Queensland Parents for People with a Disability

History
In 1980 the National Women’s Advisory Council held a national conference in Melbourne for Mothers of the Disabled. There was a report on this conference called “My Child was Born Disabled”.
In Brisbane in The International Year for the Disabled, 1981, a group of women, some of whom had been at the previous conference, applied for funds to run a conference in Queensland. They were successful and in 1981 Queensland Parents of the Disabled (QPD) held a conference in Brisbane called “Access 81”. The report from this conference was called “The Future Should be Theirs”. These were the founding documents and set the organisation on a clear track of systems advocacy.

In 1988 QPD gained Commonwealth funding as a Demonstration Project for Systems Advocacy. In 1991 QPD secured recurrent funding to continue in this role.

QPPD has always been focussed on systems advocacy. The organisation was clear about the need for systems advocacy and that QPPD should not be an advisory mechanism nor would it provide individual services.

Influence on Advocacy in Queensland
Over its 28 year history QPPD has had a key role in developing advocacy in Queensland including the auspice of new advocacy organisations such as Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI), Gold Coast Advocacy and Community Resources Unit (CRU). QPPD has provided and continues to provide skills and development for parents to strengthen their individual advocacy efforts.

Major Achievements
Over the years, QPPD’s advocacy efforts have resulted in significant achievments. The following are some examples:

Contributed to the development of the Commonwealth/State/Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) now call National Disability Agreement (NDA)

Contributed to the development of the Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986) and to the Queensland Disability Services Act (1992)

QPPD joined with allied organisations to successfully advocate for de-institutionalisation of people who suffered abuse and neglect from Basil Stafford Centre and Challinor Centre

“Inclusive Lives” Campaign was developed and launched and a brochure produced

Education Network representatives attended various reference committees within Education Queensland, including ACSEN (Advisory Committee Special Educational Needs), Social Justice Review, State Parent Forum, Curriculum Council and Board of Senior Secondary School Studies, (now Queensland Studies Authority), Task Force on Inclusive Education and Ministerial Advisory Committee

The Education Network conducted a survey and developed the paper “Small Choice in Rotten Apples” which was pivotal in the removal of the “Placement Policy” and the advent of a common enrolment policy for all students.

The Transition Network has developed a Position Statement which was presented to Federal and State bureaucrats. A Launch into Life: Handy Hints booklet for young people with disability leaving school and their families has been published and distributed. Many submissions have been written in order to progress positive changes

A Literature Review by Professor Bob Jackson was commissioned by QPPD called “Inclusion or Segregation – what the research says”. This is partnered by QPPD’s “Overview of Inclusive Education 1989-2009 All Children Belong Together”.

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Why the Parent Voice is important in Advocacy

Parents have a recognised natural authority in the lives of their sons and daughters. They are the legal guardians when their sons and daughters are children and this often continues into adulthood. When you find yourself confronted with professionals, bureaucrats and others in roles of authority, it is good to remember this ‘natural authority’ of parents can help reduce the power imbalance.

It is typical that parents:

Care about or love their son/daughter more than others

Are committed to and take responsibility for the well being of their son or daughter

Know their son or daughter best from long term observation and insight

Are attributed decision makers especially when the person has impaired capacity

Bear witness to the performance of services

Are there for the long haul and relatively free of vested interest

Bring talents, knowledge and experience

Know the real life stories

The above points may help parents to claim their authority when it comes to deciding what will happen to their son/daughter. These points may help to strengthen the resolve to hang-in there and advocate for your family. (adapted from Michael Kendrick’s article The Natural Authority of Families, published in CRUcial Times, Issue 6 July, 1996)

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Membership

Membership Criteria
QPPD has four types of individual membership:

Ordinary Membership – open to any person who has or had a child with disability, including natural, adoptive and foster parents

Associate Membership – open to any person interested in furthering the objects of the organisation who do not qualify as ordinary members

Life Membership – may be awarded to members of the organisation in recognition of outstanding and long term contributions to QPPD

Honorary Membership – may be granted to an individual associate member of QPPD who has demonstrated a high level of commitment to furthering the mission and objects of the association.

Download the current Membership Form in pdf format now and join as a Member.

Membership Fees
A membership fee (currently $20.00) will be charged for a year’s subscription. Fees fall due on 1st July each year. However:

A 12 months waiver is available each year on request to Board of Management

If the person joins in April, they are deemed a member for the next financial year

The Administrative Assistant is responsible for keeping accurate, up-to-date records of membership. All persons on the data base will receive an invoice for membership by the end of June each year together with the announcement of the Annual General Meeting. Records of membership will be archived after 30th September each year if the person is unfinancial.

Payment

Members, apart from paid staff, will not be paid to do the work of QPPD

Members who receive payment from other sources for work done in the name of QPPD are requested to bank the money in the organisation’s account

Members doing the work of QPPD will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses

Benefits of being a Member
You are not alone. Informal linking with other families brings realisation and understanding that the issues are universal. Through this linking, informal support and mentoring is given to members.

Sponsorship to attend events such as conferences, workshops, seminars hosted by QPPD, our allied organisations maybe provided. This allows our members better access to information and learning events so that we may become better equipped to advocate for our sons and daughters with disability.

Members are supported through:

Information about advocacy issues and the state of the organisation being distributed at least four times per year

Development of advocacy strategies such as workshops, forums, booklets and website

Parents and staff are encouraged to identify and support new members, to welcome them in and to nurture their involvement in the organisation

QPPD provides a 1800 free phone line and accepts reverse charges from callers

Associate Members
The organisation recognises the contribution member associates/allies who support QPPD’s values and priorities can make to the organisation by:

Distributing information on QPPD’s priority issues through their own networks

Linking in to or hosting teleconferences

Joining and supporting campaigns and coalitions

Co-sponsoring workshops and projects

Actively encouraging and nurturing members to take on positions on the management committee

It is expected that members of the organisation join because they uphold the values of QPPD and its mission, as well as the principles of advocacy and the principles and objectives of the Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986).

As the organisation is part of the wider advocacy network, QPPD will choose to network with others involved in the social advocacy movement locally, nationally and internationally around issues and developments which lead to inclusive lives for people with disability.

How you can be involved
Opportunities exist for parents and allies to be involved in the work of the organisation at varying levels of activities to suit. Other friends and family members can join also as associates and are afforded the same prospects as parents.

You can be involved by:

Answering surveys and polls

Supporting any campaigns by contributing to petitions

Sending letters/messages to politicians - see our Lobby Page

Checking out our on-line blog page. This is an interesting place to start a lively dialogue about current issues.

Joining Members our Networks (currently Transition Network and Education Network) and attend network meetings or link via teleconference

By joining in collective action you become informed and will develop skills that are useful for your own advocacy efforts for your family member or friend with a disability.

As a member, you will be mentored to gain knowledge and confidence and you can become a representative in various advocacy roles that are matched to your interest area.

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