Discrimination rife over people living with intellectual disability

Almost one in four Australians say they feel uncomfortable sitting beside a person with an intellectual disability on a train or bus.

Peter Lynbery’s intellectual disability doesn’t stop him working full time as a fork lift driver. Picture: Supplied

Almost one in four Australians admit they feel uncomfortable when a person with an intellectual disability sits beside them on a train or bus.

A new survey shines a light on attitudes to people with intellectual impairment, finding discrimination still runs rife in everyday situations and gets worse with higher levels of disability.

It confirms that social inclusion remains a policy objective rather than a day-to-day reality for many Australians living with disability.

The research by disability service provider Endeavour Foundation found that while 10 per cent of people admit being uncomfortable sitting on public transport next to a person with mild impairment, the figure rises to 23.5 per cent when it is a person with a ­severe impairment.

A person with a mild intellectual disability may only need support with such things as finding a job and using public transport, whereas people with a severe intellectual disability may need support for every aspect of their life, the report said.

“Imagine for a moment if a quarter of all Australians said they’d feel in some way uncomfortable next to a person from a minority group at a music concert or on a bus — it just doesn’t sit right, does it,” Endeavour Foundation CEO Andrew Donne said.

“Put yourself in the shoes of a person with a disability and imagine if people avoided you in public places because of something about yourself that you couldn’t change. It would have a real impact on your mental health, confidence and self worth,” he said.

Fifteen per cent of more than 1000 Australians surveyed said they would be uncomfortable living next door to a person with a ­severe intellectual disability.

Almost 20 per cent admitted they would feel uncomfortable about a person with a severe intellectual impairment sitting at the next table at a restaurant.

“That’s a discriminatory attitude and we need to change that,” Mr Donne said. “We all have a role to play in tearing down barriers to social inclusion for people with intellectual disability — it starts with our own personal attitude.”

Brisbane forklift driver Peter Lynbery’s intellectual disability doesn’t stop him working full time and volunteering with the State Emergency Service.

The 26-year-old said travelling on public transport could be difficult as he had been treated poorly, often by schoolchildren.

“People do judge you for what you look like, and it can get a little rough, how you feel at the end of a trip,” Mr Lynbery said. But he said he has also seen the good side of people, helping others in need.

“I’ve seen it when someone has had a seizure … and you’ll see ­people jump up and help.

“I really think there is a lot of good out there as well.”