“ Action to close institutions for people with disability “

The National Shut In Campaign

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Jan DaisleyPresident, People with Disability Australia (PWD)

Matthew BowdenExecutive Director, People with Disability Australia (PWD)

CRPD Article 19: Living independently and being included in the community

People with disability should:

be able to choose where they live

be able to choose who they live with

have the same housing choices as other members of the community

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CRPD Article 19: Living independently and being included in the community

Governments must:

provide access to personal supports and assistance so we can live where we want

make sure we are not segregated from the community

not make us live somewhere we don’t want to be to get the support we need

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Jan Daisley – personal reflections on Article 19

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What is an Institution?

Any place where a person with disability is forced to live in order to receive supports.

These facilities can be called ‘institutions’, ‘large residential centres’, ‘cluster housing’, ‘villages’, ‘intentional communities’, ‘boarding houses’ or ‘group homes’.

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Institutions in Australia

In Australia many large institutions were closed from 1985 onwards.

BUTmany people with disability still live in institutions in Australia.

some Australian governments are still funding institutions and building new institutions for people with disability.

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Shut In - We are not alone!

Shut In is part of an international movement.

People with disability, advocates, academics, family members and friends are involved.

Inclusion International is another organisation working for the same cause.

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It’s about Human Rights

CRPD says people with disability have a right to live in the community.

Governments and non-government service providers need to be more creative to ensure we can live good lives in the community.

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What does CRPD say?

Article 19: Living independently and being included in the community

- people with disability have a right to freedom of movement

Article 28: Adequate standard of living and social protection- people with disability have a right to adequate housing and an

adequate standard of living

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What does CRPD say?

Institutions should not be a stage of progress towards achieving the right to adequate housing and the right to adequate social services.

Institutions deprive people with disability of their freedom and can never be justified as a way to achieve the right to adequate housing and the right to adequate social services.10

Shut In Campaign

Position Paper – Accommodating Human Rights (2009)- interpretation of Article 19, Living independently and being included in

the community (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD))

Position Statement – Housing and Support for People with Disability (August 2011)

- Summary of Position Paper- Open for endorsement

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Shut In Campaign

Strategies for action:

CRPD Complaint - to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Legal Action – about the NSW Government’s decision to continue to fund and operate institutions.

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Shut In Campaign

Strategies for action:

Website - www.shutin.org.au

Awareness-raising - Vodcasts telling personal experiences of living in institutions.

Endorse the ‘Shut-In Campaign – ‘Position Statement on Housing and Support for People with Disability’.13

Jan Daisley

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Kim

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Raising our Sights - James

16 www.dh.gov.uk