Description:
This article reports on aged care of lesbians in terms of social marginalization and exclusion. The article discusses the lack of services for older lesbians in Australia and how their identities and needs are not met by governmental and social standards. It is noted that many aged care facilities do not represent sexual minorities and do not include them in their industry advertising. Information is also provided on age and sexual function, residential care, medical care for older people, and language and images related to same-sex relationships.
Description:
It has been argued by researchers in the field of dis/ability research that it is not possible for participatory research to be both inclusive and transformational, let alone emancipatory. In this paper I challenge that notion, and posit that in order for such research to be emancipatory, researchers and theoreticians in the field must develop new and eclectic ways of framing the problem, so that rather than losing hope and courage in our desires to be inclusive, our work is truly transformational. This paper addresses constructions of difference, drawing on a wide range of perspectives and theories, including Foucault's heteropia, Mestizaje and Borderland Theory (Anzaldua, 1987; Pallotta-Chiarolli and Lubowitz, 2003), Pagtatanong-tatong (Pe-Pua, 1989), Probin's (1996) work on "outside belonging" Freire's (1994) work on a pedagogy of hope, and the more recent work of Zournazi (2002) on hope as a new philosophy for change. Through this diversity of perspectives, I works towards presenting a new paradigm that, while applying specifically to dis/ability research, may be generalised to wider contexts of diversity, difference and culture. It is my intention to propose such a model, drawing on post-structuralist notions and critical theory within a post-modern milieu, and argue that participatory research with people with dis/ability as co-researchers may be both inclusive and emancipatory, rather than transformational research having the potential to be disempowering. I will contend that as researchers, we need to maintain hope, and indeed courage (Walkerdine, 2003) in our persistence to develop research paradigms and theories that have the potential to be emancipatory.
Description:
Corio Bay Innovators, trading as dal Gourmet Café and Catering, is an innovative supported training and employment service that operates a gourmet catering service and two retail cafes in Geelong. Currently, dal has around forty staff who receive federal or state disability funding, and about half as many support staff. Rather than being seen as an agency providing supported employment, dal is regarded as a successful and competitive business that is very popular locally, and is in demand in the hospitality sector. Yet dal’s primary purpose is not the friendly service, great atmosphere, and delicious food, but the creation of a range of innovative employment opportunities in a caring work environment for adults who have been labeled as having disabilities. Most significant, however, is the extremely strong emphasis on inclusion in the local community, in combination with an actively supportive and empowering workplace. Staff at dal have voted that they do not want to be labelled as having disabilities but to have it noted that they have special needs. While the choice of such terminology may not necessarily be in line with current “politically correct” discourse, it is a choice that is respected at dal. It is a description worn with pride in difference and collective identification adopted by other oppressed communities and acknowledged by Meekosha (2000) and Barton (2003). While exploring dal as a model of best practice in training young people for the hospitality industry, this paper will explore the conflicts raised by contrasts between the voices of the staff at dal and the discourses of educators and trainers, in an attempt to develop a sustainable model for the future.
Description:
This paper examines indirect discrimination in Australian universities that tends to obstruct and delay women's academic careers. The topic is defined and contextualised via a 1998 speech by the Australian Human Rights Commission's Sex Discrimination Commissioner, juxtaposed with a brief contemporaneous exemplar. The paper discusses the prevalence of women among casual and fixed-term academic workers, and the contrasting low numbers of women in senior academic positions. It is argued that the neo-liberal 'marketisation' of higher education, which still prevails, has fostered a number of indirectly discriminatory practices and conditions that substantially disadvantage women. A selection of studies of the problem are critiqued. It is argued that a broad statistical methodology is inadequate due to its tendency to 'homogenise' the academy and its component individuals, in the process giving scope for unjustified optimism among university policy-makers. A particulate approach is advocated, acknowledging the wide variation between and within universities, and the range of hidden difficulties individual women academics can face. It is concluded that despite apparent reforms over the past decade, the situation of women has improved little in practical terms.
