Mark Mason

Everyone has the right to good healthcare. But people with intellectual disability told us that going to hospital can be difficult. Some people do not understand what doctors tell them. Some people feel that doctors do not listen. Others have to tell their story again and again. This needs to change. Speak Out Advocacy asked people with intellectual disability about their experiences with hospitals and healthcare. We used their feedback to tell the Australian Government what needs to change....

When governments talk about inclusion, they often start with policies, frameworks, and plans. We started somewhere else. We started with people. As part of our submission to Tasmania’s Disability Inclusion Plan, Speak Out Advocacy sat down with around 50 people with intellectual disability across Burnie, Launceston and Hobart. We listened. And what we heard was clear, consistent and at times, confronting.