14 March 2009

Double Disadvantage

| Sad_Mushroom
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I see lots of Gubby agencies advertise jobs,,and state they employ a diversity of people….(including race, age and disabled) BUT when did you last come upfront with a disabled person????????

The Gubby offers extra money ect apparently for businesses to hire disabled people,,but where is that??

If you ring the Tax office you get some person (asian) who has no idea,,,but they are approved to answer phones……why not a disabled Aussie??? who has some idea????

There is a disabled person here who has done many courses and even been to ANU and ran for Gubby……she is ignored because she is in a wheel chair,,,,WHY?? When her brain functions better than most!!!!

The time for disabled is coming,,,,,get ready for it…

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no jim, water’s a drag. beer is much better… you’re just being beerist.

yes, facile, innit. dunno why ya bother, but goodness upon you for giving it a go. 😉

PsydFX said :

aa said :

aren’t anti-racists groups racist? Aren’t feminist sexist?

How are anti-racist groups racist? To the best of my knowledge Racists don’t have their own race.

I do agree with Feminists being sexist though.

You know if all the racists got together and made their own racist country called racistia, according to the UN it would then actually be racist to be anti racist.

jakez said :

aren’t anti-racists groups racist? Aren’t feminist sexist?

As far as insightful statements, that’s about on par with: “What is a drug anyway? Water’s a drug.”

aa said :

aren’t anti-racists groups racist? Aren’t feminist sexist?

How are anti-racist groups racist? To the best of my knowledge Racists don’t have their own race.

I do agree with Feminists being sexist though.

aa said :

aren’t anti-racists groups racist? Aren’t feminist sexist?

No, because even the United Nation’s extremely ridiculous definition isn’t wide enough to include all discrimination.

As for feminists, well I’d say that liberal feminists aren’t but radical feminists are. I don’t think the radical feminists would agree with me though.

aren’t anti-racists groups racist? Aren’t feminist sexist?

As for the disabled people not finding jobs, as a business owner (and i think public service thinks the same), you hire who ever is going to perform the job best. Now sometime there are jobs out there that disabled people can’t perform, other times there’s jobs they can’t do as well, while other times they might do a better job. Being disabled does impact on you if you’re looking for work, but also look at it from the business or government’s point of view that the best person got the job. How would you like it if you went for a job interview and they gave it to a person that you know you’re better qualified than but they gave it to them just for the fact that they are a specific race or sex or because you are disabled. A male friend of mine applied for a job in the public service (Office for Women) and got declined because he was a male. How is that fair?

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Here’s a questions for the group – does disliking a trait or characteristic displayed by a racial group qualify you as a racist?

(WMC)”Could you give an example?”

Yes WMC, I think I can help. Some people, not necessarily of any particular culture -just some people- have an unhealthy interest in detecting (perceived) errors in other people’s point of view.

Once detected, instead of a reasoned argument, they will immediately call them a variety of epithets, usually along the lines of ‘racist, moron, idiot’. Things like that.

I find such people tiresome. Am I a bigot?

Pretty sure we’ve wandered offtopic here people.

Time to move on.

Woody Mann-Caruso5:07 pm 17 Mar 09

Here’s a questions for the group – does disliking a trait or characteristic displayed by a racial group qualify you as a racist?

Could you give an example?

Can you repeat that PB.

Pommy bastard said :

miz said :

Some accents are incredibly difficult to understand.

Only other people have accents, I speak perfectly.

funny, that. you being english and all…

Pommy bastard4:06 pm 17 Mar 09

miz said :

Some accents are incredibly difficult to understand.

Only other people have accents, I speak perfectly.

dexi said :

AngeryHenry. Your simple, consice, to the point answer must reflect your, verticaly challenged, bawlding, gruff nature of mild intelectual ability.

Or that your actualy way smarter than me with a better grasp of reality.

Did I call you fat.

Yeah, drugs are good.

Some accents are incredibly difficult to understand. I find Indian accents, for example, very very difficult. I think there is a legitimate case for not putting people with strong communication difficulties, such as a heavy accent, on a phone switch or in jobs where communication is vital (eg in the hospital casualty department) until they have some verbal communication training. It’s not racist, just common sense.

