Canberra Disability Review

@disabilityreview.bsky.social

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Canberra Disability Review is a free, online quarterly where you can find articles that look at issues about inclusion, disability justice, and lived experience perspectives on disability rights and where progress is happening.

A sketch of the main facade of the Australian Parliament beside a quote on the left that reads "By reducing flexibility and tailored supports, the Bill risks limiting genuine choice and control and may, in practice, drive more standardised service delivery models that promote or maintain segregation and institutionalisation, rather than supporting inclusion in the community." Quote attributed to Ausralian Human Rights Commission Submission to the Senate Enquiry in NDIS Amendment Bill.
A tile with text that reads "The Canberra Disability Review celebrates Disability Pride Month." A fist is shown raised beside the text. Beneath the large text there is imagery of a protest with Parliament House in the background. Signs are shown saying "Nothing about us without us," "Access, Equity, Justice, Belonging," and "Life with Dignity, Choice, Inclusion."
Tile that reads: "Canberra Disability Review. Isolation isn't a saving. It's a cost." and beneath "Winter 2026 Edition. Out Now. advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/ "
Tile with text that reads: "The computer says no. Does Australia want a future with no appeal? Winter 2026 Edition. Canberra Disability Review. advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text reads: "Who decides what a life is worth?" Underneath "Canberra Disability Review. Winter 2026 Edition. www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/"
A photo of snow covered rocks with eucalypt bush in the background. The text beside the photo reads "Canberra Disability Review. "I want to start seeing different types of leaders. I want to see leaders who are housebound or bedbound. I want to see Autistic leaders who don't feel the need to mask. I want to see leaders with energy impairment who sometimes have to reschedule meetings or take the day off." Haley Zilberberg. Winter 2026 CDR. OUT NOW."
An image of trees partially seen through thick mist. Banner over the image reads "Winter 2026 Edition out soon." Text beside the image reads: Canberra Disability Review. "One thing should be made clear. Australians with disability have a voice and they have already taken to the streets in protest. Many in the community have fought hard and for many years to see progress made in the respect and support of their human rights. They will not be silenced today and there will be a political consequence in campaigns and at the ballot boxes in years to come." Editorial. Winter 2026 CDR. Out Now.
An image of trees partially seen through thick mist. Banner over the image reads "Winter 2026 Edition out soon." Text beside the image reads: Canberra Disability Review. "One thing should be made clear. Australians with disability have a voice and they have already taken to the streets in protest. Many in the community have fought hard and for many years to see progress made in the respect and support of their human rights. They will not be silenced today and there will be a political consequence in campaigns and at the ballot boxes in years to come." Editorial. Winter 2026 CDR. Out 1 June 2026."
Logo for Canberra Disability Review with link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/ Text beneath says: Question Five. Can you provide assurance that adequate further funding will be provided if demand for Thriving Kids exceeds current funding assumptions - particularly in communities that have historically missed out on support?
Logo for Canberra Disability Review with link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/ Text beneath says: Question Four. Thriving Kids has been described as easing pressure on the NDIS. How will the government ensure success is measured by whether children's needs are actually met, rather than fewer are entering the NDIS system?
Logo for Canberra Disability Review with link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/ Text beneath says: Thriving Kids will largely be delivered by states and territories. What safeguards are in place to ensure children in jurisdictions with fewer services and / or higher disadvantage do not receive a lower level of support than children in better resourced areas?
Logo for Canberra Disability Review with link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/ Text beneath says: The government has indicated Thriving Kids will improve access for First Nations, regional and CALD communities. Will services in these communities be funded at a higher level to reflect higher delivery costs, and can you confirm that this will be built into funding models rather than left to provider discretion?
Logo for Canberra Disability Review with link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/ Text beneath says: Thriving Kids. Questions CDR sent to Minister Butler. Question One. Thriving Kids is jointly funded at up to $4billion over five years. In relation to current modelling, how many children per year does the government anticipate will receive direct support through the program and what will that translate to in terms of average funding per child each year?
Photo of balloons above clouds with accompanying text that reads: Canberra Disability Review. "Standardisation appears to offer a solution. If everyone goes through the same assessment, outcomes should be fair. That logic feels clean. It also hides complexity." Validated for Who? Brian Cooper. Autumn 2026 CDR
Photo of an autumn maple leaf beside text that reads: Canberra Disability Review. "If you don't have a diagnosis, a potential risk is that you end up with discretionary assessments and a discretionary kind of triage system. And if we're thinking again about a resource constrained environment, which you and I are both predicting that Thriving Kids will be, that's a really important consideration as well." Molly Saunders. Back to the Future? Thriving Kids, Service Inequities and a far from Nostalgic Past. Autumn 2026 CDR.
Background of sunrise colours with foreground text that reads: Canberra Disability Review. Autumn 2026 Edition out now. (also includes link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/)
Photo of sunlight through grass beside text that reads "Canberra Disability Review. "If there is any season that lends itself most readily to rest, replenishment, healthy reconnection and a renewal of imagination, then it is surely summer. May this summer prove a reviving season for us all." Canberra Disability Review Summer 2025"
