Support coordinators play an essential role in the lives of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, not only facilitating links to services and supports, but also upholding their rights and ensuring respect for their dignity.
In this article, Around the Well’s Selwyn Child explores how support coordinators can effectively implement the Human Rights and Social Models of Disability and align their practices with the principles set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The Human Rights Model of Disability starts from the awareness that disability arises when people with impairments encounter barriers in attitudes and the environment that prevent them from fully participating in society. This model emphasises the inherent dignity, autonomy, and rights of people with disability.
For support coordinators, implementing the model involves focusing on four key principles:
1. Respect for dignity and autonomy
Every individual, regardless of their disability, owns inherent dignity and autonomy. Support coordinators should prioritise respect for the choices, preferences, and self-determination of participants in all aspects of their supports, engagement, and delivery.
2. Equality and non-discrimination
Upholding the principles of equality and non-discrimination requires support coordinators to advocate against any form of discrimination based on disability. This includes ensuring equal access to services, opportunities, and community participation.
3. Full and meaningful participation and inclusion
Support coordinators should actively work towards enabling full and meaningful participation of participants in all aspects of life, including education, employment, social interactions, and cultural activities. This involves identifying and removing barriers – whether physical, attitudinal, or systemic – that limit participation.
4. Accessibility and universal design
Implementing accessibility measures and promoting universal design principles are essential components of the model. Support coordinators should advocate for, and facilitate, environments, services, and technologies that are accessible to individuals with diverse abilities.
The Social Model of Disability complements the Human Rights Model by emphasising that disability is primarily a result of social barriers, rather than an individual's impairments. It shifts the focus from ‘fixing’ people to transforming society to be more inclusive.
The four key principles of the model include:
1. Identifying and addressing barriers
Support coordinators play a crucial role in identifying and addressing barriers that prevent people with disability from fully participating in society. This may involve supporting policy changes, raising awareness about accessibility issues, or promoting inclusive practices within society.
2. Promoting empowerment and self-advocacy
Empowering people with disability to advocate for themselves and their rights is central to this model. Support coordinators should provide information and resources to enable their clients to voice their needs, preferences, and aspirations effectively.
3. Collaboration and partnership
Collaboration and partnership are essential for implementing this model effectively. Support coordinators can help build partnerships that promote inclusive practices and comprehensive support frameworks, in line with NDIS guidelines, by working together with participants, service providers, community organisations, and officials.
4. Educating and changing attitudes
Educating the broader community about the Social Model and challenging misunderstandings about disability are critical. Support coordinators can take the lead to promote positive attitudes, reduce stigma, and enhance understanding about disability and the importance of a can-do attitude.
Adopted by Australia on 16 August 2008, the UNCRPD offers a framework to promote and protect the human rights of people with disability. Support coordinators can follow UNCRPD principles by:
• Respecting and ensuring non-discrimination: Upholding the right of people with disability to fairness and non-discrimination in all domains of life, including access to healthcare, education, employment, and social services.
• Promoting accessibility and inclusive development: Advocating for accessible environments, services, and technologies that enable full participation and inclusion of people with disability.
• Ensuring participation and inclusion in decision-making: Facilitating meaningful participation of people with disability in decision-making processes that affect their lives, including NDIS planning and service delivery.
• Respecting individual autonomy and freedom: Supporting the autonomy and freedom of people with disability to make their own choices, express their preferences, and live independently (with the necessary support).
Person centred planning: Adopting a person centred approach to support planning that prioritises the individual's goals, aspirations, and preferences. This involves actively listening to people with disability, understanding their needs, and respecting their decisions.
Advocacy and empowerment: Empowering participants to advocate for their rights and preferences effectively. This may include providing advocacy training, connecting individuals with disability advocacy organisations, and supporting them in navigating systems and processes.
Collaboration with service providers: Building strong partnerships with service providers that share a commitment to inclusive practices. Collaborating to ensure that services are tailored to meet the unique needs of participants and promote their full participation in community life.
Continuous learning and improvement: Staying informed about best practices, and researching disability and service delivery Acts and policy developments related to disability rights and inclusion. Engaging in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills in supporting individuals with disabilities.
In their roles within the NDIS framework, support coordinators have both a significant opportunity and responsibility to implement the Human Rights and Social Models of Disability.
By aligning their practices with the principles outlined in the UNCRPD, they can promote equality, inclusion, and empowerment for people with disability and – through person centred planning, advocacy, collaboration, and continuous learning – contribute to creating a society where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive and fully participate in community life.
As we continue to advance disability rights and inclusion, let us uphold the fundamental principles of dignity, autonomy, and equality for all. Together, we can build a more inclusive and accessible future.
