A report published by The Disability Royal Commission has found that despite one in five (4.4 million) Australians living with a disability, widespread lack of awareness and understanding of their rights, is resulting in people becoming victims of abuse and mistreatment. 

According to participants, these views often lead to the assumption that people with disabilities cannot make their own decisions, which results in them being unable to exercise choice and control over their lives. 

One woman with disability in her early fifties said: “In her entire life to date, she had been told what she ‘could’ do or was ‘allowed’ to do, but that she had never before been asked what she might want.”

As a result of this treatment, there has been calls for greater education on the rights of people with disability, with schools being highlighted as a key area for this to be undertaken, as well as for reforms to be implemented that will promote supported decision making. 

Disability Royal Commission: Routinely ignoring rights of people with disability a key factor in mistreatment