Text beside a photo. The photo is an abstract representation of technology - lines connecting with nodes. The text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "This is not about reducing staffing or eliminating human jobs, but about making workloads sustainable and unlocking the capacity for us to be creative and innovative rather than reactive and deadline driven." Ebe Ganon. Artificial Intelligence as an Advocacy Amplifier. Spring 2025 Canberra Disability Review."
Text beside a photo. The photo shows a stylised padlock on top of computer circuitry. The text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "If the training data doesn't include people with disability, then the system is likely to perform poorly or be inaccurate for people with disability - and the ideal candidate that's constructed in that model will be someone without a disability." Dr Natalie Sheard. Automated Gate Keeping: AI, Recruitment and Discrimination. Spring 2025 Canberra Disability Review." Text also includes a link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text beside a photo of a worn disability parking space in the Canberra city centre. A banner is across the photo and reads "Spring 2025 Edition out now." The main text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "Advocates and families are scared. They know what this shift means. Less support, more financial pressure, fewer options." Heidi La Paglia and Sarah Langston. 'Thriving Kids' or Fallen Rights? The Hidden Cost of NDIS Reform. Spring 2025 CDR - Out Now." Text also includes a link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text beside a photo. Photo shows a gum tree with thick foliage with morning sun shining through the leaves. There is heavy frost on the ground. Text reads: "Canberra Disability Review. "I would always encourage people, if they feel that there's something offensive or vilifying that they've experienced, then by all means make contact with us and we can talk it through." Karen Toohey. ACT Human Rights Commission. Winter 2025 Canberra Disability Review." Text also includes link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text beside a photo of an old sandstone building under a cloudy sky. There is a narrow front door on the building with surrounding windows. The text reads, "Canberra Disability Review. "You can't keep a good woman down. I survived it all. I survived it all to tell the story and to help others who can't tell it." Carla. A Matter of Conscience: Seeking Truth at Willow Court. Winter 2025 Canberra Disability Review."
Text beside a photo of a cloudy sky with the sun shining behind a cloud. The text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "Unfortunately, a lot of the big-ticket items which caught my attention aren't set to be delivered until year four onwards, with lots of the "reviewing," "auditing," and "considering" we've come to know and love (and love crossed out) set for the earlier years." Ebe Ganon. Flatline or Lifeline? The Autism Health Roadmap. Winter 2025 CDR."
Background picture of morning sun breaking through gum trees. Text in the foreground reads "Canberra Disability Review. Winter 2025 Edition out now." A link is also included to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text beside a black and white photo showing trainline directed to a distant building (Auschwitz). Text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "The language that Hitler and his followers used was designed to frame people with disability as being less than human and a burden on society. The ugly political and social repetition of the language seeded those abhorrent views in a general public that was ready to be swayed by a ranting, wretched incarnation of all their dissatisfaction and hatred." Autumn 2025 Canberra Disability Review."" Text includes link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text beside a photo of red and yellow Autumn leaves. Text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "That's what our research shows - that working hybridly has increased employees' autonomy in the APS, as they are able to better manage themselves and actually do better in delivering better outcomes." Dr Uma Jogulu. Edith Cowan University. Autumn 2025 Canberra Disability Review." Text also includes a link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Photo showing early morning sunlight piercing through Australian bush. Text overlay reads "Canberra Disability Review. Autumn 2025 Edition Out Now." Text includes link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Text beside a photo of an outdoor sculpture of a ball beneath two curved metal shells. Text reads "Canberra Disability Review. "These gaps are driven by poorly designed 'one-size-fits-all' government services at the state / territory and federal levels; low expectations for autistic children and adults; and in many cases, blatant ableism. It isn't good enough." Ebe Ganon. Cautious optimism, deja vu, and meaningful action: Australia's first National Autism Strategy. Autumn 2025 CDR." Text also includes code link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Plain text post that reads: "Diversity Equity Inclusion: Three words that spell a fair go for all. Check out the Canberra Disability Review and get in touch if you have a contribution idea. It could be an article, a poem, a creative work. cdr@advocacyforinclusion.org. Canberra Disability Review." Also includes a link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Background photo of water lapping on beach. In the foreground is the cover of the Canberra Disability Review which features a photo of a woman showing the side of her head staring upwards. A cluster of hearing aid batteries surround her ear. Text beside cover reads "The Canberra Disability Review wishes you all the best for the holiday season and a brilliant 2025 to come! Many thanks to the brilliant contributors whose words and images have brought insight, wisdom, beauty, and strong advocacy to the pages of the review this year. Here's to real progress in disability rights, respect for community, genuine consultation and co-design, and greater inclusion, in the New Year (and election year) 2025."
Background photo of sunlight breaking through trees. Text in the forefront reads "Canberra Disability Review. Summer Edition Out Now." Text includes a link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/
Background photo showing edge of wave on sand. Photo is overlaid by cover of Canberra Disability Review and text that reads "I wonder if one of our great national mistakes is found in our tendency to outsource the work of deep listening. The Disability Royal Commissioners were undoubtedly moved and changed by the many hard stories that they heard, but how moved and changed has the nation been in the months that have followed? Sometimes it seems we ask others to listen, on our behalf, so we are spared the effort and kept at a distance from any challenging disturbances that might come through hearing another's truth." Summer 2024-25 Editorial. Summer Edition out now." Also includes code link to www.advocacyforinclusion.org/cdr/