I went to a coronial inquest where one of the witnesses, a Doctor who had a very strong Chinese or Vietnamese accent and spoke at 100 miles and hour, gave his testimony by teleconference. I did not understand One Word (and felt very sorry for the person who was going to have to do the transcript).

dexi said :

AngeryHenry. Your simple, consice, to the point answer must reflect your, verticaly challenged, bawlding, gruff nature of mild intelectual ability.

Or that your actualy way smarter than me with a better grasp of reality.

Did I call you fat.

Your words make my head hurt. I’m not sure what you called me?

But I’ll settle for your second answer, if you’re going to be all pooey about it.

Holden Caulfield said :

BEST. THREAD. EVA.

who is eva?

AngeryHenry. Your simple, consice, to the point answer must reflect your, verticaly challenged, bawlding, gruff nature of mild intelectual ability.

Or that your actualy way smarter than me with a better grasp of reality.

Did I call you fat.

No offence but I liked my explanation better dexi.

VYbelina does disliking a trait or characteristic displayed by a racial group qualify you as a racist?

Maybe when you focus on a trait that are common in all people. Maybe if you subscribe to the notion that race defines what capacities and traits an individual may express. Maybe if you put forward a derogratory idea about a race. Maybe if what you have said is insulting to a culture. Maybe if you have just generalised with a pack of half truths and lies about another culture or race.

Then maybe you are a racist spreading racist ideas that put your own culture above another. You may dislike somethings, but that does not mean you get to put others down.

Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism
Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.[

Holden Caulfield12:17 pm 17 Mar 09

BEST. THREAD. EVA.

AngryHenry said :

Not only that but John Maclean defeated Hans Gruber at Nakatomi Tower.

Mr VYBerlina, in relation to your question I think you can not like something but still accept it, but if you hate it, have no tolerance for it and feel the need to spread that hatred then you are racist.

strangely, it was a different john. (who has the use of both his legs)

Not only that but John Maclean defeated Hans Gruber at Nakatomi Tower.

Mr VYBerlina, in relation to your question I think you can not like something but still accept it, but if you hate it, have no tolerance for it and feel the need to spread that hatred then you are racist.

Roma said :

First – I have done a lot of work for Defence at a number of locations including Russel and Campbell Park and I see loads of people with disabilities working there. I actually remember having a conversation with my significant other about how cool it was that Defence seemed to be so open to practicing what they preach regarding EEO.

Second – The word ‘Gubby’ is like nails on a chalkboard and needs to not be said anymore I emplore you.

I work for a multinational company, we have many disabled workers, and i didn’t know that they were disabled. they don’t call attention to it, and we don’t notice.

they are my colleagues. I work with a diverse bunch, there are people from nearly all racial backgrounds, and I don’t care what they look like or how they sound, they help me achieve my goals every single day.

The only recognisable disabled person that works for my company is John Maclean. He is someone that I look up to, for he has fought through serious adversity, and has succeeded, where an able bodied person would have given up.

disabled people are not disadvantaged where i work, they have the same opportunities as the able bodied people, and, i really don’t think that the company employs them for the govt handout, they are very good at what they do.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy11:46 am 17 Mar 09

Here’s a questions for the group – does disliking a trait or characteristic displayed by a racial group qualify you as a racist?

OP sounds retarded to me.

Should I offer her a job or something?

“Look at it from my point of view…They are calling me racist cause I said some Asian lady answered the phone and had no idea (SHE TOLD ME SHE DIDN’T)”

I thought you said you couldn’t understand her. I don’t understand you.

First – I have done a lot of work for Defence at a number of locations including Russel and Campbell Park and I see loads of people with disabilities working there. I actually remember having a conversation with my significant other about how cool it was that Defence seemed to be so open to practicing what they preach regarding EEO.

Second – The word ‘Gubby’ is like nails on a chalkboard and needs to not be said anymore I emplore you.

Granny said :

In my experience you can tell those who are really racist because they are proud of it. They are the first to admit that they hate [insert derogatory remark here].

People who aren’t racist are appalled to be accused of racism.

Racists don’t care.

I disagree Granny. One can have clearly racist beliefs without considering themselves (or wanting to be considered) racist. The ol’ ‘I’m not racist but’ line is a great example of this.

