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August 2005 Newsletter
The Women’s Newsletter
August Issue
The Newsletter of the NSW Network of Women with Disability
Welcome to the August Newsletter gals!
I’d like to say a very warm ‘thanks’ to Cathie, Jole, Maggie & Lori who have contributed articles to this issue. We’d also love to receive YOUR contributions - this is YOUR newsletter - so send them in. It could be a review, a story or interview, poetry, artwork, or even a great recipe to share.
The deadline for the Nov/Dec Newsletter will be the first week of November, so send those things into us!
As always, let us know what you think and what you’d like to see in future editions of your newsletter.
The newsletter is also available in several formats: printed, text only via email or disc, and audio version for vision impaired or intellectual impaired. Contact us if you want a particular version.
The Newsletter Team - Cathie, Joanne, Kerri, Jill, Anne & Catherine Enjoy… Ciao, Joanne
Contributions to: The Women’s Newsflash c/- Physical Disability Council of NSW 3/184 Glebe Point Road Glebe NSW 2037
Or email: women@pdcnsw.org.au
CONTENTS
Disability Support Pension 2 The facts revealed
The Cracked Pot 3
On the train with...Lori 4
The Right to Live & the Right To Die 5/6
A Comment on No Guts, No Glory 6/7
Gatherings 8/9
Cathie’s Travel 10
Mammography screening 11
Reliable taxi drivers 11
Star Gazing 12
Odd Spot quip 13 Oz Caption Centre 14 Newcastle group ad
What’s On 15
How to contact us 16
Disability Support Pensions (DSP) - the facts revealed The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) today released new research about the DSP in order to counter misinformation in public debate. “Many arguments used to justify a crackdown on disability pensions are false or misleading. It’s not true that ‘it’s easy to get the DSP’ or that ‘governments put people on DSP to hide unemployment,’” said ACOSS President Andrew McCallum. “This research outlines the facts of who is on the DSP and why.”
Findings revealed in Ten Myths & Facts about the Disability Support Pension (downloadable from www.acoss.org.au) include:
· Most Australians do not support a tough approach to people on DSP. A recent survey found that half felt it was reasonable to ask DSP recipients to retrain, participate in their community or improve their literacy skills but 2/3rds did not support requirements for people with disabilities to look for work. 75% did not support requirements for people with disabilities to participate in Work for the Dole.
· It’s not easy to get the DSP. Recipients must have a serious medical condition independently assessed by doctors and vocational experts. The condition must prevent them within the next two years from working 30 hours a week or more.
· Disabilities of people on DSP are more diverse and serious than ’sore backs’. 33% of people on DSP have musculo-skeletal disabilities (loss of mobility & limbs), 25% have psychological & psychiatric conditions, 11% have intellectual & learning disabilities, 5% circulatory system problems and 21% other conditions.
The doubling of the number of DSP recipients over the past 15 years us due to:
· Increased recognition of disabilities in society. The ABS estimates that the number of Australians of workforce age with a “core activity restriction” rose from 1.2 million in 1988 to 1.5 million in 1998. Improved identification of disabilities such as mental illness and lower mortality rates after accidents account for this increase. The strongest growth was in severe and profound disabilities.
· The closure of payments and pensions to older women. The fastest growing category of DSP recipients is not older men but mature aged women. The closure of payments such as the Wife Pension, Widow’s Pension and the Age Pension for women 60-65 years old means that more women with disabilities applied for the DSP.
· The decline in of number of low-skilled full time jobs and lack of employer support for people with disabilities. In the 1990s, all growth in fulltime permanent jobs was in higher skilled employment when people with disabilities on average have a low level of skills.
THE CRACKED POT
A Water Bearer un China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily with bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After tow years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
“I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while walk, you’ve watered them.
“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.” Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
(Based on a Chinese fable—source unknown)
Disability, Pregnancy and Mothering
Are you a woman with disability and also a mother? Are you pregnant? Do you want to have children but don’t know how to find resources? Are you looking for information and support? Mothers who are members of the NSW Network of Women with Disability are getting together.
Contact Sonia on 9576 5282 or email; sonia_markoff@hotmail.com if you’d like to know more.
ON THE TRAIN WITH...LORI
Vitals of life:
How long on the planet: 65 years Where are you planted (location): Galong Are you looking/found the one/prefer to fly solo? (status): married for 30 years Furry Friends: Crosby my guide dog. He’s my 5th guide dog.
Disability/ies: blind How do your disabilities impact you? Having to learn alternative life skills and ways of doing things, for example having my clothes colour coded and marked so as to co-ordinate them. Also reading with my fingers and not my eyes. When traveling I have to book 2 seats on the train or plane, one for me and one for Crosby. How did you become aware of the Network? I was working with Sharon and Doogie at PDCN when I was invited tojoin the Steering Committee. How do you participate in the Network? The Steering Committee. I attend Newcastle meetings and have been doing the Richter Scale Motivational Interviews for women in the Network. I was trained by the Department of Women to do these interviews.
