WHO WILL BE THE VOICE FOR DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT

IS this the thin end of the wedge for Disability Employment Services?

Clearwater has for many years connected people with a disability with maintenance services in the commercial and municipal community.

My son currently works for Clearwater. He has grown in self-esteem, maturity and ability with the real work with which he has been involved. He has a right to work.

He can’t advocate and negotiate jobs for himself, but he can work and work well and hard.

So many marginalised groups are welcomed into our workforce (indigenous people, migrants, refugees, all genders). What about work opportunities for the disabled? The NDIS has gone a small way into helping with employment subsidies, thereby recognising the benefits of work.

Work builds people: pride, responsibility, earned money.

With Clearwater becoming “unviable”, what of other DESs? Are disability employment opportunities drying up?

Are our children who have disabilities feted to walk around the streets (vulnerably and idly), or feted to be enrolled in continuous Certificate 1’s getting them work-ready when there is no work for them, or feted to doing day programs when they are over it?

The work which Clearwater has provided will be picked up by other contractors. But the spirit of Clearwater with its amazing staff and as amazing workforce will never be replaced. Shame on the system. Jenny Adler, Highton