Disability with Attitude: The Conference of the Double Decade
Over 250 people attended a two day conference on Disability with Attitude -
critical issues twenty years after IYDP - at Parramatta, Sydney, Australia
on February 16 and 17 2001. People from across the disability movement from
Australia and New Zealand, joined with university researchers and public
sector workers, to listen to invited guest speakers, local researchers and
activists.
Prof Jan Reid of University of Western Sydney welcomed the participants, and
Lester Bostock gave the welcome on behalf of the indigenous people of the
area. The conference was opened by Don Grimes, the Minister for Community
Services who introduced the Disability Services program in 1986, who told
the story of building a concept of disability rights, and gave insights into
the political process.
Conference participants were able to attend three streams of papers, and
heard 24 talks on topics such as hate crimes, masculinity and disability,
disability and the law, sexuality, indigenous identity, and sterilisation.
Guest speakers included Dr Tom Shakespeare, from Newcastle University in the
UK, Prof Adrienne Asch, Wellesley College (USA) and Helen Meekosha, Vice
Chair of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA).
Dr Tom Shakespeare, spoke inspiringly of how disability needed to be
understood as a social and cultural process, not a medical issue. Tom's talk
became the centrepiece for an ABC TV 7.30 Report story on disability and
genetic ethics.
Helen Meekosha, spoke of the 20 year struggle by people with disabilities.
She put the fight for justice, equality and human rights in perspective,
identifying the many cultural and political issues still to be tackled.
Prof Adrienne Asch, spoke movingly of the disturbing issues raised by
disabled reproduction and parenthood, in particular the rising turmoil
around sterilisation and parental rights.
Participants were very positive about the conference, and the opportunities
it provided for networking. It allowed partnerships between research and
advocacy activists, and allowed a celebration of a cross-disability culture
which empowered many people for the difficult times ahead.
For conference papers contact:
Ann McCutcheon via email at McCutcheon@unsw.edu.au
WWDA National Forum "Sterilisation and Reproductive Health of Women with
Disabilities in Australia - Moving Forward
In 1992 the High Court, in what has come to be known as Marion's case,
decided that the non-therapeutic sterilisation of an intellectually-disabled
minor could not be authorised without a court order. Despite this decision,
it has become clear that these authorisations have not been occurring.
On March 15, 2000, a resolution was passed in the Senate which called for
the
Australian Government to conduct a review of the legal, ethical and human
rights mechanisms in place, or needed, to protect the rights and interests
of the reproductive health of women with intellectual and other
disabilities, and; commission research on the practice, effects and
implications of the sterilisation of women with intellectual and other
disabilities (Ref: Senate Journal No. 104, 24). This Senate Resolution was
endorsed by the Australian Liberal Party, the Labour Party and the
Australian Democrats.
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) has been advocating for several
years for the need for this review to occur, and is currently conducting a
National Project on the issue of Sterilisation and Reproductive Health of
Women and Girls with Disabilities. As part of the project WWDA conducted a
National Forum on Sterilisation as an adjunct to the International
Conference "Disability With Attitude: Critical Issues 20 Years after
International Year of Disabled Persons".
The National Forum drew on the expertise of 2 renowned International experts
on Reproductive Health and Disability (Drs Adrienne Asch and Tom
Shakespeare) who are attending the International Disability Conference, and
who have agreed to participate in the National Forum. The National Forum
provided a voice for the experiences of women with disabilities and focused
on four main areas:
- Identification of key areas requiring further research and action;
- Formulation of practical strategies which participants and their organizations can implement;
- Formation of working links and support between women with disabilities, researchers, service providers and policy makers;
- Sharing of information, networking, and learning from international experience.
In the context of the Disability Discrimination Act, and the current
governments endorsement of the Senate motion, the forum was a timely
opportunity to explore these issues further, and to develop practical
strategies for
action.
For more information about this Project, please contact:
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
PO Box 229 Dickson 2602 ACT, Australia
Ph: +61 2 62421310 Fax: +61 2 62421314 TT Y: +61 2 62421313
Email: wwda@ozemail.com.au
Website: http://www.wwda.org.au
Contact: Carolyn Frohmader, Executive Director
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