Now to the real important info:-
Star sign: Aries Fave food: steak diane, Chinese/Thai, soups Fave vice/addiction: smoking (2 a day) and stealing time with the grandkids Fave book: Pyranie Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood Your female heroes? [eg. Woman, goddess/mythology figure, cartoon character, artist, in history] Cathy Freeman Is there a person/event/experience that’s had a huge impact on your life/approach or direction in life? The lady who taught me to thread a sewing needle as it showed me being blind wasn’t so bad. Playing bowls and winning the national championship in 1990/91 for lawn bowls and being a volunteer in the 2000 Olympics.
Of all the issues affecting Women with Disabilities, what do you feel most strongly about? Social attitude from governments down to the individual
What’s your favourite chill out scenario? What do you like to do to lift your spirits? Cooking, pottering around in the kitchen with the grandkids helping.
What one item, would you take to a desert island with you? Crosby (go Crosby! - Joanne)
Favourite Destination: Home What would you do with your last $10? Invest it What do you do out in Galong? I set up and run the Independent Rural Disability Network. We look at specifics issues for rural women from transport, advocacy and referral to other agencies. We are looking to set up a management board or committee so anyone who is interested feel free to contact me on l.grovenor@bigpond.com Any other comments Lori? I’d like to see the Network grow because I see it as a very necessary network as we can discuss our own issues. I also think Shaz did a WOW job setting up the Network.
The ‘Right to Live’ and the ‘Right to Die’
By Jole Fenwick I have read and re-read Ingrid Tischer’s lament about the state of the women’s movement in her article “No guts No glory’ which was included in the last Newsflash of April 05. Though well written it got up my nose immediately by stating that the un-understandable and over-emotional - because of the hijacking by the press of the right to life movement – case of Terri Schiavo which ended in her death, was a feminist issue. Her conclusion: the women’s movement and of course once again specifically the younger generation of women who appear to live on all the gains and do not have the guts to continue ‘our’ fight, have again failed dismally. However euthanasia or the right to die is NOT a feminist issue – it is a human condition where the answers will have to be fought over by both women and men and it is definitely not an issue which ‘belongs’ specifically to the disabled though I agree that it is often us who get the remarks and are forced to have a point of view based on our personal humanistic beliefs. As a feminist from the year dot (actually the second dot) I was involved in Europe during the 60’s and 70’s and in Australia during the ‘80s and the 90’s in the fight for women’s rights and it’s many, many issues. Now after 5 years in hospital I am wheelchair bound and thus a disabled person and view life from an angle which I could never have anticipated. I have always been a supporter of euthanasia and would wish that its legal status could be openly discussed as a human rights issue and implemented here in Australia as it is in my country of birth of the Netherlands. The second part of Ingrid Tischer’s article – the need for a feminist statement and a tough women’s movement fight on female disability and all its ensuing problems whether medical, legal, in the press, or as family dysfunctions is indeed overdue and will probably have to be kick started by us ‘the disabled’ through our voices, through our strange or funny otherness of body or mind, or sometimes both. This is why I am grateful that the NSW Network of Women with Disability got started last year and I joined to make it one person stronger and one person louder in making its demands.
Jole Fenwick
A Comment on “No Guts No Glory”
By Maggie Wilson
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on “No Guts No Glory”. I find it an odd outburst of ignorant bombast, a ranting, a raving rampage: a barely coherent, hyperbolic overreaction, undisciplined and indiscriminate. Unfortunately, the insert does not indicate its published source. Nor does the writer share her specific disability. It’s a strident dummy spit, replete with sweeping statements, universal assertions, implicit assumptions, rhetoric and contradiction. Some quotes: “...facts you will not have read…”, is Tischer omniscient? “I suspect most women...do not accept (Schiavo) is a woman.” What is the basis of this? “...I’ve heard women...discuss why the women’s movement has lost so much support…” - evidence? “Will that stop the women’s movement? No!” - having just criticized its inactivity! My personal engagement with feminism dates from 1974, and does not recall it’s second wave claiming to be “revolutionary”. Perhaps Tischer means “militant” like the Pankhursts’ WSPU in the first wave of the early twentieth century. This ‘analysis’ concludes that feminism needs a new source of leadership. Her contact with feminists seems limited, for she does not understand the movement’s eschewing hierarchy, and, ergo, leadership. Thus, her notion of a “mainstream women’s movement” is a oxymoron. How can any group seeking social change ever be “mainstream?” It would be a conceptual impossibility. Before addressing the substantive issues, it struck me that despite the disclaimer that “Women don’t have to agree on everything…”, Tischer’s thrust seems to be that women are (or ought to be) a homogeneous group. Tischer reads the Schiavo issues very narrowly. There is no inherent connection between her sex and her situation. Being female was not determinate in the dispute. And disability is not the