National Tour Promotes Competitive Employment for People with Intellectual Disability
Christy Lynch, an advocate for competitive employment for people with intellectual disability, will tour Australia in May this year. The five city tour is sponsored by National Council of Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome Australia and Disability Employment Australia.
There are two employment streams.
A one-off half-day Melbourne-based forum will cater to executive and senior managers and a five city full-day workshop tour has been tailored for Disability Employment Consultants.
This is an opportunity not to be missed.
Australia's Track Record
A re-focus on the employment opportunities for people with an intellectual disability is essential given the changes to Disability Employment Services (DES) in Australia in past years.
It was the fight for the rights of people with intellectual disability that spurred open employment for people with disability nearly 30 years ago. This movement formed the roots of the DES program today.
However, this cohort has reduced in numbers significantly and now only makes up 6.6% of the current program. This is not reflective of national demographics – people with an intellectual disability make up approximately 30% of all people with disability. (Approximately 2.5% of the general population have an intellectual disability.)
The alternative – and the increasing reality – for people with intellectual disability is not dissimilar to pre-1986. Too many people are channelled into ADEs and day centres. This is not meeting the social inclusion objectives of the DES program or the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Christy Lynch
Christy Lynch is renowned on the worldwide stage as a strong advocate for competitive open employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability. He has influenced policy in both his native Ireland and internationally.
Christy Lynch will also be presenting at the
DANA Conference (Disability Advocacy Network of Australia), and will host family/carer orientated sessions for members of Down Syndrome Australia across five cities. For further information on these events, contact Louise Lloyd on 07 3356 6655 or
l.lloyd@dsaq.org.au
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