Read what you know: the comfort of the familiar

At the start of each new year, I look back on all the books that I have read the year before. In 2013, it was a list that spanned a lifetime of reading, with books from all the decades of my life. More than ever, it was also a list full of books that I found myself returning to for a second (or third, or fourth) time.

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A nice hot cup of mediocriTEA

I support the National Disability Insurance Scheme. So I guess that means that I support the Every Australia Counts campaign, because they support the NDIS too.

In fact, so far, they’re the number one advocate for a NDIS. In spite of the organisation that runs it and the campaign itself not being disability-led. In spite of the fact that they seem to focus more on carers than on people with disability themselves. In spite of the fact they’re lobbying for the exact recommendations of the Productivity Commission Report and not what needs to come after that. In spite of the fact that they’re talking about wrapping up the campaign before the NDIS is even a reality. And in spite of their most significant piece of campaign activity being a pleasant sit-down over a nice cup of tea!

Where oh where is the disability rights movement in Australia when you need it? And why aren’t we – as individual disability advocates and allies – demanding more?

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Disability leadership: If you’re gonna talk the talk…

At the start of the year, I announced my plan to step down as CEO of Arts Access Australia.

Now, I love my job. I’m good at it. I think that I’ve been useful here. But on the same day I accepted the position last February I also did something else. I gave notice of my resignation, and undertook to hand over the organisation by the end of 2012.

The reason? Because I believe that Arts Access Australia should be led by a person with disability.

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