Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Total Attitude

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  • Joe Wylie,

    If there's anything living around difference teaches you, it's how we're all different.

    Yay.
    Never heard of Mr. Patston until now, but I like the sound of him. Thanks.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Here's Philip:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I've said this before, but Attitude really is one of those televisual gems that more people should watch.

    The big thing I got from it is that while it can be difficult having a disability, it's not the end of the world. Attitude may focus on people with disabilities doing amazing things, but they also show people with disabilities doing ordinary things - like going to university, being a parent, playing a favourite sport - and I always found that to be a huge inspiration.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    it was time to simply look at it in terms of overall human diversity

    An excellent idea...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    it was time to simply look at it in terms of overall human diversity

    An excellent idea...

    Seconded. With specific reference to physical disability, can one talk of a mobility spectrum? If there is one, all of us occupy varying points on it at various times during our lives, and it might thus be a useful way to realise that these are issues for society as a whole, not just those who society/the media might easily identify as "the disabled".

    Hope I am making a little bit of sense - just thinking out loud as it were.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    I might have missed it but I don't think Russell has promo'ed this week's Media 7 -- was a good one, and an enjoyably unserious way to cap off a great series this year. The Simon Pound bit is especially good -- like EML but for real (I hope).

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Here's Philip:

    Cool.
    Loved the Riverdance - funny though how their style involved being pretty much motionless from the waist up.

    Dealing with disabilities - or differences - whether they're intellectual or physical - really highlights just how much personality matters.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    With specific reference to physical disability, can one talk of a mobility spectrum? If there is one, all of us occupy varying points on it at various times during our lives, and it might thus be a useful way to realise that these are issues for society as a whole, not just those who society/the media might easily identify as "the disabled".

    Having cut my finger today (incident involving bread-knife and failure to appreciate curvature of loaf) and now finding it difficult to touch-type, I take your point. I have edged a little along the spectrum for a while.

    Might I also recommend National Radio's One in Five programme.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Gosh, where to start. I’m glad the awards went well and I’ve had reason to feel grateful for Mark Gosche’s support for the cause over the last few years.

    Curtis explained on air last Sunday that his motivation for establishing the awards was somehow creating more opportunities for young disabled people to get paid work. While he’s a nice man, that’s just not very well-informed.

    An awards show – and their tv show in general – will change some people’s expectations about what disabled people can do, which is great. Celebrating achievement is fine, and the sporting community where the show has its roots is good at that.

    However, promoting a view of disability as a resolutely individual “problem” to be bravely overcome is not going to work any more than it has done up until now. No matter how positive disabled job-seekers may be, it is employers’ attitudes that need to change to make the difference. There are also very real basic barriers in transport, services, communication and built environments that must be removed. Fundamentally, we all need to expect that disabled people can and do contribute in all areas of life – just as we expect from migrants, older people and other significant social groups.

    That does require a bigger view of social change than the “inspiring” personality-driven stories that Attitude specialises in. Change demands a broader understanding of disability beyond the experience of the sports-playing wheelchair users with ACC-funded spinal injuries who dominate the show’s team. They at least seem to be moving on from thinking that the next adventure sports expedition or overseas holiday is the biggest issue for many disabled New Zealanders.

    Non-ACC funded disabled people have a very different experience of life – as some PAS regulars can attest - and then more than half of disabled New Zealanders do not use services at all. What often counts are the day-to-day details like wonky footpaths, tiny print in official documents and awkward, disrespectful service from counter staff who don’t understand diversity because they no longer live with their grandparents like we all used to.

    Improving public understanding about disability needs funding for more than one tv show tucked away on a Sunday morning, with more than one perspective on offer. One in Five does a broader job. However, a large-scale ongoing awareness campaign like Like Minds is sorely overdue, and hopefully the new government may be more receptive than the last one about that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    However, promoting a view of disability as a resolutely individual “problem” to be bravely overcome is not going to work any more than it has done up until now. No matter how positive disabled job-seekers may be, it is employers’ attitudes that need to change to make the difference.

    There was an Employer Award, sponsored by ACC (there's a story on the winning company here) and the fact of a 40% unemployment rate amongst disabled people in New Zealand was discussed more than once during the evening.

    Non-ACC funded disabled people have a very different experience of life – as some PAS regulars can attest - and then more than half of disabled New Zealanders do not use services at all.

    And that was mentioned too. There was a general theme of the right of the disabled to be able to make a social contribution.

    I understand your point -- a Usability Award would be a good addition next year for one thing -- but I don't think that should have to rule out celebration. It was an amazing evening, really.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Thanks, Russell - and yes, celebration is important. Building a sense of community is great.

    About the unemployment rate, I was concerned when they got it wrong on air and even moreso if that was bandied around during the awards. I have been doing quite a bit of demographic work this year.

