by Jennifer Arthur

Created on: April 02, 2009

Some people would like to believe that our world is a fair and just place. It never has been and l do feel that it never will be.

When l was young l asked my father , if god made man equal "why is person in a wheel chair" and can not speak.

My father said you have to believe in god, and do not questioned the lord work.

I did not understand then and l still do not understand now. Over the years people with disabilities were hidden away from family and public places as there seemed to be a opinion that anyone like that (with a disability sound not be seen or heard. I even remember like about 35 years still here the words "retards & spastic"being used in general conversation by average working class people.

I also remember, school holidays my mother would take us to city for a treat , we would always go to Coles Myer Cafe for lunch.

I always remember that the group of people waiting the tables appeared to be a little different. Most of the staff doing this work had disabilities. I was so proud to see a company that employed this group and they did do a great job. But no more. I would love to hear frolm anyone who knows why, they have all gone.

Why are these job not available to people with disabilities. I hear all the time company's making statements like we are equal opportunity employers. From l can see its only equal to the point where they are not honest as to why they will knock someone back on a job application.

In some ways we have made steps forward, and then we have made many steps backwards.

Now cleaner is required to have a certificate , not just the ability to do a good job , the intellectual level stepped up.

Instead of the government training and placing people into work who truly want to work . They show our young people. How to get pregnant and to repeat this to as many fathers as they like and get paid a bonus to keep repeating this.

We are sending out all the wrong messages - I would never have a baby out of marriage. Just out of respect to my parents.

I was brought up to respect myself and to hold onto my morales And that included complete respect for people with disabilities.

We need to have real people who want to make the changes that are needed so we can move forward for people with disabilites enhance their lifes give them some sense of pride and pleasure.

Maybe we should get it from the horses mouth. Maybe thats where we have been going wrong , we need people with disabilites to have more imput , to have a full and complete base to work with

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