prerogative of women. Here, I quote from Lisa Tuttle’s Encyclopedia of Feminism; Arrow Books; London; 1986: “In the present, there are many individual definitions of feminism, and its fundamental meaning is in dispute. Dictionaries usually define it as the advocacy of women’s rights based on a belief in the equality of the sexes, and in its broadest use the word refers to everyone who is aware of and seeking to end women’s subordination in any way and for any reason.” (p107). My personal stand on the Schiavo matter is that it is both ethical dilemma and human tragedy which should have been mitigated long ago, maybe with a sunset clause for all life-support cases. The parents’ motives are not examined, nor their legal standing’s being equal in their son-in-law’s. This aspect struck me as neo-tribal. In anthropological terms, the parents’ endogenous rights are not the same as the husband’s exogenous rights. However, rather than engage with ethical or legal polemics, I have decided to analyze the piece from a less controversial stance of its efficacy as written advocacy. Whilst neither professional writer nor advocate, I believe there are some primary guidelines to follow in such activism. Basically, these are brevity, sharp focus, and simplicity, none to be overwhelmed by passion or ‘fire in the belly’. 1. Do not assume that readers have time to wade through verbiage. Be succinct and brief. 2. Assume that your priority competes with others. Evaluate and prioritize, to really sharpen your target or focus. 3. Tischer’s piece loses impact by firing salvos all over the place. Had she honed her advocacy, there would have been less background static, and her message could have been shorter, simpler and starker. The nett effect would have been more memorable, without necessarily descending into jingo or jargon. Messages can be lost in any medium. Beware overkill. Exercise restraint. White anger is no substitute for the cool logic of informed, reasoned discussion.
You can win friends and influence people without going over the top. Don’t waste the atomic bomb on Luxemburg. There, that’s off my chest. I hope Tischer had similar relief. Maggie Wilson, May 3, 2005
LOW COST INTERNET SERVICES FOR AUSTRALIA’S AGED, VETERANS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
Cathie’s Travels
Cathie Phoeda, a member of our Network is on a sojourn around South America, America and now Canada and has sent through this report from Santiago, Chile.
Disability report from…
SANTIAGO, CHILE
Santiago is a city of over 5 million people. The first thing to be aware of is that Santiago is one of the most air polluted cities in the world. This would be because it is situated between mountain ranges so that the pollution is basically trapped like a blanket over the city. I was talking to a local who works as a Physical Therapist and she said that asthma and other respiratory conditions are common here. I have no respiratory conditions and I have found that my nose gets runny when I walk around the city. So if you have any respiratory problems, I would not recommend you stay in Santiago!
As far as physical disabilities go, I wouldn’t describe Santiago as being particularly accessible. I have only seen one person with an obvious physical disability so far. A man in a manual wheelchair wheeling down the centre of a busy road. He was on the middle lines while traffic sped past him either way! I’m assuming this is the best way for him to get around because the footpaths aren’t that great here. The drains on the footpaths are not all covered so even when walking you have to watch out that you don’t stick your foot in a hole! The commercial buildings in the city are accessible (lifts) but most other shops, restaurants, etc are not. The hostel I’m staying at is not accessible. The metro is only partly accessible—you can sometimes get an elevator to one platform but then there are stairs to the other platforms. It could possibly be navigated if you plan it well. Fortunately all the major tourist sites are within walking distance...so if you’re a wheelchair user and willing to risk the traffic, you’ll be just fine! (- as long as you don’t want to eat, shop or stay anywhere—editor)
I’m looking forward to leaving Santiago and taking a big breath of fresh air!! Cathie
Call for Contact Details of Reliable Taxi Drivers
The Network is keen to create and disseminate a list of taxi drivers, particularly maxi cab drivers, that our members have used and found reliable. We are aware that good drivers, sensitive to the needs of their passengers are hard to come by and we hope that by creating this list we can help to ensure a smooth ride.
Women with disabilities and mammography screening
If you are interested in finding out more about the research please call:
Star Gazing
Astrology Signs : July to September
CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Planetary Ruler: Moon
Traditional Cancer Traits:
Emotional and loving Intuitive and imaginative Shrewd and cautious Protective and sympathetic Changeable and moody Overemotional and touchy Clinging and unable to let goHEALTH: Cancer governs the chest, breasts, elbows, stomach and digestion, womb and female reproductive organs. Cancer, which can affect any part of the body, is sometimes said to have taken its name from this sign, which can therefore afflict its subjects with imperfections anywhere. This is incorrect, however, the derivation of cancer being the Latin cancer meaning gangrene as well as crab. Nevertheless, Cancerians are said to be liable to breast cancer and to suffer from pleurisy, dropsy, piles and varicose veins. The excitability mentioned above can lead to weak digestion, gastritis and other stomach ills, and there is a tendency to coughs and weakness of vision.
