Everyday Human Rights Denied to People with Disability

Written by Ibrahim Sesay on September 23, 2025. Posted in Disability & Rights, Carer Support / Disability Care in Australia.

Disability rights are human rights. Yet across the world, and here in Australia, people with disability continue to be denied freedoms and opportunities that others take for granted. These are not privileges but fundamental rights, protected under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

In Sydney and across New South Wales, ongoing advocacy has shown how disability human rights are still overlooked in everyday life — from family and relationships to work and mobility. This highlights why stronger policy, services, and community education are urgently needed.

1. Disability and the Right to Family Life

Research shows that women with intellectual disability are far more likely to have their children removed by child protection services, often based on stereotypes rather than evidence of neglect. The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (2023) found parents with intellectual disability are disproportionately represented in child removal cases. This undermines the right to family life guaranteed under the CRPD.

Supporting families properly — with parenting programs, accessible services, and advocacy — is one way to strengthen disability human rights in Sydney and prevent unnecessary child removals. Families must be supported, not punished, when facing challenges.

2. The Right to Relationships and Intimacy for People with Disability

People with disability often face stigma, restrictive institutional rules, and limited access to sexual health education. Those with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are sometimes denied opportunities for consensual sexual relationships, including through guardianship laws that restrict decision-making. This violates the right to privacy and family life under the CRPD.

Respecting human rights means recognising that people with disability, like everyone else, deserve safe and fulfilling relationships. Expanding education, promoting autonomy, and breaking down stigma are crucial steps toward equality. It also means training professionals — from teachers to healthcare workers — to better support the relationship rights of people with disability.

3. The Right to Work and Economic Participation in Sydney

Employment remains one of the largest barriers to equality. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), the labour force participation rate for people with disability was only 53% compared with 84% for people without disability, while unemployment was almost double (10% vs 5%).

Discrimination during recruitment, inaccessible workplaces, and low expectations about capability all contribute to this gap. Many people with disability want to work and contribute, but are blocked by systems that fail them. Protecting disability human rights in Sydney workplaces means removing these barriers and enforcing anti-discrimination laws more effectively.

Creating inclusive workplaces benefits everyone — employers gain skilled and motivated staff, while employees with disability gain financial security, independence, and dignity.

4. The Right to Mobility and Independence

Driving and transport access remain major barriers. Licensing processes and inaccessible transport systems effectively deny many people with disability the ability to drive or move freely. Transport for NSW (2021) found that people with disability are twice as likely to experience transport disadvantage, restricting employment, healthcare, and community participation.

Accessible transport is more than convenience — it is a human right. True independence comes from being able to travel freely, access services, and engage with community life on equal terms. Improvements such as step-free stations, better signage, and affordable transport options are essential.

Moving Forward: Advocacy and Action

The denial of these rights is systemic, not individual. Whether through laws, policies, or social attitudes, people with disability continue to face barriers to parenting, relationships, work, and independence. Recognising disability rights as human rights means dismantling these barriers and ensuring equal participation in every sphere of life.

People with disability have a labour force participation rate of just 53%, compared with 84% for people without disability. – Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022)

At love and hope with no steps, we support people with disability to exercise their rights, build independence, and live with dignity. Through NDIS advocacy in Sydney, we walk alongside participants and families to ensure that disability human rights in Sydney are not just words on paper but lived realities.

Contact us today to learn how we can support you or your loved one to achieve independence, equality, and hope.

Older Parents Supporting a Child with Disability

Written by Ibrahim Sesay on September 15, 2025. Posted in Elderly Parents Caring for a Child with Disability at Home, Carer Support / Disability Care in Australia, Disability Rights & Advocacy → Family & Carer Perspectives, Disability Rights & Advocacy → Justice & Legal Issues.

Across Australia, thousands of elderly parents continue to care for their children with disability well into adulthood. This caregiving is almost always offered with deep love and commitment, but as the years go by, it often comes with heavy costs—physical strain, financial stress, and emotional worry. Many parents are not only focused on managing today’s challenges, but also haunted by a bigger question: “Who will look after my child when I no longer can?” Recognising these realities is essential, because supporting elderly carers through financial help, health services, respite, and future planning protects not only their wellbeing but also the long-term security and independence of their children.

As parents age, the very tasks that once felt manageable can become overwhelming. Physical health conditions such as arthritis, back pain, or reduced mobility make daily care—lifting, bathing, cooking, or managing medications—much harder. If a child has complex health needs, the demands can be even greater and at times impossible to manage without support. Financial strain is also a common reality. Many parents who are retired or living on a pension still need to cover disability-related expenses such as medical equipment, therapies, or transport. On top of this comes the heavy emotional weight of uncertainty. For many, the greatest worry is not about today but about the future—what will happen to their child once they themselves are no longer able to provide care.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides a vital lifeline of practical supports that can ease this pressure. NDIS plans may include personal care, therapies, assistive technology, community participation programs, and respite services. For elderly carers, respite is particularly valuable because it allows them time to rest, recover, and manage their own health while knowing their child is safe. Working with a support coordinator or local area coordinator is an important step to ensure the NDIS plan reflects both the participant’s needs and the family’s circumstances. At the same time, elderly parents themselves may be eligible for help through My Aged Care, which provides home care packages, domestic assistance, and carer respite. Used alongside the NDIS, this dual support system can significantly reduce pressure, as the child receives targeted disability supports while the parent receives aged care assistance. With careful planning, families can use both systems to remain together safely at home for longer.

Financial assistance is another critical part of supporting elderly carers. Centrelink provides two key payments: the Carer Payment, which is an income support payment for those who cannot work due to full-time caring responsibilities, and the Carer Allowance, which is a supplementary payment to help cover the additional costs of care. These payments can make a major difference for families trying to manage on limited retirement incomes while still providing constant support for their adult child with disability.

Despite these supports, one of the most difficult challenges remains planning for the future. Elderly parents often ask themselves how their child will be cared for when they are no longer around. Future planning may involve writing or updating a will, appointing a guardian or trustee, or setting up a Special Disability Trust to provide financial security. Families may also explore supported independent living options or community housing solutions that can ensure safety and stability in the long term. Navigating these decisions is not easy, but disability service providers and advocacy organisations can offer guidance, resources, and reassurance throughout the process.

The emotional impact of caring should not be overlooked. For older parents, caring can be isolating, especially if social networks have faded or health problems limit their ability to connect with others. Support groups, community organisations, and online forums offer a vital source of encouragement and practical advice. Counselling and mental health services are also important, giving carers tools to cope with stress, grief, and the deep concerns about their child’s future wellbeing. Staying connected to community support helps parents feel less alone in their journey and more confident in their ability to manage ongoing challenges.

Elderly parents who care for their child with disability shoulder an extraordinary responsibility, often sacrificing their own health and wellbeing in the process. While Australia has strong systems in place—the NDIS, My Aged Care, Centrelink payments, and various community networks—many families still find it difficult to navigate these programs and coordinate them effectively. Recognising and supporting elderly carers is not simply about easing today’s burden. It is about ensuring stability, dignity, and peace of mind for the carers themselves, while securing independence and a safe future for their children with disability.