People with Intellectual Disability and Human Right to Work

People with disability historically have significantly lower rates of workforce participation than people without a disability. People with an intellectual disability face greater barriers to employment than most other people with disability. This increases the chance of people working in Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) where they can be legally paid as little as $2.67/hour.

The Disability Royal Commission has highlighted exploitation, discrimination and other injustices experienced by people with intellectual disability working in ADEs and supported employment programs. Human rights violations are also experienced in other countries. Japan, for example, also has segregated workplaces and subminimum wages for people with intellectual disability.

People with an intellectual disability have the right to work on an equal basis with others, and to workplaces that are open, inclusive and accessible. Urgent change is needed to ensure fair pay, open employment and realisation of people’s right to work.

The UTS Disability Research Network, Anti-Slavery Australia, and Law Health Justice Research Centre invites you to attend an online discussion considering why people with an intellectual disability should be able to work in open employment and why Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) need to change.

During the session you will hear from advocates and people who have worked in ADEs, people with an intellectual disability who work in open employment, and researchers. The organised speakers are:

  • Brooke Canham, Policy Officer, Inclusion Australia
  • Leonie McLean, Project Worker, Council for Intellectual Disability
  • Sindre Bloch, Manager, More Than Just a Job, Council for Intellectual Disability
  • Maeve Kennedy, Senior Manager, Policy and Projects, Inclusion Australia
  • Jun Takagawa, Professor, Faculty of Contemporary Law, Tokyo Keizai University
  • Simon Darcy, Professor, Faculty of Business and Disability Research Network, University of Technology Sydney
  • Linda Steele, Associate Professor at Faculty of Law, Law Health Justice Research Centre and Disability Research Network, University of Technology Sydney

For Easy-Read Information about the session press here.

This event is organised by Linda Steele and Simon Darcy of UTS. You can email Linda Steele with any questions: linda.steele@uts.edu.au.

Thank you to the Council for Intellectual Disability and Inclusion Australia.

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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.