    According to the most recent released figures (2001 post-census disability survey, would you believe), only 40% of disabled New Zealanders were employed, compared with 66% of non-disabled New Zealanders.

    The official "unemployment" figures were identical at 4%, but 56% of disabled Kiwis were not "in the labour force" (cf 24% non-disabled) - that is, they were not able to work (like those on benefits, not the majority) or "discouraged" from job-seeking - which goes back to the reasons why that might be.

    Out of that 40% of employed disabled Kiwis, 54% were employees and that figure has in isolation been described as increasing slightly in the unpublished 2006 survey. I think that may be the number that Attitude have latched onto and assumed that if about 60% of disabled people are "employed" then 40% are unemployed. Actually, it means that 21% of disabled people are employees, 3% are sole self-employed and 4% employ others.

    The bottom line is that 60% of disabled people are not in work, and many of those could be contributing if our government employment and economic development agencies put half the effort into them as we do into ex-prisoners or resourceful recent migrants.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Doh. I meant, "like some of those on benefits".

    And the last para should start more boldly thus:
    The bottom line is that 60% of disabled people are not in work.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    And I should add that all those figures are for "adults" aged 15 years old and over.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tanya Black,

    Thank you Russell for your heart felt comments about the Attitude Awards

    But to Sacha...
    Although the evening was a celebration of the success and achievements of Kiwis living with a disability, it did have a couple of serious messages.

    "Curtis explained on air last Sunday that his motivation for establishing the awards was somehow creating more opportunities for young disabled people to get paid work. While he’s a nice man, that’s just not very well-informed."

    Our experience, from talking to many, is that young people making the transition from school to adulthood, find the workforce a very daunting place because of employers who concentrate on what people can't do rather than what they can.

    We consciously courted the corporate sector to sponsor and attend the. event. Our simple, yet not, I believe naive, hope is that these leaders in business and industry have their eyes opened to an enormous untapped resource.

    Even the fashion show that I organised had a serious message. I wanted to challenge people’s conception of beauty and rethink their stereotypes of disabled women; I think the accompanying graphics gave emphasis to this. Eleven beautiful, fashionable, desirable women who happen to be mothers, sisters, gold-medal- winning Paralympians, lawyers, lovers and entrepreneurs - not a "problem" in sight!

    "That does require a bigger view of social change than the “inspiring” personality-driven stories that Attitude specialises in. Change demands a broader understanding of disability beyond the experience of the sports-playing wheelchair users with ACC-funded spinal injuries who dominate the show’s team. They at least seem to be moving on from thinking that the next adventure sports expedition or overseas holiday is the biggest issue for many disabled New Zealanders."

    I get a little tired of defending the way we acquired our disabilities and how we’re funded but the truth is that there are people working on the Attitude team with a range of disabilities from dyslexia/autism to cerebral palsy.

    However we acquired our disabilities we have empathy and an understanding of a wide range of issues from travel and sport to more serious issues including funding inequities, pre-natal testing for disability and accessing education.

    We don't expect to change the world with one awards night but from the comments I received at the end of the night, we're already making in roads however small.

    auckland • Since Dec 2008 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Only slightly off-topic... That Ezi-Rider wheelchair looks awesome, but if I'm reading it right, the maximum weight it can carry is 60kg. I don't think I've weighed that little in, erm, some years. Guess I'll just have to hope that if my genetic coin toss falls that way, it drops me a few kgs before I need wheels...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Tanya, thank you and I'm sad to have missed the event. Maybe next year.

    Everything helps and I appreciate your efforts and your successes at creating an atmosphere of celebration. All I'm saying is that focusing on individual achievement is not going to be enough and the attitudes that need to change are not mainly those of disabled people.

    Certain approaches fit right in with most people's individualised and medicalised understandings about disability. Others go broader, and that's where I'd like to see you all stretch yourselves this coming year.

    As a matter of interest, where did your unemployment figure come from?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    However we acquired our disabilities we have empathy and an understanding of a wide range of issues

    Tanya, it is not how you became disabled that in itself affects your level of understanding or empathy (although it's relevant for sure, and especially how old you were at the time). It is more about the huge impact on your day-to-day life of the resulting difference in access to income, support services, housing modifications, vehicles and suchlike. When your energy is tied up battling to get basic income, help getting out of bed, transport and a place to live, then there's not a lot left over for aspirational stuff. Most Kiwis just do not know that ACC funding is up to ten times more for the same level of need, and I thank Attitude for doing stories on Melanie Trevethick's campaign about that for instance.

    I believe that your team is getting to grips with that issue, and I particularly liked the way Grant built it into those pre-election interviews with politicians.

    There are many other issues but that's the type of broader angle I'm talking about - what disability means at a level beyond the individual. Thinking of the crowd, the funders and the equipment suppliers as well as the athlete, if you will.

