Although short, the Easter break meant that early April was relatively quiet for the DIIU. Shortly before that, however, we were able to present our first webinar of 2021. Our presenter, Professor Leslie Swartz, is distinguished professor of psychology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, visiting professor of psychology at the University of Johannesburg, and global advisor to the Institute for Culture and Society at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. This event was a particular pleasure because Leslie had originally been scheduled to join us in real life as a Visiting Fellow during 2020 – which of course became impossible as COVID pandemic travel restrictions shut down both our countries’ borders. We were very grateful therefore that he was nevertheless willing to meet us online, very early in the morning in South Africa, and talk about Culture, disability and the violence of exclusion. You can access the recording here.
To strengthen links with the UNSW Disability Scholars Network of Higher Degree Research (HDR) students, whose research addresses disability issues and many of whom live with disability themselves, Jackie has attended recent meetings and is facilitating a DIIU-led reading group in May on Growing Up Disabled in Australia. Future possibilities to strengthen links include joint events, such as a workshop on inclusive research methods and on getting ethical approval for work with people with disability.
Two disability issues have had high profiles in the Australian media in recent weeks. One is a number of controversial proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). You can read more here.
The second issue concerns Australia’s coronavirus vaccination programme, and its reality for people with disability. The plan prioritizes groups considered to be particularly vulnerable, including people living in specialist disability and aged care in phase 1a and people with certain disabilities and health conditions in phase 1b. But the reality has looked rather different. You can read more here.