Pommy bastard7:11 am 16 Mar 09

My awareness has been raised. I’m now aware that the disabled can be as bigoted as the rest of the population. Well done.

vg – you’re my hero 😀

Raising awareness? You’ve managed to insult peoples intelligence, made racist remarks, and made yourself sound particularly narrow minded.

Crap like this doesn’t raise awareness, it has the opposite effect – people who read this crap won’t think about equal employment rights for people with disability when they encounter said people, but will instead think about the dribble you’ve spewed forth.
People with disabilities have enough to deal with, without people like you – with good intentions but poor execution taking them a step back.

Acceptance comes with empathy, not sympathy.

so, do i say i saw a disabled duck once now? (didn’t catch if it was asian or muslim but… does that affect things? oh dear…)

How about we start this all over again? If you’d like to raise awareness of an issue which you find important, post a story about it on RiotACT. But keep it on topic (don’t go off on tangents regarding unrelated issues – eg the ATO person on the phone), supply the facts and state what you’d like to achieve out of the whole thing.

Unfortunately it seems that all you have achieved here is to distract everyone from your original intention from using a bad choice of examples, and most of the good parts have been less commented on. Although, hopefully you can see from the comments here that there would be much support to any project which champions the cause of disabled people to get an opportunity for meaningful work.

SadMushroom said :

No matter to me,
This is mainly for a project for the Womens Disability Group before they get all Gubby bodies in to see the reaction of people in the community.
I told them about RA as I have seen photo comps etc advertised here like “http://the-riotact.com/?p=11154” that they do NOT tell anyone about in time to enter….
The QBN TAFE has no idea about this but has alot that would like to enter….Funny how they disclude some people.

I still think making a comment about an Asian answering phones is less worse than talking about other races that will knife people..
OH GAWSSSHHHH,,,there goes my grammar again,,,,let me emphasis it!!!!!!!

Goodness me, you slander people of OTHER races about their English skills. Have a squizz in the mirror sunshine

No matter to me,
This is mainly for a project for the Womens Disability Group before they get all Gubby bodies in to see the reaction of people in the community.
I told them about RA as I have seen photo comps etc advertised here like “http://the-riotact.com/?p=11154” that they do NOT tell anyone about in time to enter….
The QBN TAFE has no idea about this but has alot that would like to enter….Funny how they disclude some people.

I still think making a comment about an Asian answering phones is less worse than talking about other races that will knife people..
OH GAWSSSHHHH,,,there goes my grammar again,,,,let me emphasis it!!!!!!!

How did you know she was Asian when you spoke to her on the phone, did you ask?

BTW

My doctor is Asian, but I don’t talk about my ‘Asian doctor’, just my doctor.

Idiots are idiots, not defined by race.

You need to grow up a bit

Granny said :

In my experience you can tell those who are really racist because they are proud of it. They are the first to admit that they hate [insert derogatory remark here].

People who aren’t racist are appalled to be accused of racism.

Racists don’t care.

Look at it from my point of view…They are calling me racist cause I said some Asian lady answered the phone and had no idea (SHE TOLD ME SHE DIDN’T)
Then another poster can talk about a race/races knifing people (and that’s NOT a race issue?)
Maybe I could have said some non understanding person,,,,(or something similar) but then how do we get to the knifing stuff that is OK and not racial????

SadMushroom said :

ummmmm vg,

did that other poster stating “bashed up by an over earger bouncer or knifed by someone of islander or middle eastern appearance” place the race card???

I mentioned a phone call,,,,this other poster is talking about knifing someone!!!You are the idiot……Think about it….
How is it I am racist mentioning an Asian in a phone call and someone else can mention stabbing and you still pick at me?????
So me mentioning an Asian in a phone call is racist but regulars can mention islanders/middle eastern knifing people and that’s NOT racist??????

Where oh where do you get that idea from????
A phone call compared to a stabbing????

I couldn’t give a rats about the other thread. This is the only one I’m reading.

Your brain is quite dull if you just can’t get it

Thanks for insulting us all, SadMushroom.

I didn’t pay attention to the post because of the punctuation or the abbreviating of words. I posted because of the subject matter.

If you think this raises awareness of the issues in a positive way then you really are an idiot.

I’m out.

