Disability writing, Mental health and wellbeing, self advocacy, Uncategorized

International Day of People with Disability 2020

About International Day of People with Disability:

This Day is held on the 3rd December each year.

This is a United Nations day to celebrate across the world.

It aims to increase:

Public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities

Celebration of their achievements

The day is about breaking down barriers.

These barriers can be:

Physical (e.g., ramps for people using wheelchair)

In people’s attitudes

Theme of this day for 2020 is:

Building Back Better: Toward a disability -inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World.

Suggestions for everyone to think about:

COVID-19 pandemic showed how much this Day is needed.

According to the Royal Disability Commission:

no Australian Government agency made ‘any significant effort’ to consult with people with disability during the beginning of COVID-19

People with disability had troubles to get:

Supports and services

Food

Medicine

Information

Personal protective equipment (e.g., face masks, gloves).

This is not good enough.

People with disability cannot be an after-thought.

National Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020

It is important that Australia has National Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020

It aims to improve:

Lives of people with disabilities

Their families / Carers

Improves focus on better inclusion of people with disabilities

What can we do to celebrate the International Day of People with Disability?

Get involved in attending the event

Promote information on the event in social media

Share information in your workplace

Nominate a person you know

Hold an event

Mental health and wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19

A lot has been written about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s mental health and well-being.

It has affected many of us.

This blog introduces a website for people with intellectual disabilities. It could be helpful for people with intellectual disabilities struggling with anxiety, stress and depression.

My Compass Online Website Story (Julie Loblinzk)

My story on why I am using this program. In the last month I had some issues.

My daughter ended up with:

  • A broken leg with screws in an ankle;
  • Using a boot with crutches;
  • Appointment support;
  • NDIS Support and the list goes on.

My partner has had:

  • Surgery 3 times;
  • Issues with health;
  • Problems with appointment support;
  • To wear a boot using a wheelchair and the list goes on.

I also increased my work hours at Self Advocacy Sydney from 15 hours to 22 hours per week.

I started having panic attacks and saw my doctor.

Before I saw a specialist, the doctor told me about this website.

I am using this to improve my health and it’s great to use.

What is it?

Online self-help program for people:

  • With mild to moderate depression;
  • Anxiety;
  • Stress;
  • People with their mental health issues.

What is in the Intellectual Disability section online?

It has 5 sections; each section has 3 parts to it:

  • Knowing feelings
  • Breathe and relax
  • Taming anger
  • Having more fun
  • Tracking unhelpful thinking

Positives to using this website

  • Worksheets can be downloaded;
  • Easy to use
  • Get to do activities
  • The information is accessible
  • Supports your health and mind
  • Great resources
  • Each section has a scale so you know where you are to
  • It says well done at the end of section
  • Save your work and go back to it

When you finished a section it tells you what’s next.

Suggestions for improvement:

  • The program needs to be accessible offline too.
  • It is an online program and many people with intellectual disabilities are not able to get online.
  • Let people know about the website.

Not many know about this website.

  • The name of the section for people with intellectual disability should not include an abbreviation “ID” or “IDTWO”.
  • Many people with intellectual disabilities do not like to be referred to by acronyms or abbreviations