Youth Disability Advocacy QLD

Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference (Melbourne)

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The DARU (Disability Advocacy Resource Unit), SARU (Self Advocacy Resource Unit) and VDAN (Victorian Disability Advocacy Network) are convening the 2nd Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference.

When :Tue 17 Nov 2009 - Wed 18 Nov 2009
Where: Jasper Hotel, Melbourne

Call for Feedback on "The Case for a Youth Disability Advocacy Service in ...

Caroline Woods — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A 'new-and-improved' Youth Disability Advocacy Queensland (YDAQ) Service Proposal, entitled The Case for a Youth Disability Advocacy Service in Queensland has been recently drafted. A Summary of the report has also been produced. Both documents are 'working drafts' so we would welcome your thoughts and feedback.

Please email Caroline (ydaq2@yanq.org.au) if you have any suggestions for either document or queries on the campaign for a youth disability advocacy service in Queensland.

SHUT OUT: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Many of the large institutions that housed generations of people with disabilities—out of sight and out of mind—are now closed. Australians with disabilities are now largely free to live in the community. Once shut in, many people with disabilities now find themselves shut out. People with disabilities may be present in our community, but too few are actually part of it.

Blue Skies - new vision for Queenslanders with disability and their families

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

At present:

there are many Queenslanders with disability who don’t get the support they need to live decent lives in the communities of their choice; and
there is a high level of reliance on a funding and service delivery system that is predominately crisis driven.

Early in June this year, a collection of people involved in Queensland's disability sector - people with disability, family members, advocates, public servants, service providers, peak bodies, academics and other committed individuals - met for three days to undertake the Blue Skies Scenario Building Activity.

Looking for Stats and Stories - Why could young people with disabilities use an advocacy service?

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Caroline is currently compiling a summary of the evidence supporting the case for a youth disability advocacy service in Queensland. If there are any reports or papers relating to any aspect of youth disability services, consumer driven community organisations or citizen advocacy that you have come across and think may be worthwhile to include in Caroline's summary, then your input would be greatly appreciated. Please send any suggestions or reference to Caroline - ydaq2 @ yanq dot org dot au.

Update: Establishing a youth disability advocacy service in Queensland

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Over the last few weeks we've received lots of support from members of the public for the idea of a youth disability advocacy service in Queensland. Nevertheless, it has become clearer that we have a lot of work to do before we can make this service a reality.

Here's an update on what we've been up to:

Labor & LNP Responses to the Letter to Candidates

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Supporters of youth disability advocacy in Queensland might recall that a few weeks ago, we sent an open letter to the major parties contesting the State Election. In the letter we asked for statements of each party's position on how government can support the rights of Queensland's young people with disabilities. Below are the responses we've received so far.

Career Resources for Young People with a Disability

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Broaden Your Horizons (http://www.imvc.com.au/broadenhorizons) is a centralised website that houses resources relating to young people with disabilities. This tool provides information about career and transition resources and support services available to young people with disabilities. The aim of the site is to create an easy, time-efficient way to source targeted transition information for young people.

Source: Youth Field Express, Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies

Having a say on where and who we live with. Fair enough... Right?

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Moving out of home is a big deal. Most young people get a fair amount of control over the process and can decide when they move, where they move to and who they move in with. Some young people, especially those with intellectual disabilities, don't have the freedom to make choices like that. This is often because our communities have not provided enough opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities to develop important life skills, and so the only option for them is supported accommodation.

An advocacy service for young people with disabilities would help to ensure that social services (such as schools, disability support agencies, housing providers etc) did provide plenty of opportunities for young people to learn new skills and demonstrate their potentials. The following story from the United States is a good example of how an advocacy service could help.

Open Letter to Candidates for QLD State Election: Rights of Young People with Disabilities

David Powell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The following letter was sent to the major parties contesting the 2009 Queensland State Election. If we receive any responses, they will be posted to this website.

Dear Candidate,

RE Youth Disability Advocacy Queensland (YDAQ)

Youth Disability Advocacy Queensland (YDAQ) is dedicated to providing advocacy for young persons with disabilities throughout the state. We are affiliated with Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ), the state's peak youth body, and have widespread support from the disability sector.