OH,
While we are here,

Yes,,,,after a few months of being here as mentally and now physically disabled, I did post my OP with stuff that would get you to look at and read and post about.

A person only has to be here a day to know you hate others small words (gubby) and overuse of exclamation (even though most of you have no idea how to use them correctly and keep abusing others for it) and anything “racist, sexist, etc” (even though you all do that regularly too)

MY OP was about awareness,,,and I have gotten that,,,,even if I used the old “made ya look ya dirty chook”

ummmmm vg,

did that other poster stating “bashed up by an over earger bouncer or knifed by someone of islander or middle eastern appearance” place the race card???

I mentioned a phone call,,,,this other poster is talking about knifing someone!!!You are the idiot……Think about it….
How is it I am racist mentioning an Asian in a phone call and someone else can mention stabbing and you still pick at me?????
So me mentioning an Asian in a phone call is racist but regulars can mention islanders/middle eastern knifing people and that’s NOT racist??????

Where oh where do you get that idea from????
A phone call compared to a stabbing????

SadMushroom said :

ohh…
Me and my racism….
Lets see how many other racists posts we can find,,,posted by regulars of course,,,,that you won’t throw the racist ball at…

Quote from another post”””seems as though anyone who goes out at night for a drink these days runs the risk of getting abused, bashed up by an over eager bouncer or knifed by someone of islander or middle eastern appearance”””””

Umm,,,I said an Asain women on the phone,,,,this is much worse I think….

You idiot.

You could have just said you spoke to someone incompetent on the phone but you played the race card. Welcome to first grade in getting your foibles pointed out. You played the race card, now deal with the stupidity of it

In my experience you can tell those who are really racist because they are proud of it. They are the first to admit that they hate [insert derogatory remark here].

People who aren’t racist are appalled to be accused of racism.

Racists don’t care.

ohh…
Me and my racism….
Lets see how many other racists posts we can find,,,posted by regulars of course,,,,that you won’t throw the racist ball at…

Quote from another post”””seems as though anyone who goes out at night for a drink these days runs the risk of getting abused, bashed up by an over eager bouncer or knifed by someone of islander or middle eastern appearance”””””

Umm,,,I said an Asain women on the phone,,,,this is much worse I think….

SadMushroom said :

OK,
Let me do this bit by bit.
First, thanks to all responses as it is helping me understand and also I was looking for more places/companies etc that did/do hire disabled people. (For a TAFE project)

Second, when I first came into RA it took me a while to catch on to all the ‘nicknames’, ummm, ‘comic names’ that were used here but I tend to stick with what I usually use/know so if you don’t understand what I am saying,,,,ummm,,,,I am sure you will get used to it.

Oh, I am not racist or against Asians having a job, just when this particular woman could NOT do the job it was annoying and I don’t see why they had her there.
(I had to contact ATO about submitting my GST statement and the number they gave me was answered by this women that I could NOT understand and she had no idea what I was talking about. She tried to transfer me and disconnected me, then after waiting another 40 minutes inline she answered again. She again tried to transfer me and again I was disconnected. I tried doing it online but didn’t have the right access, so waited and tried a few times through the week only to be answered by the same lady who admitted she had no idea. I also rang other numbers for ATO and each time they transferred me,,guess who answered again? Within a few weeks I received a letter from ATO about my ‘failure’ to contact them. They had a number that I rang and guess who answered?)
I am not saying she shouldn’t have the job because she was Asian (sounding), I am saying she shouldn’t have the job because she couldn’t do it.

Let me go answer some of the replies

I still dont see the relevance of pointing out she is asian. Do you point out a disadvantage person because they arent as able bodied as you?

Your justification is so week, maybe you should take a page out of some racial etiquette guidelines before you post such tripe in the future.

You are clearly still missing the point.

No, you are.
She was Asian (sounding). That’s not racist, that’s fact. Racist would be if I said she couldn’t have the job cause she was Asian. Saying she was Asian and had no idea, on the helpline they give you and she admitted she had no idea is NOT racist.
Wouldn’t matter if she was Mexican or even Aussie. Bottom line was “she could not speak well enough for me or others to understand and she could NOT even transfer people without disconnecting them” That is NOT racist,,,,she should NOT have had that job.
Maybe she had all the degrees she needed to get the job,,,no matter what nationality,,but she could NOT function with the amount of calls coming in.

