Carr sends disabled to "the Dark Ages"

The NSW Government has announced sweeping cutbacks to the 
support program provided to young adults with disabilities who 
want opportunities for adult training, learning and support. The 
changes are overwhelmingly negative for individuals and their 
families, support group Family Advocacy describing the changes as 
a "regressive decision".

The support program — called Post School Options when it was 
first introduced in 1993 — was designed to provide training in 
essential life skills, provide greater access to the community 
and, where possible, help participants find work.

It was re-named Adult Training, Learning and Support (ATLAS) in 
1999 when a cap of two years was placed on those entering the 
program.

Now, under the amendments proposed by the Carr Government, ATLAS 
participants will next year be divided into two categories: the 
first tier will see less disabled members go on a two-year 
transition-to-work program; the second tier will force the more 
severely disabled into a long-term community participation 
scheme.

Service providers will be funded $15,699 per person per year, for 
a maximum of two years, for the disabled deemed capable of 
employment.

Those going into the second-tier community scheme will have their 
yearly funding cut by more than half, from $19,500 to $9000. This 
will force participants, who are aged from 18 to their mid-30s, 
out of self-help services: their attendance at such services will 
drop from four and five days a week to one or two.

Challenge, Armidale, a disability support service in the state's 
New England district, said that agencies would have no choice but 
to reduce hours if they are to maintain high standards of care as 
the measly $9000 will only allow service provider organisations 
to "feed, wipe bottoms and put people in front of the TV". 
Challenge spokesperson Kevin Mead described the Government's move 
as "back to the Dark Ages".

Against all logic the Government says the cuts will improve the 
service. Disabilities Minister Carmel Tebbutt cites what she 
claims is the program's low success rate in moving the disabled 
into employment, saying the changes will "provide a much better 
outcome".

But the Government is feeling the heat already. Protest rallies 
were held around the state last week and the community backlash 
has forced it to back off from its original plan to include all 
disabled people in the system, now exempting those who entered 
before 1999.

Family Advocacy's Judy Ellis called the cuts "probably the worst 
decision the State Government has made for a long time in 
disabilities".

Describing the program as "one of the greatest initiatives" for 
people with disabilities, Ms Ellis said that with "one fell swoop 
we're back to the days when people were just minded" instead of 
providing them with skills and dignity to become participants in 
the wider community. "I am so angry", she said.