Why should they live with fear all their lives?  They cannot speak they are non verbal, often not taken seriously when harmed police ignore the serious need for investigation...without cameras for evidence we must push to mandate the cctv cameras in all disability places!
I came across an older article which had been published in the Blue Mountains Gazette locally, here in Australia, regarding the fear those with disabilities lived with in disability houses.
That’s interesting because when I approached the Blue Mountains Gazette recently this year, about the bruises my son came home with from a day program they seemed to be too busy to write anything about it. Which is ironic perhaps because it is so close to home literally being in the Blue mountains that my son was punched in the arm although I cannot prove it without the evidence of cctv cameras.
Also receiving an injury in a respite house in 2019 which I believe came from the worker he was with and was moved at my request.
The article in the Blue Mts Gazette (Megan Nell December 2019) quoted the royal commission which noted said that “people with disabilities continue to be abused and live in fear in group homes…over which they have little say”
‘Advocate Kevin Stone says the overwhelming majority of group homes are safe and supportive, but the problems of abuse and neglect persist.
"The problems are quite deep," the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals With Disability CEO told AAP.
"The real solution to the problems - it's about political will. They can't be underestimated.’ (2019 Blue Mts Gazette, NSW)
The Blue Mts Gazette (2109) news article said that the resident only reported the punch he received because he also got bruised on the arm and he hoped now that someone would listen to him - without cctv cameras the victims remain victims of either the workers that hurt them or other residents who are violent – either way cameras are needed and proper training for workers not this short makeshift training when our most vulnerable children and adult children have complex needs that require intelligent, compassionate handling and understanding through education!
“"This resident only chose to report this particular incident because in punching him the staff member also grabbed his arm and bruised his arm," he said.
"That bruise was the reason that the resident felt 'maybe now someone will believe me because there's a mark'." (Nell 2019)
The Gazette article was dated December 2019 as the Royal Commission started its investigation into disabilities which carried into the Pandemic in 2020 and further. It was the same year my son James received a hit to the head while in respite for just the day I still vividly remember the shock of finding him come home with a swollen head the worker denying he had a bump on his forehead in the August of the same year…things were never the same after that (is she clinically blind? I said to the temporary manager at the time at the Life without Barriers house). The worker was moved at my request and of course the police said no cameras no crime and they showed they really did not care by their refusal to question the worker. Tough luck if she hurts anyone else, she is probably working in disabilities again with some poor innocent sod like my son non verbal and unable to say what happens to them at any time. How frightened my James must have been.
Then two years later this year to come home with bruises to his arm from a day program, was just despicable thanks NADO you were so kind how awful you are. Suspending my son because I complained no doubt not just because the contract was coming to the end as I normally do another contract. I said to move the workers as they were the ones with him when he came home with bruises they said no and got rid of James instead. How compassionate.
Two years ago the article wrote that disabilities people in group homes lived in fear of abuse. It is the same now. We parents live in fear of who will hurt or abuse our children today and in future. If we have a support worker or send them to a day program, or respite or they have to live in a group home for whatever reason we live in fear for them and we are silenced when we speak up. We need the cameras for that extra protection
(sign my petition: change.org/disabilitycameras).
Violence between residents was another problem, which Mr Stone attributed to a lack of options and choice as people were "dumped into whatever gap opens up" with incompatible housemates.
"Many of the people we support and advocate for, they live with this constantly - the fear of somebody else coming into their room and hurting them or arguments blowing up into violence."
A royal commission issues paper noted concerns have also been raised about the use of restrictive practices in group homes such as locking a person in a room or tying them to a bed, or using medication. (Nell 2019) It also noted “A Senate inquiry in 2015 found violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability was widespread and took many forms.” And that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires all signatories, including Australia, to recognise the equal rights of all people with disability to live in the community with choice equal to others.
Those with disabilities also have the right to live without the fear of violence hanging over their lives constantly. Those who are non verbal have no way of saying what has happened to them they need the cctv cameras more than most. In any case a disabilities person is not often taken seriously when it comes to court and charges – camera evidence is needed even the police use bodycams to protect themselves!
We parents also should not be silent in the face of that fear that comes at us when our child is harmed, we should continue to speak for our children and adult children we must not let the intimidation by disability providers stop us. Don’t let the bad guys win who hurt physically, psychologically, or emotionally, our vulnerable disability children. Stand up to them. Use the law and your children’s rights. Whether they are support workers, managers, CEOs, they have no right to harm those in their so-called care. They want the funds from NDIS the money they demand then they must look after our beloved children properly! The CCTV cameras need to be mandatory so that providers cannot be paid if they do not have protection in place for our most vulnerable children to be in their programs and accommodation. If someone does hurt our vulnerable non verbal child we have to fight for them, they have no voice, we have to be their voice! Parents must stand up and fight. We are better to do it together
All the best
Anndrea Wheatley
Stand with me to create public awareness   mobile 0409042765
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https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/.../disabled