Disability in Indigenous communities; addressing the disadvantage

First Peoples Disability Network is helping create a strong voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander\u27s with disabilities, writes Damian Griffis the ABC Ramp Up. By any measure, Aboriginal people with disabilities are amongst the most disadvantaged Australians. They often face multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within their own communities and the wider community. This continues to occur for a range of reasons including the fact that the vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with disabilities do not identify as a people with disability. This is because in traditional language there was no comparable word for \u27disability\u27. Also the vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with disabilities are reluctant to take on a further negative label - particularly if they already experience discrimination based on their Aboriginality. As a consequence, \u27Disability\u27 is a new conversation in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A further major factor is that historically, the focus upon Aboriginal people with disability has been from a medical model of disability perspective. Whilst primary health care is essential, it has come at the cost of recognising the social aspects of disability. This has meant that discrimination against Aboriginal people with disability remains firmly entrenched. Read in full Image: Flickr / Rusty Stewart&nbsp