Description:
The recognition of the authentic voice(s) of people with intellectual disability has been an emerging trend over the last decade and a half. Less often, however, have these voices been heard in relation to research, and directions for the future. dal Gourmet Café and Catering, which provides training in the hospitality industry for young people with disabilities in Geelong received funding to establish an action research project to develop, implement, monitor and reflect on a variety of strategies and innovations to support transition from this training and development setting into open employment. A committee of critical friends consisting largely of people with disability was established, and consultation carried out with schools, staff in training, and community employers. The committee, once educated in the action research process, designed a training program that was trialed and evaluated in three action research cycles. The program was deemed successful, but with modifications and changes as decided by the committee, and with the addition of a fourth cycle. This paper strongly argues that such inclusive research addresses significant and fundamental debates about inclusion and the rights of people with disability to exert agency and take direct grassroots action for their future.
Description:
The recognition of the authentic voice(s) of people with intellectual disability has been an emerging trend over the last decade and a half. Less often, however, have these voices been heard in relation to research, and directions for the future. dal Gourmet Café and Catering, which provides training in the hospitality industry for young people with disabilities in Geelong received funding to establish an action research project to develop, implement, monitor and reflect on a variety of strategies and innovations to support transition from this training and development setting into open employment. A committee of critical friends consisting largely of people with disability was established, and consultation carried out with schools, staff in training, and community employers. The committee, once educated in the action research process, designed a training program that was trialed and evaluated in three action research cycles. The program was deemed successful, but with modifications and changes as decided by the committee, and with the addition of a fourth cycle. This paper strongly argues that such inclusive research addresses significant and fundamental debates about inclusion and the rights of people with disability to exert agency and take direct grassroots action for their future.
Description:
Corio Bay Innovators, trading as dal Gourmet Cafe and Catering, is an innovative supported training and employment service that operates a gounnet catering service and two retail cafes in Geelong. Currently, dal has around forty staff who receive federal or state disability funding, and about half as many support staff. Rather than being seen as an agency providing supported employment, dal is regarded as a successful and competitive business that is very popular locally, and is in demand in the hospitality sector. Yet dals primary purpose is not the friendly service, great atmosphere, and delicious food, but the creation of a range of innovative employment opportunities in a caring work environment for adults who have been labeled as having disabilities. Most significant, however, is the extremely strong emphasis on inclusion in the local community, in combination with an actively supportive and empowering workplace. Staff at dal have voted that they do not want to be labelled as having disabilities but to have it noted that they have special needs. While the choice of such termninology may not necessarily be in line with current "politically correct" discourse, it is a choice that is respected at dal. It is a description worn with pride in difference and collective identification adopted by Other oppressed communities and acknowledged by Meekosha (2000) and Barton (2003). While exploring dal as a model of best practice in training young people for the hospitality industry, this paper will explore the conflicts raised by contrasts between the voices ofthe staffat dal and the discourses of educators and trainers, in an attempt to develop a sustainable model for the future.
Description:
Corio Bay Innovators, trading as dal Gourmet Cafe and Catering, is an innovative supported training and employment service that operates a gounnet catering service and two retail cafes in Geelong. Currently, dal has around forty staff who receive federal or state disability funding, and about half as many support staff. Rather than being seen as an agency providing supported employment, dal is regarded as a successful and competitive business that is very popular locally, and is in demand in the hospitality sector. Yet dals primary purpose is not the friendly service, great atmosphere, and delicious food, but the creation of a range of innovative employment opportunities in a caring work environment for adults who have been labeled as having disabilities. Most significant, however, is the extremely strong emphasis on inclusion in the local community, in combination with an actively supportive and empowering workplace. Staff at dal have voted that they do not want to be labelled as having disabilities but to have it noted that they have special needs. While the choice of such termninology may not necessarily be in line with current "politically correct" discourse, it is a choice that is respected at dal. It is a description worn with pride in difference and collective identification adopted by Other oppressed communities and acknowledged by Meekosha (2000) and Barton (2003). While exploring dal as a model of best practice in training young people for the hospitality industry, this paper will explore the conflicts raised by contrasts between the voices ofthe staffat dal and the discourses of educators and trainers, in an attempt to develop a sustainable model for the future.
