org.au. 

These are just some of the many ideas and resources available to you to assist in finding that job.

Budget 2014

So what to make of the Federal Budget handed down last night by Treasurer Joe Hockey?

Here’s a quick snippet of some of the main points that may affect you.

NDIS
The NDIS came through pretty much unscathed with the Government committing to it’s funding and rollout – some good news it seems!

Disability Support Pension

There are some concerns about the proposed changes to the Disability Support Pension. The Government wants to introduce compulsory activities for Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients under 35 years of age with an assessed work capacity of eight hours or more a week who have a participation plan. These activities will vary depending on a person's circumstances and will focus on obtaining employment. Sanctions for non compliance will be introduced.

It will be interesting to see how the Government brings this into practise. It’s all very well for people to be working if they are capable – and there are many people with disabilities that want to work. And it makes good economic sense as well as social sense to have everyone participating in society.

However, the figures of people with disability being employed has declined over the past decade. Is this as a result of too much reliance on the DSP, or does it point to another problem?

There are countless reports of a distinct lack of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Why is this? Is it because of a general lack of understanding and willingness from employers to employ people with disabilities?

Do some employers see a person with a disability as a liability rather than an asset and put it in the ‘too hard’ basket?
So what will the Government do to address this issue to create awareness and better understanding for people with disabilities to gain meaningful employment?

Health

Doctor’s Visits
The Government is proposing a patient contribution of $7 per service for standard general practitioner consultations and out of hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services.

For patients with concession cards and children under 16 years of age the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebate will only be reduced for the first 10 services in each year, after which it will return to current benefit levels.

So if you’re someone who has complex health needs and you see your doctor and associated health services regularly and you go over those 10 service visits in a year - it looks like it will cost you more for your health care needs.
Cost of medication

From 1 January 2015 to Government plans to increase the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co payments and safety net thresholds.

Co payments will increase for general patients by $5.00 (from $37.70 to $42.70) and for concessional patients by $0.80 (from $6.10 to $6.90) in 2015.

Pension Indexing
The Treasurer announced that the Disability Support Pension, the Carer Payment and the Aged Pension will now be indexed in line with CPI Index rather than to the Average Male Weekly Earnings.

What does this mean in real terms? Well many believe The CPI index does not reflect the real cost of living, and so feel many will fall further below the poverty line.

The proposed changes in the Budget will start to go before the Senate on 1 July 2014. Already there has been major opposition to some of these changes by Labor, the Greens and Clive Palmer – as well as many working in the Social and Health sectors.

So it looks like the Government might have bit of a fight on its hands if it’s to get these changes through Parliament.

Time will tell.

What do you think? Is it a fair budget or is it too tough?