Trick or treat . . Choose life

Many Australians view Halloween as an American Custom, involving dressing in costumes to go trick or treating. In fact it is not a American tradition at all. Halloween is a pagan Celtic harvest festival. Halloween as we know it is said to be a 'Christian version' of the festival.  However there is nothing Christian about celebrating the day of the dead.

As a Christian, I see nothing compatible with anything that celebrates death. I believe while death may destroy a body, life of a soul is eternal. With two options, eternal life with the 'light of the world', Jesus Christ or eternal darkness. The separation of the soul and the body, that which we term death, closes the door on an opportunity for a soul to repent.  Those who die without Christ are condemned to eternal darkness away from 'Christ who is the light of the world'. Certainly that is nothing to celebrate.

Halloween is celebrated on the eve of All saints Day, by the Roman Catholic Church.  All Souls Day or All Hallo is celebrated by the Church.  On all souls day they pray from the dead to be reunited with Christ. Something that death itself  prevents and on All saints day the pray for the dead of the faith. Here we see the 'Christiansted version' of Halloween still focus on death. There is nothing to celebrate when it comes to losing a soul to eternity.

Death in totally incompatible with life. As a Christian I am predominated with life, praying for the living and spreading the message of Jesus Christ which is life giving.

Jesus himself said let the dead buried their own dead. Luke 9:60.  There is no foundation of a genuine believer to be celebrating a feast of the dead.  If you are using this occasion to share the gospel do not say your celebrating the Day of the Dead  use it as an opportunity to shine Christ love.  Be honest with those who walk a crocked line. Ask them to celebrate life by asking Jesus Christ into their lives. This would be real cause for celebration.

At the curificition the Roman soldiers micked Christ, taken any opportunity to dress as the dead - to celebrate death, could be potentially harmful, it certainly is not edifying .  Choose to celebrate life instead.

Trick or treat . . .Let me treat you to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Addressing Access Issues

A day in the like of an artist

The first access issue I face each day is . . . How do I get from A to B?  As well as living with Cerebral Palsy, I have epilepsy, meaning I can't just jump in the car and pop to the art shop for supplies. The typical day means a support worker arrives about 8 am to assist me to get ready for the day, whatever that may hold.

Like everyone else their is more to life than creating art. My disabilities mean squeezing in medical appointments, between art class, working on social media marketing, coffee with my neighbour, networking, grant writing, the accounts, paying the bills and juggling all this around four support services and sixteen workers. No sweet!

And most days I do this with my head held high. Its been a BIG year, with my first solo exhibition, traveling interstate with my artwork, and more and more artwork selling.  Sadly ArtISabilty has had a few bumps, but we're still out their making noises, with two events to finish off 2016!

I am still deeply passionate about increasing the participation of people with disabilities in Ipswich.  As an artist one thing I do well is shine!  By exhibiting and selling my artwork, I am saying disability doesn't need to be a barrier to employment, achievement and even assisting others.

However accessing the community even for me remains a challenge.  The major challenge sadly is dealing with social acceptance and building an inclusive community. I am realising the key to Improving all access issues, is challenging social norms.  It's not the norm for people living with disabilities to work; its not the norm of people with disability to be in management roles. its not the norm for people with disabilities to access the community independently...

Well hello! Your finally realising I not normal and I don't want to conform to social norms.  Yet daily society reminds me or the norms, where's your carer.  It takes energy and courage to navigate foot paths, traffic, building and toilets.  I try not to focus on what happens if I have a seizure.  With my seizures ones again unstable I am limit to accessing the community with others.

ErrrrH! this means using a telephone with a communication disorder, explain yes I am very aware I have a disability, but I am the manager, no my cat can't talk and I the only on here.  I'll call you back . . . Well be sure that company isn't going to provide a quote. Dealing with access issues doesn't allow you to submit grants late while you wait for quotes.

I smile and feel a wonderful sense of achievement despite the daily deconstruction of barriers eventual I achieve my goals. I am relicant and resourceful.

 However the artists I work with are still struggling with the traffic, footpaths and toilet doors the can't open. Lack of affordable transport options still lock them out for the community and some remain voiceless.

You can assist me to address the many access issues in Ipswich by purchasing Christmas designed by the artists I work with. These can be purchase through my online shop.

