I am working on a writing piece about expectations for how people with or given a disability diagnosis are supported. This includes, but is not limited to intellectual, developmental, and/ or communication disabilities.
I very much believe that we Autistic people are disabled by our environment and people’s treatment of us. Not that we are wrong or don’t have a right to be, in any way. For me, needing support to learn / do certain skills does not mean I am weird, just different.
I have, again, been watching public hearings into the Disability Royal Commission in Australia (Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability). I have discovered some very interesting things about accessing appropriate support, including… well, you’ll have to wait for my blog post.
Whether you consider yourself disabled, reject the label/s, or understand why this term is used, this is about when you, a friend, neighbour, family member, people on the disability pension etc need support, how do you expect them to be supported?
Australians, can you answer my poll for a piece I am writing please?
When you think of people with disabilities being supported, ‘acting out’, or showing distress, do you EXPECT them to be treated with:
Mood management medication only
Life skills, behavoural skills, and a yearly full physical assessment
Support for changing their environment including housing changes
Most or all of the above?
I know my answer is most of the above. I’d like to know yours. The comments for this post are open. If you have a Twitter account, the poll is embedded below.
Thank you,
Karletta.
Musings of KarlettaA 