I have just flipped through the presentations made to the NZ Disability Support Network annual conference last month.
Conferences talk about great things and that saddens me.
I’m sad not because I don’t want to see great support, transformational change and awesome outcomes. Quite the opposite.
I’m sad because the current environment can’t supply sufficient (and capable) staff to meet even basic support needs. Adequate housing is becoming unaffordable. We’re still not putting any effort into reducing the appalling health outcomes for people with an intellectual disability. True inclusion is still so far away in many parts of society (how often do we talk about disability in conversations about diversity?).
I want to believe in a bright future, a future where a person drives the support they need and sees a world that genuinely accepts them for who they are.
I want a world where it doesn’t take over four years to get staff to help prepare frozen meals so people can have a good dinner on nights when their support doesn’t show up!
So what’s hiding a bright future? Current reality!