NDIS Reform

The two key words for understanding the NDIS reforms are "choice" and "control". The National Disability Insurance Scheme seeks to give individuals and families self-direction in determining the own lifestyles. Until now this has not been possible, as 'funding' was tied to a region not individuals and their individual and family needs. The key objective of the scheme is to increase participation rates in community life.

It is important to note that the agreement between each state and the federal government is different and when accessing information from the Website you click on the state in which you live. Todays post is about reform.

For those living with disability it is easy to get caught up with the changes needed under the new funding arrangements, our needs and preparing our plans for the National Disability Insurance Agency, we lose sight of the reform goals themselves.

The role of the NDIS is to assist people with disabilities and their families 'to live their best lives.'

The NDIS is a reform for all Australian and seeks to raise the equality of people living with disabilities with the peers. At policy level this is about social reform, but I feel the sector has lost sight of these as it struggles to grapple with the complexities of changes at grassroots level.  We are all flying on the edge of our seats.

What trouble me is social reform needs to be address at community level and like many policies people do not engage in discussion unless it affects us.  The irony is the NDIS is there in the event a person acquires a disability. Its great to seek the government tackling things like underemployment, aging population and encouraging independence, but until social inclusion issues are address the uptake on accessibility improvements to business, housing and cars will be slow. 

There has been little conversation other than facebook in regards to building community awareness, community engagement is only possible if everyone us open to changed.  If the public perceptions is one for "People in need of help" . Then things like employment opportunity and leadership roles are not going to evolved. 

The missing ingredient is empowerment. To make choices people need to be informed and understand all the options and the conquences of each choice. More encouragement is need from parents and carers for people with disabilities to have a go and the culture to protect and 'care for' people with disabilities is still very strong.

The funding changes are being rolled out but is the social reform keeping pace.

 

In quest of transpancy

I remember a teacher in high school saying we get the politician we deserve.  Even back then I remember thinking it was a crack pot statement. What I didn't realise back then was the degree of lobbying and policy research that happens behind the scenes. We only hear the debate that is release in the public domain and that which the media choses to release.  

Lately I've been surprised by the different styles of reporting by the commercial stations and the ABC. Every entity has a political agenda whether they admin it or not.  I no longer view politics as the apparling behaviour the media reports.  The real politics in this country occurs behind close doors, before the parties come out to sell their policies to the Australian public.

I remember not so long a go I felt hopeless about the future of this country,  as if my vote didn't count.  I alone could not change the forces that drive this great nations, basically I realised the media and in particular social media that run the nation. 

The statement my teacher made all those years ago were ringing true.  The majority of Australians are lazy and let the media direct their votes and I was in danger for becoming another member of the mob. Luckily I joined the Leaders for Tomorrow Program which open my eyes to grassroots of politics. Policies are formed at grassroots level and the Every Australian Counts Campaign proved that citizens can challenge government policy and lobby groups can at least hold the parties to be transparent. For too long we have allow ourselves to be spoon feed.

I can work with members of any major party provided I do my home work and read the policy documents. I am struck by may key campaigners who have never sighted a policy document.  We certainly have the policies we deserve. 

I am entitle to ask the hard questions and I am entitled to an honest answer. If I am serious about grassroots politics, I need to do the hard yards and learn the skills of a diplomat.

Recently I joined the Get Up crew, all I want is transparency. 

Addressing Access to Transport

Firstly, I like to acknowledge the significant improvement in the public transport system in access for those living with disabilities introduced by the Queensland Government. As I have shared access in not just, providing physical access to venues, transport and facilities.  Access involve a whole range of issues, which Queensland Rail in now acknowledging. Including portable ramps, hearing  loops and brail information.

However many transport access issues are around 'location', 'timetables', time frames and affordability.  Access to transport us a major issue in the Ipswich Region and its about more than providing accessible public transport.  The access point is understanding the complexities of issues that people living with disability face.  Addressing these issues is difficult because of myths that exists in the disability sector itself.