I mentioned she was Asian,,cause what was I going to say? Some non gender specified human answered the phone and?????
Oh, hold on,,,some guy with the Dogs post mentioned it was a lady with the dog,,,,he must be sexist. He said it was a lady with the dogs that was on the phone….or did he say that cause it WAS a woman??? OR was he being sexist?????

I think it is extremely important to highlight these issues. People don’t know unless we tell them; but when they do learn of an injustice the response is often profoundly overwhelming.

BerraBoy68 said :

Granny said :

It’s not here yet. It’s more common for a person with a disability not to be able to find work after leaving school than the reverse.

It certainly should be here. I agree that the time for people with a disability is coming. I believe we can close the gap. I certainly thank all the MLAs that are working so hard to achieve this, particularly the Greens who have been spectacular.

Agreed Granny. I really like Meredith Hunter and Amanda Bresnan’s style. Steve Doszpot is also doing some great work for the disabled in the ACT. Unfortunately for Steve, he seems to like helping people quietly and without sending press releases to the media announcing every efort he makes in this area (so I’m more than happy to give him much kudo’s here).

On topic, the type of injuries a person has might limit their opportunities – I have a friend in a wheelchair who has had to quit a full time position he was offered due to his condition. While I won’t go into the injuries that put him into the chair, he does have to spend a large amount of the day lying down to alleviate sores he gets in the chair and also his other injuries. This makes it difficult for him to keep a full time job.

I’ll make a point, however, of raising the employment of disabled persons by our company as an issue with our CEO next time I’m speaking with him. That said, we’d need to avoid tokenism as I don’t believe this does the self-esteem of the individuals concerned any good either.

Sorry Berra, I don’t know how to remove old quotes from your quote that I wanted to quote.
My orginial post may have come off weird (will explain that soon)
The OP wasn’t/isn’t about tokenism. It is the beginnings for a project about “Awareness” which started it’s beginnings in a TAFE class for Women with Disabilities.
This isn’t about feeling sorry for, or KMA stuff, this is about awareness.

I thought I would open it here as there is soo much about dogs, and speed cameras, the jet and all that other stuff that really isn’t “life affecting” but so little about what is actually happening to a large percent of people in the area.

OK,
for those that understood somewhat.

Granny, you have seen how hard it is for your friends son. Now thinking about what you already know about how hard it is. (The reason this OP was called Double Disadvantage is because it is twice as hard for women with a disability as it is for men)

Upto 50% of men with a disability are more likely to be employed compared to 30% of women (at some point in their lives).
********

ant, you are correct. While that money stayed with CES, the CES was making headway.
Now that money is given to “jobsearch networks” who continually place disabled on new training programs. Keeps them busy and the ‘network’ pockets the money.

Next week a bunch of 30+ year old disabled women learn how to do hair and make-up (again) and learn some nice massage therapy (to help them with the stress of NOT being able to get anywhere)

********

Genie, some areas do employ alot of people with certain disabilities. That is wonderful.

What I am trying to say (although nothing gets attention like picking at bones) is that ‘equal opportunity’ as the Government stated is not happening and the Government should be the first one to step in and put their hands up.

Not just one area but the whole lot.
Awareness of what is going on is the key.
The stats put out from Government about Government are all to cover Government butt.

That’s true, BerraBoy, but what Sally Richards has done with JACKmail shows the sort of thing that can be done when people are willing to look at how even a person with big challenges can make a meaningful contribution to society.

Granny said :

It’s not here yet. It’s more common for a person with a disability not to be able to find work after leaving school than the reverse.

It certainly should be here. I agree that the time for people with a disability is coming. I believe we can close the gap. I certainly thank all the MLAs that are working so hard to achieve this, particularly the Greens who have been spectacular.

Agreed Granny. I really like Meredith Hunter and Amanda Bresnan’s style. Steve Doszpot is also doing some great work for the disabled in the ACT. Unfortunately for Steve, he seems to like helping people quietly and without sending press releases to the media announcing every efort he makes in this area (so I’m more than happy to give him much kudo’s here).

