Anne visits her local services club every weekend for a meal and a catch up with her friend Amy. Both Anne and Amy enjoy getting out on the dancefloor in their power wheelchairs for a dance. Anne contacted a Disability Advocate after she was advised by club management that she was no longer allowed on the dancefloor in her power wheelchair.

The advocate listened to Anne’s concerns and supported her to raise her concerns in a meeting with the club manager. At the meeting the club manager explained that wheelchairs had been banned from the dancefloor due to health and safety concerns. The advocate noted that the club was actively preventing people with disabilities from participating in dancing, which was a form of discrimination. The club manager did not agree. The Advocate later supported Anne to make contact with the Human Rights Commission and following the Commission’s involvement the service club removed their policy banning wheelchairs on the dancefloor.

Daniel had a stroke at age 37. The stroke affected Daniel’s communication. Daniel mostly understands others but can find it difficult to communicate back and express his views and wishes. Daniel notes he often struggles to find the words he wants to say even though they are right on the tip of his tongue.

Daniel made contact with a Disability Advocate because during health consultations his doctor would always direct health related questions to Daniel’s support worker rather than himself. Daniel felt frustrated by this because with a little more time Daniel could answer the question more accurately himself.

The advocate met with Daniel and took the time to understand Daniels concerns. Together Daniel and the advocate explored options for addressing his concerns. At Daniel’s direction, the advocate talked to Daniel’s support workers about how they could encourage the doctor to direct questions back Daniel. The Advocate also supported Daniel to write a letter to his Doctor expressing his concerns and provide some tips on how to communicate with Daniel. The advocate also gave Daniel information on where he could find more communication support. Daniel gave this letter to his doctor at his next health consultation and his doctor apologised for not including Daniel in discussions about his health. The doctor then used some of the communication strategies to actively engage Daniel in a discussion about his health.

Rachael lives in supported accommodation with two other women. A range of support workers come into the house throughout the week to provide assistance with tasks such as cooking, cleaning and shopping.

Rachael contacted a Disability Advocate after one of the support workers yelled at her for getting in the way and pushed her, leaving bruises on her arms. Rachael said she now feels scared every time this support worker is in the house and stays in her room until the support worker has finished their 5-hour shift.

The Advocate listened to Rachael, explained that she had the right to live free from abuse and presented Rachael with some options for addressing her concern. Rachael decided she no longer wanted the support worker in her home and asked the Advocate to discuss this with her disability service provider. The disability service provider was shocked to hear how Rachael had been treated and apologised to her. An investigation was carried out resulting in the swift/immediate removal of the support worker in question from Rachael’s home.

Anne visits her local services club every weekend for a meal and a catch up with her friend Amy. Both Anne and Amy enjoy getting out on the dancefloor in their power wheelchairs for a dance. Anne contacted a Disability Advocate after she was advised by club management that she was no longer allowed on the dancefloor in her power wheelchair.

The advocate listened to Anne’s concerns and supported her to raise her concerns in a meeting with the club manager. At the meeting the club manager explained that wheelchairs had been banned from the dancefloor due to health and safety concerns. The advocate noted that the club was actively preventing people with disabilities from participating in dancing, which was a form of discrimination. The club manager did not agree. The Advocate later supported Anne to make contact with the Human Rights Commission and following the Commission’s involvement the service club removed their policy banning wheelchairs on the dancefloor.

Daniel had a stroke at age 37. The stroke affected Daniel’s communication. Daniel mostly understands others but can find it difficult to communicate back and express his views and wishes. Daniel notes he often struggles to find the words he wants to say even though they are right on the tip of his tongue.

Daniel made contact with a Disability Advocate because during health consultations his doctor would always direct health related questions to Daniel’s support worker rather than himself. Daniel felt frustrated by this because with a little more time Daniel could answer the question more accurately himself.

The advocate met with Daniel and took the time to understand Daniels concerns. Together Daniel and the advocate explored options for addressing his concerns. At Daniel’s direction, the advocate talked to Daniel’s support workers about how they could encourage the doctor to direct questions back Daniel. The Advocate also supported Daniel to write a letter to his Doctor expressing his concerns and provide some tips on how to communicate with Daniel. The advocate also gave Daniel information on where he could find more communication support. Daniel gave this letter to his doctor at his next health consultation and his doctor apologised for not including Daniel in discussions about his health. The doctor then used some of the communication strategies to actively engage Daniel in a discussion about his health.

Rachael lives in supported accommodation with two other women. A range of support workers come into the house throughout the week to provide assistance with tasks such as cooking, cleaning and shopping.

Rachael contacted a Disability Advocate after one of the support workers yelled at her for getting in the way and pushed her, leaving bruises on her arms. Rachael said she now feels scared every time this support worker is in the house and stays in her room until the support worker has finished their 5-hour shift.

The Advocate listened to Rachael, explained that she had the right to live free from abuse and presented Rachael with some options for addressing her concern. Rachael decided she no longer wanted the support worker in her home and asked the Advocate to discuss this with her disability service provider. The disability service provider was shocked to hear how Rachael had been treated and apologised to her. An investigation was carried out resulting in the swift/immediate removal of the support worker in question from Rachael’s home.