• The mobility allowance and taxi subsidy scheme covers additional costs of transport.
• Public transport is an affordable alternative for those living with disabilities.
• Use of public transport increase independence of people living with disabilities.
• Every person living with disability can use public transport if supported by a companion.
• Public transport fits with the schedules of people with disabilities.
• People with disabilities have no time constraints.
• Transport service providers suit all people and client can determine pick-up times, to fit in with their complex support needs.
• Transport service providers are understand of individual needs and converse well with those with communication disorders.

In addressing transport access needs lets not pretend the issues are simple to identify and a one size fits all approach will not address access issues.

Locations and Timeframes

Location, location, location . . .  In the Ipswich region, particularly in outer areas is not always available and where it is not all people with disabilities can access it independently.  Most people I know who need support to travel independently, have limited support session and where multi transport modes are required bus/rail/bus travel time restrictions rule out public transport, as do commitments that occur outside business hours.  There become a time in the evening where safety issues need to be consider, especially when people are walking home from train stations.

At some point peoples residential address becomes and issues and create barriers for those unable to drive, either through lack of service to an areas, safety issues or time need to  travel by public transport. The introduction of community transport services has vastly improved meeting the areas needs.  However not everyone qualifies for these services and some are let to pay full costs to services.

I had found the introduction of these services has ease the demand on traditional taxi services and the demand for Maxi Taxies. However wait times remain excessively long in peak hour.  The pulling of funding for these services by the Queensland government prior to the commencement of the National Disability Insurance Scheme places demand back on the taxi companies and increase peoples transport costs.

Where support workers using the own cars to transport clients has provider an alternative for people living with disabilities, this funding has too been with drawn.  This bring people with disabilities to a point where at some stage during their week they will be locked out of community participation.  With this in mild I am launching my annual transport for artists living with disabilities fundraising activities.

Our 2015 Designer Christmas Card Ranger is again available and can be purchased online through my Esty Store.  The link is on your right hand column and Doodle n Dribble will have them available at the Railway Workshop Meson Twilight Markets on Friday 21st October.  

All cards are $ 2 each!

Lost in Transit

Those who know me, known access to transport for those living with disability a particular hobby horse for me. Any service provider in Ipswich will tell you the availability and affordability of transport is the major barrier to community participation for those living with disability. The key objective of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is participation.

As an artists I do not keep regular business hours and many functions are hosted after 5 pm. Going out at night is always stressful and a real deterrent for me. Assuming I arrive on time, the concern is always will there be a maxi cab available at the end of the meeting or function.

About two years ago I decided it was less stressful to take my manual chair out, although more exhausting than being told their we no maxi drivers on in Ipswich that night.  Business hours are just as frustrating.  It is nothing unusual to wait 2 hours for a cab. Try planning meetings around that! 

Fortunately for me I gained confidence in scooting around town on battery power. This option is only available due to my location to the CBD.  As an epileptic public transport is not too much fun unaided.  Imagine a bus driver if I had a seizure on root. There is a myth that life for those with disabilities is not stressful. After all this is the stress my career carriers. Another myth, all people with disabilities have a career.

This is not the only access issues when transport is involved.  add to this the layer of my communication disorder and people wanting to confirm destination  with a career and some days end in meltdowns.

Some of the issues around transport for others are:-

• residential address and access to public transport.
• services and community activities are not all conveniently located.
• Travel time - not matching support sessions times. e.g bus/train link up makes arrival times for activities not possible.
• Areas with no public transport e.g Lowood
• Medical reasons why public transport can not be accessed.
• Transport services not fitting in with support times. 

Life is never as simple as travelling from A to B.  In the transition to support under the NDIS we were promised no gaps in service delivery and yet funding for transport alternatives has been pulled. I  now pay 80 cents per km to get from A to B.  Only when traveling in cab is transport half price.  Yep affordable on the DSP - not!

Transport continues to prevent community participation for those living with disabilities.

Anyone coffee?

Deb's Roamings

These were exhibited at

Drawing Point Gallery

203 Brisbane Street IPSWICH

In a collaborated exhibition

'Barista;

Doodles and Dribble

will be at

Railway Workshop Museum

Twilight Markets

October 21

5pm to 9 pm 

Coffee Mugs $ 15

$ 5 for set of 10

Tote Bags $ 10 each

Deluxe Tote Bag $25

These are also available online

Deb's Doodle Treasures