Sunday, 12 April 2009 10:54

The definition of ‘disability’ in the Disability Discrimination Act includes --- physical... intellectual... psychiatric... sensory... neurological, and learning disabilities, as well as physical disfigurement, and the presence in the body of disease-causing organisms.

This broad definition is meant to ensure that everyone with a disability is protected. The Disability Discrimination Act covers a disability which people:

• Have now, had in the past (for example: a past episode of mental illness), may have in the future (for example: a family history of a disability which a person may also develop), are believed to have (for example: if people think someone has AIDS)

Click here for a more complete DDA definition of disability.

From the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

Some form of disability affects about one in five Australians.  Disability may refer to impairments, activity limitations and participation restriction.  The shape of the Australian population is changing due to a greater proportion of older age groups with increasing life expectancies adding to the amount of people with disabilities and the associated increased demand for carers to look after them.

 

For the first time in 2006, the Australian Bureau of Statistics collected data on Core Activity Need for Assistance in the National Census of Population and Housing.  This was developed to measure people with profound or severe disabilities and the help or assistance they need in self-care, mobility and communication.  The people who made up this category either had a disability, a long term health condition or old age.

 

In the ACT, 4,572 men and 5,746 women stated in the 2006 census that they had a profound or severe disability that required help or assistance in the three core activities of self-care, mobility and communication.  Of these people, 151 were Indigenous.

 

In the ACT, 25,937 people stated in the 2006 census that they provided unpaid care, help or assistance to a family member or other person with a disability.  Of these people, 318 were Indigenous.