In 2020 the Disability Royal Commission released an issues paper on group homes. The issues paper asked 10 questions based on some of the key issues and barriers experienced by people with disability living in Group Homes.
You can download the issues paper from the Disability Royal Commission website here.
WWDA have now submitted their response to the issues paper which highlights key recommendations to improve the lives and experiences of people with disability living in group homes. The recommendations stem from the following key areas:
Living independently and being in the community
It is important to recognise the equal right of people with disability to live in the community, to be fully included and to participate in community life equally. This means that people with disability have the same right as everyone else to exercise “freedom of choice and control over decisions affecting one’s life with the maximum level of self-determination and interdependence within society.
Intersectionality
It is important to identify and address the human rights violations that disproportionally affect women and girls with disability living in group homes.
Ableism, segregation and violence
One of the most pervasive human rights abuses experienced by persons with disability is their segregation and isolation from the community in institutional environments.
Exposing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
There is a significant lack of disaggregated data, research and information across all areas of the life of women and girls with disability in Australia. This prevents the development of a comprehensive evidence base on the past and the current situation.
Without a comprehensive evidence base, women and girls with disability continue to be invisible and marginalised in society and largely excluded from policies, programs, services and measures to progress disability and gender equality.