On topic, the type of injuries a person has might limit their opportunities – I have a friend in a wheelchair who has had to quit a full time position he was offered due to his condition. While I won’t go into the injuries that put him into the chair, he does have to spend a large amount of the day lying down to alleviate sores he gets in the chair and also his other injuries. This makes it difficult for him to keep a full time job.

I’ll make a point, however, of raising the employment of disabled persons by our company as an issue with our CEO next time I’m speaking with him. That said, we’d need to avoid tokenism as I don’t believe this does the self-esteem of the individuals concerned any good either.

“Oh, I am not racist or against Asians having a job, just when this particular woman could NOT do the job it was annoying and I don’t see why they had her there.”

So the fact the person was Asian is relevant how? It clearly isn’t so why mention it? If they were Anglo Saxon and incompetent would you mention their race?

planeguy @ #2,
Really great for where you work…Good on you all.

The reason it is not here yet is because not all places or areas have the same attitude.
When the stats are taken about ‘How many people with disabilities are UNemployed” they do NOT include people who have worked within the 12 weeks before the stats or people who are employed for an hour or more a week.(even in voluntary work)

IF you, me or anyone else had a job for 1 hour a week, would you class it as gainfully employed?
The stats are there to make it all look good on the grand scale.

Oh, and it’s not just my friend, this is a whole class full of people. Who attend TAFE, CIT and even UNI, some for years on end gaining all credits and certs and cannot even get a foot in the door by the Government who recommends they do these courses to help them get a job. (by the way the Asian lady from ATO was the one who admitted she had no idea and could not even transfer me, so no it’s not because my friend cannot get a job)

Have you seen the AWARDS for businesses who hire disabled people? Not many of them listed each year, so usually the same ones listed and winning all the time.

OK,
Let me do this bit by bit.
First, thanks to all responses as it is helping me understand and also I was looking for more places/companies etc that did/do hire disabled people. (For a TAFE project)

Second, when I first came into RA it took me a while to catch on to all the ‘nicknames’, ummm, ‘comic names’ that were used here but I tend to stick with what I usually use/know so if you don’t understand what I am saying,,,,ummm,,,,I am sure you will get used to it.

Oh, I am not racist or against Asians having a job, just when this particular woman could NOT do the job it was annoying and I don’t see why they had her there.
(I had to contact ATO about submitting my GST statement and the number they gave me was answered by this women that I could NOT understand and she had no idea what I was talking about. She tried to transfer me and disconnected me, then after waiting another 40 minutes inline she answered again. She again tried to transfer me and again I was disconnected. I tried doing it online but didn’t have the right access, so waited and tried a few times through the week only to be answered by the same lady who admitted she had no idea. I also rang other numbers for ATO and each time they transferred me,,guess who answered again? Within a few weeks I received a letter from ATO about my ‘failure’ to contact them. They had a number that I rang and guess who answered?)
I am not saying she shouldn’t have the job because she was Asian (sounding), I am saying she shouldn’t have the job because she couldn’t do it.

Let me go answer some of the replies

I forgot to mention “Don’t get jealous”, it’s very destructive.

Most of us start at the bottom, which usually means packing shelves, laying bricks or another simple physical job. Unfortunately if you can’t do these things it’s going to be alot harder to get your foot in the door. The main thing to think about when you are starting out is “What CAN I do that eventually leads to what I WANT to do”.

tastyjam said :

Granny said :

You might be interested in this young man.

Very interesting Granny… i’ll try get that some Medicare attention.

Thank you so much, tastyjam.

I’ve met his mother personally and heard first-hand what a struggle she is having to help her son find employment. I feel kind of choked up just thinking about it.

It’s hard to find more loyal employees than those for whom a job is a dream come true.

: )

“If you ring the Tax office you get some person (asian) who has no idea”

Nice racial stereotype you twat

BUT when did you last come upfront with a disabled person????????

How could you be certain when you encounter someone whether they’re disabled or not? They don’t all have wheelchairs or seeing eye dogs!

