Content by young people with disability. Talking about policy, advocacy and lived experience.
Bethany Cody helped create In Control My Way, a set of resources designed to help young people navigate the NDIS. Here she discusses the challenges she faced trying to access the scheme.
Ashleigh Keating writes about her school experience, and disadvantages faced by young people with disability seeking a career in education.
Thanh Autran writes about the difficulty of not knowing if discrimination has occurred after your job interview.
Xander Wroblewski talks about the difficulty of finding an after-school job, and his experience on CYDA’s Youth Council.
“In my first job, I, unfortunately, experienced a lack of support as a disabled person. I believe that this came from their lack of awareness, not necessarily a place of malice.” Emily Unity reflects on their first experience of employment, what they’ve learned, and what they would do differently now.
Bethany Cody talks about her first job, and the value of diversity in the workplace.
“I couldn’t help but laugh that such a tiny airport was willing to take the time to train their staff in this program, but the big airports couldn’t be bothered.” – Ashleigh Keating writes about her experiences using the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard in North America.
Xander Wroblewski talks about the need for more balanced media coverage on the NDIS, and aspects of the scheme that can be confronting and stressful.
As a disabled young person, it’s heartbreaking to be bombarded by media that perpetuates ableist attitudes and myths. Especially with the recent federal budget, it’s awful to see headlines that paint people like me as a burden to society or a drain on the economy. I am writing this reflection to disrupt the normalised ableist narrative and bust the media myths that perpetuate it.
I’m still stuck in limbo, waiting to hear whether I’ve been accepted or rejected for the second time. They’ve taken two weeks to acknowledge the receipt of my identity documents, only to say they need more evidence that I do in fact exist and am who I say I am.
I was at school, and there was an expectation that I get on with my studies and put aside any internal struggles related to my disability. So, in a sense, I kind of skipped past the grief stage and was forced to accept it without having time to comprehend what was happening to me.
I got myself surrounded with a network of support. Friends that I could trust, support groups that I could talk to without feeling ashamed. These were the people that motivated me to care for myself and reminded me that I was not alone on this personal journey.
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the diverse lands from which we work, and pay our respects to their Elders and their connection to land, sea and community. Sovereignty was never ceded and this always was, and always will be, Indigenous Land. We extend these respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and communities from whose lands you are accessing our website.
© Children and Young People With Disability Australia 2023.
