Teen advocate Grace Mitchelson calls for reforms to ‘outdated and ineffective’ Disability Discrimination Act

Grace Mitchelson has endured years of discrimination at school due to her disabilities – now she’s fighting to change federal laws she says are outdated and ineffective.

For 19-year-old Grace Mitchelson, school was a “terrible experience”.

The young Brisbane disability advocate lives with Tourette syndrome, ADHD and functional neurological disorder.

Ms Mitchelson is one of many young people with a disability advocating for reforms to the dated Disability Discrimination Act.

“At every school I ever attended I was discriminated against,” Ms Mitchelson said.

“Mostly through denial of reasonable adjustments and physical accessibility.”

Part of Ms Mitchelson’s condition means her legs become partially paralysed and she suffers functional seizures.

She also experiences anxiety and said she was frequently bullied at school.

Grace Mitchelson said she was discriminated against at every school she attended, including public and private schools.

“Staff would often deny certain arrangements that were made to make me feel more comfortable,” Ms Mitchelson said.

“When I struggled to use stairs because of the paralysis in my legs, some teachers refused to move our class to the ground floor.

“I was also told off for wearing headphones to treat my anxiety.

“I felt they weren’t accommodating me, and I was even once told I was lying when I raised allegations of bullying.”

Ms Mitchelson believes reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992 would protect future students from suffering the same fate in their schooling.

“The Disability Discrimination Act is not working,” she said.

“Almost every disabled young person has a story of being discriminated against with nothing being done about it.

“Clearly, the Act is not adequately preventing discrimination.

Ms Mitchelson wants stronger wording in the DDA.

“As it stands, the wording of the Act makes it extremely difficult for disabled people to prove whether discrimination has occurred.

“Language has power, and it is time that we place more power in the hands of disabled people by rewording and updating the Disability Discrimination Act.”

The federal Attorney-General’s Department is conducting a $6.9m review of the DDA in response to recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission.

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) has made a detailed submission to the review which includes a “positive duty” requiring organisations to proactively remove barriers for children and young people with disability.

Skye Kakoschke-Moore advocates for the rights of young people with a disability as the chief executive of Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA).

“The Disability Discrimination Act was passed more than three decades ago,” CYDA chief executive Skye Kakoschke-Moore said.

“It is older than many of the disabled young people who are disproportionately impacted by discrimination in education and employment, and whose rights it is meant to protect.

“With this review, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make sure the law reflects updated models of disability and genuinely empowers disabled young people.

“It can do that by including amendments that ensure children and young people with disability can access inclusive, safe, and equitable opportunities without needing to initiate a complaint.”

Consultation for the review closes on November 14.

Originally published as Teen advocate Grace Mitchelson calls for reforms to ‘outdated and ineffective’ Disability Discrimination Act