I agree that we need programs in place to help people to get a foot in the door as talent comes in all manner of packages (for want of a bad analogy) and many people, of different backgrounds/cultures/(dis)abilities, just aren’t good at promoting themselves or are not able to. Have been on the receiving end of people who obviously interview well, but wouldn’t know how to get the job done if an instruction manual fell out of the sky and hit them on the head. Well, actually maybe they would then, as I find poor performance is usually due to lack of initiative. But I digress…

Having said that, I found the original post despicable in its racist attitude. Since when is it ok to promote one group while in the same breath denigrating another. Shame on you!

JoyceStanton12:02 pm 15 Mar 09

If only she had been a really attractive person in a wheelchair,she might have ‘stood’ a better chance. Whoops! Might have stumbled upon another controversial topic…..

Granny said :

You might be interested in this young man.

Very interesting Granny… i’ll try get that some Medicare attention.

‘irregardless’, genie?? you really have been in gubby too long! ; )

[and yup, hippy, was kinda wondering what the slant was by using ‘gubby’, which also took me a moment to translate…]

grunge_hippy7:22 pm 14 Mar 09

ok, i figured out what gubby was…

That is fantastic, tastyjam! You might be interested in this young man.

I work in the IT support sector, for the Medicare Australia Central Office in Tuggeranong. They employ about 10 – 20 disabled people and are always looking to interview more.

Woody Mann-Caruso6:19 pm 14 Mar 09

The number and percentage of APS employees with a disability has been steadily declining for a long time now. The 2007-08 State of the Service report shows that in 1994 there were almost 8,000 people with a disability in the APS, or about 5.6% of the APS. In 2008 there were just over 4,500, or 3.1%.

I suspect the general upskilling of the APS as a whole has eliminated many of the positions suitable for people with an intellectual disability, and this may account for much of the drop. There were around 5,300 engagements at the APS1 and 2 levels in 1995; in 2008 there were just 1,500.

The idea that somebody would be precluded from an APS position for which they are otherwise qualified because they’re in a wheelchair is morally and professionally repugnant.

I was beginning to think the Government was lying when they claimed they would hire anyone in the public service irregardless of any disability – as long as they were suitable for the job. After getting turned down for job after job and being told it was because of an existing back injury – I was amazed at how many intellectually disabled people and mobility challenged people work for Defence. I have no idea what they do – but yay for them.

When they got rid of the CES in 98, what also went was the APS Recruitment office that ran the APS tests. Another of their roles was placing people with disabilities, and Aboriginals, into permanent positions in teh APS. When that went, teh numbers of both groups in the APS diminished. With no one actively pushing the concept, and making it easy for departments to get these people, it’s no surprise that this happened.

BUT when did you last come upfront with a disabled person????????

If I understand the question you were trying to ask – Yesterday, in fact.

Suggest you yourself might have trouble finding work given,,,, your!!!! writing style…….,,,!!!

yeah. they should get rid of those asians with no idea.

5 star post disabled bigot lady.

It’s not here yet. It’s more common for a person with a disability not to be able to find work after leaving school than the reverse.

It certainly should be here. I agree that the time for people with a disability is coming. I believe we can close the gap. I certainly thank all the MLAs that are working so hard to achieve this, particularly the Greens who have been spectacular.

So just because your friend can’t get a job (whereas a lady with an Asian accent, who needs to be a citizen or permanent resident to be employed in the APS) you think that the Government departments ignore people because they are in wheelchairs?

I will admit that I don’t work with anyone in a wheelchair, nor have I. However, I work with blind people (both totally, and legally blind), deaf people, intellectually disabled people, mobility challenged people and more. Everyone one of them (bar one, who was given the job because she was friends with the boss) won their position based on merit, and is performing to a similar standard as there peers.

Oh, I should say, that these people have jobs ranging from mail delivery, through to engineers, Project Managers, Senior Executives etc..

And before anyone makes a smart arse comment about “no wonder the public service is buggered, they are all disabled”, the contractors that I work with have a similar number of disabled people, filling similar sort of roles, and we are on schedule, under budget, and fully meeting requirements.

So, if the “The time for disabled is coming,,,,,get ready for it…The time for disabled is coming,,,,,get ready for it…, then I say, why isn’t it here already.

Pommy bastard3:39 pm 14 Mar 09

I’ve no problem with people hiring people with disabilities, I’ve done it myself on more than one occasion.

However I hope they refrain from hiring people with, “multiple punctuation syndrome”…,,,,!!!!!?????

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