Australia —
People
with Disability Australia
rejects State Government changes to Post
School Options and Adult Training, Learning and Support
services (PSO and ATLAS)
for young people with severe disability, announced late
yesterday.
"The changes convert
individualised, flexible and portable grants of financial
assistance to individuals with disability into block
funding grants to disability service providers." "This is
a deeply disempowering blow to young people with
disability."
"The development of individualised
and flexible post school options services for young
people with severe disability was the greatest innovation
and achievement in disability services across Australia
during the 1990s."
"These gains are entirely
compromised under the changes announced
yesterday."
"Under the changes, funding per
person is almost halved." "Even under current funding
arrangements, many young people with disability are
receiving 10 hours or less support each week, even though
these programs guarantee at least 20 hours." "Halving
funding will result in further major reductions in
program hours, with severe consequential impacts on
families, and respite and accommodation
services."
"Funds are insufficient to support
individualised community participation and developmental
skill building for young people with disability." "Most
service providers will have no option but to provide low
intensity group based programs in centre-based congregate
facilities." "These services will not comply with NSW
disability services legislation which requires the
maximum physical and social integration of people with
disability into the community."
"Funds have been cut entirely from
young people with disability enrolled in higher
education, entrenching educational disadvantage. The
changes also fail to create any structural linkages with
further education or commonwealth employment programs."
"This makes nonsense of the claimed objective of
promoting access to employment for young people with
severe disability." "It entrenches educational
disadvantage, which is a key contributor to
unemployment."
"In her Media Release the Minister
states that the changes are the result of a number of
factors including advice from working groups established
to advise on the future of these programs. We
participated in each of these working groups.
At no stage were any of the
measures announced yesterday recommended by working
groups, nor did the Department of Ageing, Disability
and Home Care inform any working group of these
proposals, or seek working group advice in relation to
them."
"Had advice been sought, we are
confident that the proposals would have been universally
rejected. We therefore formally disassociate ourselves
from these changes, and understand that other working
group members will be taking steps to do the
same."
