Disability in Indigenous communities; addressing the disadvantage First Peoples Disability Network (Australia)

Australia’s first national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability was launched in Sydney on 30th March. Damian Griffis, Executive Officer of the First Peoples Disability Network (Australia) wrote that it is helping to create a strong voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, on Ramp Up, on 20th April:


By any measure, Aboriginal people with disabilities are amongst the most disadvantaged Australians. They often face multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within their own communities and the wider community.

This continues to occur for a range of reasons including the fact that the vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with disabilities do not identify as a people with disability. This is because in traditional language there was no comparable word for 'disability'. Also the vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with disabilities are reluctant to take on a further negative label - particularly if they already experience discrimination based on their Aboriginality.

As a consequence, 'Disability' is a new conversation in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

Read on here.