YANQ calling for a Youth Disability Advocacy service in Queensland

The Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ) has been talking to our colleagues in the disability services area about establishing an advocacy service for young people with disabilities. Below is our initial proposal for the service, which for now we are calling 'Youth Disability Advocacy Queensland'. YANQ is in the process of seeking support for this proposed service and would welcome your advice and support.

Youth Disability Advocacy Queensland  (YDAQ) will be a comprehensive state wide service providing advocacy for youth with disabilities.  The service will provide individual advocacy as well as systemic advocacy on policy issues impacting youth with disabilities, and will focus on, but not be limited to, equal opportunities in education, employment, housing, and access to the community.  The service will also monitor facilities providing services to youth with disabilities to ensure that they are treated in a manner that is safe, nurturing and manifests their right to human dignity and self determination.

According to a 2005 report from Queensland Disability, there were 102,200 young people (age 0-25) in Queensland who were restricted as a result of a disability.  Of this number, 55% (56,700) had "profound/severe restrictions of core activities".

Despite the fact that there were 1,434 services funded by the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) that responded to the Queensland component of the CSTDA National Minimum Data Set (NMDS), only 7% of young people with a disability aged 0-25 (7067) accessed a CTSDA funded service.

Over 70% of persons with disabilities in Queensland aged 15-64 did not complete Year 12 of school.  29% did not complete Year 10 or equivalent.

When young people with disabilities are not provided an appropriate education and are not effectively taught transition skills, society is impacted on several levels.  Lack of education and training leads to unemployment and underemployment, and economic deprivation can lead to homelessness and crime.   Young people with disabilities who do not receive the services and supports to "level the playing field" cannot achieve the independent, meaningful adult lives they deserve.

Young people with disabilities should have full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including self-determination, as articulated in Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC).  When persons with disabilities are marginalised the entire society suffers.  We need to support, embrace, include and celebrate all Queenslanders regardless of disabilities.