People With Disability:
Turning Paper Rights Into Realities
Kelley Johnson

“In 2012, 4.2 million Australians (18.5% of the population) were estimated as having a disability.¹ However, as Vik Finkelstein, an English self-advocate has commented, the rest of the population could be labelled as ‘not yet disabled’, for disability is something that can affect each of us at some point in our life course. While a significant minority of Australians identify as disabled, the label disguises the diversity of people who have been included within it. Over the last two decades, the disability rights movement has gradually recognised and supported the emergence of the individual ‘subject’, a citizen who should be able to live a good life in the community. That includes ‘subjects’ with disabilities …”