    I applaud your awards as a step towards a bigger change.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Thanks Sach and Tanya for a glimpse at a very big debate. Sacha, could you drop me an email by clicking that envelope icon below my name on the left there?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tanya Black,

    Thanks Sacha

    I agree that focusing on individual achievement alone is not enough - that's why we're tackling some more serious issues on the programme.
    It is not generally the attitudes of people with disabilities that need to change thats why we targeted the audience that we did.
    By highlighting the individual achievements and specifically targeting the corporate sector we hope that employers will be more open to the potential of people living with a disability.

    As to the statistic, it was not part of the writing I was involved in and was a little curious about it myself - I do appreciate you explaining the real situation in detail.

    auckland • Since Dec 2008 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Thanks, Tanya. I think we would agree about many things. We all have a part to play (and mine for my sins includes policy, statisitics and suchlike).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tanya Black,

    Sorry Sacha, we posted at the same time there.

    We really do appreciate feedback, especially from people who obviously watch the show and take an interest in the issues.

    Without the paralympics looming I too am looking forward to exploring some broader issues in greater depth in 09.

    I do think empathy is an instinctive thing and for some it will come from personal experience but it also comes from listening to and exploring people's journeys with them.

    auckland • Since Dec 2008 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    It's an interesting job all right when looming parlaympics are an occupational hazard.. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Thanks Russell for covering this event. I celebrate anything that brings disability into the mainstream and so I was also cheered that Brian Crump's Radio NZ evening programme featured International Disability Day too. The dilemma is that to feature in the mainstream media disabled people have to be either heroes or tragedies. Ordinary people who are disabled but doing regular but interesting stuff are rarely considered newsworthy.

    I was at a conference in Melbourne last week which was opened by their Minister for Disability Issues (their first one ever), a former union organiser, Bill Shorten. He asked why disability and disability issues are so invisible politically when they affect 20% of the population personally and a lot more by connection? Good question but one which disability activists have been addressing in NZ and globally for many decades.

    NZ, including many disabled New Zealanders, had a major input into the drafting of the UN convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons, and all our laws our now compliant and we managed to ratify it just before the election (thanks largely to our first minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson). The press gallery was empty.

    Earlier this year NZ was presented with the FD Roosevelt award for international leadership on disability issues at the UN (the Governor General led the party which included some distinguished disability activists) but TVNZ's Tim Wilson who was in New York went to a film premier instead, and didn't cover it. In the DomPost it was briefly mentioned in a column entitled 'Junket watch'.

    But watch out - those activists are organising.

    BTW Those wanting to learn more about Philip Patston should check his website and blog at www.diversityworks.co.nz. He's done some interesting thinking about diversity. He's one of the best public speakers I have ever heard too.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    He asked why disability and disability issues are so invisible politically when they affect 20% of the population personally and a lot more by connection?

    Sorry if this POV is a little stilted and old fashioned but I get the impression that disability issues fall victim to rolling token commitment at several levels.

    By way of example I had dealings with a student last year who wanted to do a project on access to amenities. The first battle was getting the student to consider anything other than a person in a wheelchair, the second was actually getting them to deliver anything useful as a result (no letter to relevant authorities or reporting back to suitable groups). It became clear that the student's goal was to write about an emotive issue and use that as a banner to hide a poor and uncommitted project. The student was left in no doubt as to my opinion of this approach and it reminded me of the two-week wonders we used to see at the special ed school where I volunteered. I find this lack of long-term commitment quite perplexing.

    With respect to the Attitude awards I wonder if there is a place for best committed newcomer ?

    P.S. What's dangerous about a drunk in a wheelchair ? - I once saw a brawl between a stag party and a group that included a chair bound fellow who produced the most spectacular projectile vomit. It all got a bit wild west as I recall.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    81st:

    The first battle was getting the student to consider anything other than a person in a wheelchair . . .

    Like, to consider disability in its widest sense? From your later mention of a special ed school I'm guessing that you mean intellectual disabilities.


    Hilary:

    Earlier this year NZ was presented with the FD Roosevelt award for international leadership on disability issues at the UN (the Governor General led the party which included some distinguished disability activists) but TVNZ's Tim Wilson who was in New York went to a film premier instead, and didn't cover it. In the DomPost it was briefly mentioned in a column entitled 'Junket watch'.
    But watch out - those activists are organising.

    That sounds commendable and well-deserved if it was for achievements with the physically disabled. Here in NZ though we routinely imprison people with intellectual disabilities. Thirty-plus years ago many of these vulnerable people would have been institutionalised in the sort of facilities that once existed at Mangere and Levin. In my humble experience of such things this was preferable to their being semi-abandoned to form an incompetent borderline criminal underclass. It's an international trend throughout the developed world, which has more to do with short-term economic considerations than the welfare of those involved.

    Anyway, are we ready to be entertained, even motivated, by an intellectually disabled comedian? Should we?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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