Equality before the law. Comment from the UN

A recent comment and interpretation of Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, 2006 helps dispel some myths for individuals in their own countries and how the law is applied, is now available.

Article 12 is Equal Recognition before the Law.

In this recent interpretation, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities highlights the importance of supported decision making.

In fact it goes further and states that supported decision making, and access to information to assist the person make a decision is paramount to the interpretation of Article 12.

It states:-

"Supported decision-making must be available to all. A person’s level of support needs (especially where these are high) should not be a barrier to obtaining support in decision-making;

(b)          All forms of support in the exercise of legal capacity (including more intensive forms of support) must be based on the will and preference of the person, not on what is perceived as being in his or her objective best interests;

(c)          A person’s mode of communication must not be a barrier to obtaining support in decision-making, even where this communication is non-conventional, or understood by very few people;

(d)        Legal recognition of the support person(s) formally chosen by a person must be available and accessible, and the State has an obligation to facilitate the creation of support, particularly for people who are isolated and may not have access to naturally occurring supports in the community."   Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Eleventh session, 31 March –11 April 2014, General comment No 1 (2014)

                       

The document from the committee also goes through many of the other articles of the convention and how these relate to the interpretation of Article 12.

Read the article from Disability Scoop and the embedded link for further details.

 To assist supported decision making for people with low literacy, access to written information the person can understand is paramount. 

Talk to Cathy about how to meet your obligations for access to written information.

Cathy

Cathy Basterfield.

0466 579 855.

cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au

www.accesseasyenglish.com.au

Senate enquiry into prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders

Did you know....

the Australian Federal Government is currently running a Senate enquiry into the prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech pathology services in Australia . You can go to this link to read any of 145 public submissions made to the enquiry.  The submission date has closed.

Many are personal stories, others are from advocacy groups, and others from Speech Pathologists and organisations or departments who employ Speech Pathologists.  Speech Pathology Australia has submitted a significant paper. It does comment upon the need for Easy English and includes recommendations for the development of Easy English by government, community and private sectors.

Significantly, many submissions talk about Communication being a Human Right. With this as a basis, access to services appropriate to needs should also be there.  Read more at the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with a Disability, 2006 the Victorian Government Communication Access Policy, 2006 and the article Applying the World Report on Disability to children’s communication, 2013 .

What and who are Speech Pathologists?

Speech pathologists are university educated professionals with specific knowledge and expertise in all areas of speech, language, communication and swallowing. Speech pathologists work with
infants, children, adolescents and adults with communication and/or swallowing disabilities in the
public and private sectors, across health, education, disability, community, mental health, youth
justice and aged care systems. Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) is the national peak body for speech pathologists in Australia,representing over 6,000 members. 

(Submission to the Senate enquiry into the prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech pathology services in Australia, Speech Pathology Australia, 2014)

 

As the call for submissions has been done via information on the internet, and in complex form, there has been no capacity for people with non-functional literacy to also include their stories or recommendations.

Without Easy English significant percentages of the Australian population are unable to contribute to information flow to and from the government. How do we get this critical information in a form that more people can see, read and consider either submitting briefs or reading about the recommendations.

All projects need to plan for Easy English in their initial phase.  Time needs to be allocated to allow this to be developed appropriately.  People with low literacy also need more time to develop their responses.  Some maybe in written form. but others may use a YouTube or video clip.

Talk to Cathy about how to plan for your critical information and projects to be developed into Easy English.

Cathy 

cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au
0466 579 855

Health messages on the web

Check out this resource developed by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (NSW) www.cerebralpalsy.org.au

They have developed some resources to help people understand about managing their own health. 

Could you use these resources?
Do you need your fact sheets and information written in Easy English.

Talk to Cathy about how Access Easy English can help you write your resource information in Easy English

Cathy

Cathy Basterfield

0466 579855
cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au

www.accesseasyenglish.com.au