Description:
Spiritual well-being (SWB) is reflected in the quality of relationships that people have in up to four areas, namely with themselves, with others, with the environment, and/or with God. A recent study has shown that the lived experiences of teachers have a major influence on their perceptions of help provided to nurture students' SWB in schools. Fischer's (1999) 20-item Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure (SHALOM) elicited pre-service teachers' ideals for SWB, and their lived experiences in each of the four domains, as well as the level of help these pre-service teachers believe is provided to school students in these areas of their lives. Data were collected from 1361 pre-service teachers in public, secular and religious universities, and Christian universities in Australia and Northern Ireland in 2000 and 2007-08. Significant variations were found in levels of SWB by gender and university type and between pre-service teachers from one year to another. The pre-service teachers in these studies were not overly optimistic about the level of help provided to nurture school students' relationship with God. This finding has implications for religious education in schools, as well as discussions of the holistic development and well-being of students. [Author abstract]
Description:
A review of aged care policies reveals that GLBTI needs and identities are typically not included or mentioned under the category of ‘special need groups’. This may hinder the provision of aged care services as culturally sensitive, safe and inclusive. The dominant discourse of heteronormativity, evident in the field of gerontology, fails to recognise and acknowledge diversity of sexuality and gender identity. This paper reports on a qualitative research project which used a focus group interview with 6 self-identified, out lesbians aged 45 years and over. Nine aged care facilities’ brochures were also analysed to generate data. The project drew on principles of critical discourse analysis, underpinned by poststructuralism and feminist post-structuralism. The research revealed the silencing of non-heterosexual identities through the absence of representation in the brochures and the exclusion of lesbians from the construction of aged care space. It was observed that current aged care facilities’ design, amenities, flexibility of options and choice do not seem to fit with this generation’s lifestyle, activities and interests regardless of sexual-orientation issues. A proposed preferred option suggested by the members of the focus group was a culturally safe space that is accessible to women only. Recommendations are made for social work practitioners, lesbian and feminist activists, policy makers, the aged care industry, and researchers.
Description:
A review of aged care policies reveals that GLBTI needs and identities are typically not included or mentioned under the category of ‘special need groups’. This may hinder the provision of aged care services as culturally sensitive, safe and inclusive. The dominant discourse of heteronormativity, evident in the field of gerontology, fails to recognise and acknowledge diversity of sexuality and gender identity. This paper reports on a qualitative research project which used a focus group interview with 6 self-identified, out lesbians aged 45 years and over. Nine aged care facilities’ brochures were also analysed to generate data. The project drew on principles of critical discourse analysis, underpinned by poststructuralism and feminist post-structuralism. The research revealed the silencing of non-heterosexual identities through the absence of representation in the brochures and the exclusion of lesbians from the construction of aged care space. It was observed that current aged care facilities’ design, amenities, flexibility of options and choice do not seem to fit with this generation’s lifestyle, activities and interests regardless of sexual-orientation issues. A proposed preferred option suggested by the members of the focus group was a culturally safe space that is accessible to women only. Recommendations are made for social work practitioners, lesbian and feminist activists, policy makers, the aged care industry, and researchers.
Description:
This paper explores the pedagogical and social potential of emerging technologies, in particular the iPod, in facilitating the learning of young Australians with severe intellectual and social disabilities. The study, which was carried out in a segregated educational setting in Victoria, Australia, sought to establish whether the intrinsic portable, multi-media capabilities of the iPod particularly lent themselves to a practical application for students with severe disabilities. It was concluded that such new technology has considerable power and potential as an emerging pedagogy with students with severe intellectual and physical disabilities.
Description:
This paper explores the pedagogical and social potential of emerging technologies, in particular the iPod, in facilitating the learning of young Australians with severe intellectual and social disabilities. The study, which was carried out in a segregated educational setting in Victoria, Australia, sought to establish whether the intrinsic portable, multi-media capabilities of the iPod particularly lent themselves to a practical application for students with severe disabilities. It was concluded that such new technology has considerable power and potential as an emerging pedagogy with students with severe intellectual and physical disabilities.