LEO
July 23 to August 22
Planetary Ruler: Sun
Traditional Leo Traits:
Generous and warmhearted Creative and enthusiastic Broadminded and expansive Faithful and loving Pompous and patronizing Bossy and interfering Dogmatic and intolerant HEALTH: Physiologically, Leo governs the upper back, forearms, wrist, spine and heart. Its natives are subject to a number of ailments: pain in the back and lungs, spinal complaints, diseases of the heart and blood, sickness in ribs and sides, convulsions, pleasantries, violent burning fevers including, in former days when they were prevalent, plague and pestilence jaundice and some afflictions of the eyes.
VIRGO August 23 to September 22 Planetary Ruler: Mercury Traditional Virgo Traits: Modest and shy Meticulous and reliable Practical and diligent Intelligent and analytical Fussy and a worrier Overcritical and harsh Perfectionist and conservative HEALTH: Their natures make them inclined to worry and this makes them vulnerable to stomach and bowel troubles, including colic and ulcers. Male Virgoans may have trouble with their sexual organs. Both sexes are strongly interested in drugs and esoteric cuisine and as their delicate stomachs require them to be careful about their diet, it is essential that they treat their fascination with exotic food with extreme care.
Joanne Hutchins A good job badgers can’t read or drive
ODD SPOT
This month’s odd spot comes to us all the way from Buckinghamshire in the UK, where they seem to be having some sort of problem with disabled wildlife. It seems the problem became so intense that the Wycombe District Council felt the need to erect a sign in a multi level car park instructing “disabled badger holders” to park on level 1. Whilst some may find this confusing, the holding of a disabled Badgers is really quite a common pastime. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked a new acquaintance what they do for kicks and they’ve responded with “Oh lots of things but what I really enjoy doing is driving around holding Badgers with various forms of acquired and congenial disabilities while I search for a car park. You should try it, it’s just great!”
DID YOU KNOW?
Australian Caption Center—Captions at the Cinemas:
For people with a hearing impairment or are Deaf, captions are available in some cinemas. By assessing the Australian Caption Center (auscap) website and following the “What’s on at the cinema” link, you can do a city search for films which have captions, the location of these cinemas and the dates on which captioned movies will appear. The websites of cinema’s which offer captioned movies is also available on the Auscap website and can accessed for session times. To access the “What’s on at the cinema” link and for further information on a range of captioning services access the website below:
Http://www/auscap.com.au/
WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES NEWCASTLE (WWDN)
Women with Disabilities Newcastle is a social and support group for women with a disability in the Newcastle and Hunter Region. WWDN is run by women with disabilities; for women with disabilities. WWDN is inclusive and does not discriminate against any disability. WWDN is run collectively so that all members have the opportunity to have their say in the running of the group.
To become a member, or for more Information contact Tanya: (02) 4953 8246 or 0414 854 976
WomenLikeUs
WomenLikeUs is our email discussion group—or e-list. It is one way we in the Network connect with each other. It is only open to individual women with disability who are members of the NSW Network of Women with Disability. If you would like to know how to join WomenLikeUs, call the Office Wenches on Ph: 9552 1606 or send an email to: po@pdcnsw.org.au We recognize that not everyone has access to a computer or the internet. We don’t want to disadvantage women in this position. Emails from the list are printed out once a week and snail-mailed to women who are part of the Network but who don’t have access to the internet/email. Handmade2 borderart Art Gallery of NSW on a Spring Afternoon Are you into art? Do you enjoy checking out galleries?
Well you may like to join some sista art enthusiasts from our Women’s Network—we are planning a visit to the Art Gallery of NSW to see the following exhibition:
What: Margaret Preston—Art & Life When: Saturday 10th September 2005 Where: Art Gallery of NSW How Much: $12 adults/$8 conc.
RSVP & Details: Kerri Ph. 02 9692 0842
Call for papers Free Creative Writing Course for people with a Mental illness
creating a place where our experiences as women with disability are
acknowledged and respected.
building a community in which we share our stories, knowledge and
skills
connecting
creating a place where we celebrate our individual and collective
differences as women with disability
sharing ideas
sharing experiences
supporting each other
working towards inclusion and equality for women with disability
Get involved Find your voice Make yourself heard
The NSW Network of Women with Disability meets regularly every month. To find out a meeting near you, give us a call!
For more information or to get involved, contact;
Sharon at
Physical Disability Council of NSW 3/184 Glebe Point Road Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: 02 9552 1606 TTY: 02 9552 1370 Freecall: 1800 688 831
Telephone Interpreter Service: 13 14 50 Fax: 02 9552 4644 Email: po@pdcnsw.org.au Internet: www.pdcnsw.org.au/network/women
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