Theme 6: Community attitudes Positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disability can have a real impact on quality of life and wellbeing. A social model of disability is widely recognised as central to ensuring the rights and freedoms of people with disability. A core tenet of this model is the need to address societal and attitudinal barriers to allow people with disability to thrive in community.78 Through our conversations with carers, we heard about the negative impacts of protectionist attitudes and negative perceptions on young people’s confidence and willingness to participate in the community. Societal attitudes were identified as a root cause of many inequities experienced by young people with intellectual disability across all stakeholders we interviewed. In recognition of the link between community attitudes and improved outcomes for people with disability, The National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 committed to promoting awareness and removing societal barriers preventing people with disability from participating as equal citizens.79 Through this period, our community has seen important advances in this area. For instance, a review of the National Disability Strategy conducted by the UNSW Social Policy Research Centre found overall improvements in community attitudes and awareness, increased media attention associated with the NDIS and a general paradigm shift towards human rights language and approaches.80 Yet while perceptions are changing, people with intellectual disability still experience some of the highest rates of discrimination and stigmatisation in Australia. A recent survey conducted by the Endeavour Foundation showed that almost 25 per cent of people would feel discomfort sitting next to a person with severe intellectual disability on a bus or train.81 These attitudes and experiences of stigma and discrimination seem to play out both the community and the service system.82
Negative community attitudes and stigmatisation can also contribute to experiences of abuse. People with intellectual disability are more likely to experience violence, emotional abuse and sexual harassment.83 Negative attitudes that people, communities, organisations and government have towards young people with intellectual disability can inform laws, policies and practices with potentially harmful consequences.84The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is shining a light on the inequalities and mistreatment experienced by people with disability in Australia.
Future directions Changing mindsets To ensure young people have access to pathways to a meaningful life in the community, there is a need to change community mindsets and shift the paradigm to one of inclusion and acceptance. There is an opportunity to combat negative and protectionist attitudes by investing in stronger community education and engagement initiatives, designing campaigns to target discrimination, violence and neglect, and promoting more positive narratives. While initiatives of this kind will have a broad focus, it is imperative that young people with intellectual disability are fairly represented with a focus on acceptance as opposed to sensationalising their experiences. There is also a need for more research on the prevalence, impact and drivers of stigma and discrimination for people with intellectual disability in the community. This can help to concentrate efforts on developing a set of evidence-based actions to reduce discrimination and improve community attitudes.
78
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (ADFO). 2020. Social model of disability. https://www.afdo.org.au/social-model-of-disability/
79
Commonwealth of Australia. 2011. 2010–2020 National Disability Strategy: An initiative of the Council of Australian Governments.
80
Davy, L., Fisher, K.R., Wehbe, A., et al. 2018. Review of implementation of the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020: Final report. (SPRC Report [4:19). Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW.
81
Michael, L. 2020. ‘Aussies ‘uncomfortable’ with students with intellectual disability in their child’s school.’ Probono Australia. Feb 2020. https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2020/02/aussie-parents-uncomfortable-with-students-with-intellectual-disability-in-their-childs-school/
82
Pelleboer-Gunnink, H., Wietske van Oorsouw, M.W.J., van Weeghel, J. et al. 2019. ‘Stigma research in the field of intellectual disabilities: A scoping review on the perspective of care providers.’ International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2019.1616990.
83
Centre of Research Excellence in Disabi lity and Health. 2020. Prevalence of violence and abuse of people with disability in Australia. https://credh.org.au/nature-and-extent-of-violence/
84
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. 2020. Issues paper: Rights and attitudes. Commonwealth Government.
44 | Reaching Potential
