Last night signalled the end of the ABC’s 3-part series Employable Me, which followed 9 people with disability as they searched for jobs. It’s been a ground-breaking series in many respects, bringing this often overlooked topic into the mainstream, and generating extensive conversation and insight … Read more about Final reflections on the ABC’s Employable Me
Further reflections on the ABC’s Employable Me
Watching the second episode of Employable Me last night inspired me to write another reflection piece. Last night we met three new job seekers on the autism spectrum- Krystyna, Jonathan and Ben. Being welcomed into their lives came with a host of new, valuable insights. We explored themes of … Read more about Further reflections on the ABC’s Employable Me
Reflections on the first episode of the ABC’s Employable Me
For a while now, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to watch Employable Me, a 3-part documentary series following people with disability as they look for work. The first episode screened Tuesday night on the ABC, and it did not disappoint. The show is a real and raw depiction of the … Read more about Reflections on the first episode of the ABC’s Employable Me
Listen and learn: the importance of parking our prejudice
I was moved to write this piece after listening to Jon Faine’s interview with Carly Findlay last Wednesday. Carly is a blogger, writer, speaker and appearance activist who was on Jon Faine’s ABC Melbourne radio show to discuss microaggressions she faces regularly due to her disability. Let me say … Read more about Listen and learn: the importance of parking our prejudice
Trust and the NDIS
Aside from headline-grabbing articles about the sustainability and costs of the NDIS lies a lesser-discussed element of the scheme, providing important insight into the hearts and minds of the individuals and families directly affected by the NDIS. For this group, the NDIS has not … Read more about Trust and the NDIS
Disability is not an excuse for bad behaviour
Don Burke blaming Asperger’s syndrome as his excuse for his behaviour is just that. An excuse. TV personality Burke recently appeared on national television claiming he has self-diagnosed Asperger’s syndrome and attributes this as one of his terrible ‘failings’. Whether or not Burke actually … Read more about Disability is not an excuse for bad behaviour
We should be ashamed of the low employment levels
I thought it timely to round out Disability Action Week by sharing some insights from the 2017 Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC17), which I attended last week in Sydney. APAC17 is all about sharing knowledge and stories to enact change, and I left the three days feeling uplifted and spurred into … Read more about We should be ashamed of the low employment levels
Love them and let them go
A recent screening of ABC’s Australian Story featured the captivating tale of a couple who decided to take an unorthodox approach to challenging their son’s disability. Just as 14-year-old Sam was entering adolescence, his family insisted he embark upon a six-month backpacking trip around Africa … Read more about Love them and let them go