Community Living Project - the crisis in disability services

The disability funding crisis in South Australia:

Of the 6,033 known people with an intellectual disability:
- Many live in substandard private community accomodation and are at risk of abuse and exploitation.
- More than 3,600 live at home, with their family or guardian providing ongoing care and support. Only 47 percent of these families receive support services, with the average amount of support per family being 4 hours per week.
The number of sole parents who are carers of people with intellectual disability is more than twice as high as in the general population.
Carers of people with intellectual disability experience significantly higher levels of health problems.
Many families are living in poverty. Their caring responsibilities preclude them from seeking paid employment and they are dependent on the Carer Payment as their sole source of income.
There is a desperate need for additional services in the area of respite, practical assistance in the home, early childhood intervention and challenging behaviours.
There are extensive waiting lists for personal aids and equipment eg: wheelchairs.
Accommodation is required urgently for over 700 people.
A further 400 people will require support to develop a home of their own within the next five years.
New funding will be required to provide opportunities for continued education and employment for at least 75 young people leaving school at the end of 1999, and 70 in 2000.
In addition, many adults are in critical need of day activities and employment options.

$25 million is required immediately to respond to this critical situation, and an additional $5-$10 million in each of the next five years to meet the projected demand. This is part of a national issue that can only be resolved on a national basis.

The Community Living Project
111 Beach Road Christies Beach SA 5165 Australia	phone: (08) 8384 7866 fax: (08) 8384 5188 email: info@clp-sa.org.au