Disabled Should Be Seen And Not Heard. And Also Not Seen.

You have a mental illness

You are pushed back into the workforce

You cannot get a job

You get no welfare assistance for six months

You can't afford meds

You have an "episode"

You ________.

This is the uncertain life Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews wants for those with "episodic" disabilities. That is disabilities whose symptoms are unpredictable or symptoms that wax and wane; like Bipolar, CFS, and schizophrenia (among many, many examples). The way Andrews' sees it if you're not in constant agony or totally mental 100% of the time you shouldn't qualify for the DSP. Only crippled 51 weeks a year? How dare you ask for government assistance, you fucking scumbag.

At the moment Andrews is focused on those with episodic mental illness, which just happens to be the group that society is most prejudiced against, the group the government can most easily attack without being seen to be beating up on crips. Mental illness is often seen to be sign of weakness. Depression for example is often derided as whinging or laziness. Mental illness is an invisible disability, episodic mental illness even more so. How can you be disabled if you don't look disabled? This is the government's thinking. And if you don't like it you can complain...
    

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A few months back, possibly to pay for the appointment of Tim Wilson to the board, George Brandis discontinued the position of Disability Discrimination Commissioner despite roughly 40% of all complaints handled by the commission involved disability. The move was widely criticized. After weeks of uncertainty Brandis this week announced Age discrimination commissioner Susan Ryan would take over the portfolio when the current position ended.

"I also expect that all commissioners, as part of their current responsibilities, will continue to address disability discrimination issues that arise within their own portfolios," he said.

The Coalition's love of one desk solutions doesn't extend to discrimination of the disabled it seems. Moving from a single commissioner to the entire board so no one knows exactly whose purview it falls under. Our one avenue of complaint is now a rat's nest of uncertainty. Slow clap all 'round, guys.