Source: The Melbourne Age [Letters to the Editor]

Rights should be there for all
WHILE Victoria's new Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities is welcome, there is a group of marginalised Victorians who are routinely denied the human rights that the rest of us take for granted. Many younger people in aged care are effectively excluded from taking part in public life, with 36% seldom or never accessing the community. Their freedom is restricted by lack of funding for appropriate wheelchairs with supported seating. Their freedom of expression is limited because they do not have access to speech pathology services and equipment that would enable them to communicate their basic needs.

The $60.2 million My Future My Choice initiative in Victoria is a tremendous start to resolving the issue of younger people living in aged care. But further resources will be required to fully cater for unmet need. The charter of human rights will have minimal effect unless we as a society are prepared to allocate the resources required to make these human rights a reality for people with disabilities.

Di Winkler, managing director, Summer Foundation