By Carla Gorton
SYDNEY — Under the banner of "No Home, No Job, No Life", 600 parents, friends and young people with intellectual disabilities rallied outside Parliament House on November 17.
They were organised, vocal and determined to call attention to an issue of basic democratic and human rights. Jim Laird, one of the parents and organisers of the rally, explained that the presence of 600 people was a real indication of much broader support within the community.
The rally was organised by parents of young people with intellectual disabilities who have formed an action group to lobby for increased funding to services in NSW. Their demands focus in particular upon the need for a coordinated post-school options program for young people and an increase in supported accommodation.
Young people with intellectual disabilities attend either special schools or special or integrated classes in primary and secondary schools. Under current policy, they must leave school at 18 (unlike all other school students).
For many young people, there is nowhere to go. This is particularly the case for those with more severe (and often multiple) disabilities. The NSW Council for Intellectual Disability has found that 60% of young people in this category simply have to stay home with nothing to do.
The effect is devastating. Skills learned at school are quickly lost, and social isolation begins. Many parents are forced to give up work to stay at home with their son or daughter.
Accommodation is a major concern. Currently in NSW there are 2000 people on waiting lists for supported accommodation. Queues for respite care places defeat the purpose of this service for many families.
As one mother explains in a case study provided by the NSW Council of Intellectual Disabilities, "Our children have the right to a life. They have a right to public housing and carers because they are not capable of working ... With more permanent housing the parents could get their own respite ... instead of us desperately crying out for a few minutes break by relying on the support of volunteers or by pleading for an overnight break by booking 4 months in advance ..."
Parents of these young people have been meeting all over NSW in the past 12 months, concerned about their children's future and determined to pressure the government for change.
The November 17 rally was held despite an announcement the week before by Jim Longley, the minister for Community Services, that $3.6 million will be spent on a program for 1993 school leavers with intellectual disabilities.
While this program was welcomed and applauded by the organisers and participants of the rally, it was pointed out that it does not address the needs of young people who have already completed their schooling or guarantee funding for future school leavers. It also does not adequately address the crisis in supported accommodation.
The Parents and Friends Action Group for Post School Options can be contacted via the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability.