When you are a person with a disability from a CALD background there are whole other layers of barriers and added complexities on top of the ones faced already by people with disability.
For example:
- Some people experience disability discrimination along with racism mixed in.
- There is often a sense of shame for people with disability of self and family, which flows on to exclusion and isolation from community.
- Complex communication needs leave you out of the loop feeling lost and excluded, when interpreting services are not innately a part of a service or organisation, but more of an afterthought or on a needs basis.
Speaking up for yourself and self advocacy are a foreign concept because of the western approaches adopted by groups and organisations. People with a disability from a CALD background want the same opportunity to speak out, build capacity and have influence over their communities.
People with disability from a CALD background are the same, but different. Self advocacy can help people to get to know the difference.