Good morning Frank,
Thank you for your response with which I wholeheartedly disagree, though
I will defend (but not to the death) your right to think that way, to
quote (I think it was) Oscar Wilde badly.
The most marginalizes section in disability are those who are unable to
represent themselves and rely on others, particularly family to do it
for them. To steer these advocates to the tradesman's entrance of
associate membership call seriously in doubt your stated intent to set
up a trade union to represent all people with a disability. It seems to
me that there is no sense of unity, common bond or purpose here, just a
number of individuals with converging personal interests.
On that basis I say 'thank you, but no thank you. I will not sanction my
daughter's interest being relegated to second class status'
Frank Hall-Bentick wrote:
>
> John,
>
> Thanks for your question regarding representation, it is an extremely
> important one.
>
> Since the on set of my disability in the early 1950's I have met many
> many
> parents who are advocates for their adult children and have set up and
> run
> disability organisations to provide services in their local community
> because none existed or would have existed. However somewhere along the
> way
> many of these organisations began to represent what is best for parents
> rather than what is best for the adults for disabilities. Our parents
> spoke
> for us without asking us what we wanted or thought, without explaining
> things simply and patiently until we do understand.
>
> Since 1981 I have worked along side many people with varying severities
> of
> intellectual disabilities, some with support workers and many without.
> They
> have set up their own group here in Melbourne called REINFORCE
> http://home.connexus.net.au/~frankhb/p1st/pfmelb1.htm which has Links to
> other People First Groups around the world.
> Over time, and given encouragement and support they have learnt to look
> after themselves, some live independently and to speak out for
> themselves.
>
> However we still need to work with advocates and organisations such as
> yourselves to ensure services are provided for people with disabilities
> especially in rural and remote locations away from the capital cities.
> To this end I would encourage you to join as Associate members so that
> we can link into rural and remote issues and we can link you into
> National and International issues.
>
> Thank you for your time and interest.
>
> Frank HB
> President
> Disability Australia
>
> homan wrote:
>
> > Good evening Frank,
> >
> > I am the father of, and advocate for our 30 year old daughter who is
> > intellectually disabled. That by what I read in your message would
> > qualify Amanda for full membership, which would be tokenism, and me to a
> > lesser category, even though I am the person who represents her
> > interests in the real world.
> >
> > Similarly, I also represent the Capricornia Respite Care Association
> > Inc. The constitution spells out that more than half the members of the
> > management committee, must be people with disabilities or carers, and
> > the president must be a person with a disability or carer. In practice
> > these positions are taken by carers as most of our members are children
> > and/or are intellectually disabled to the extend that they need around
> > the clock support. Where dooes crca fit in?
> >
> > rgds John
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