I often do a double take when I hear politicians talking about “vulnerable people and realise they’re including me in what they say..
“Vulnerable people” has become a commonly used phrase. It’s used to describe elderly people who are more at risk of dying from COVID than the general population. It’s used to describe people in insecure work, people who lack financial stability and very often, disabled people.
I’ve lived with disability throughout my life. There are some unavoidable ways my disability makes me more vulnerable than other people. If someone tries to physically attack me, I can’t run away. I’m not likely to be able to defend myself much either. I have a few health problems that are a direct result of my disability.
Beyond that, I find it incredibly frustrating (though not at all surprising) to hear myself and so many others in the community labelled as “vulnerable people”.
Politicians speak as if vulnerability is a personal and unchangeable characteristic.
Vulnerability isn’t such an absolute and inherent characteristic. Often, it’s got more to do with the choices that politicians, leaders, business owners and ordinary people make every day.
A lot of disabled people live on low incomes. Many of us (including wheelchair users and people with cancer) are on JobSeeker because successive governments, of both major parties, have made it harder and harder to receive the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
JobSeeker is about $44 a day, depending on your circumstances. Both it and the DSP are below the poverty line. Living on such a low income makes you vulnerable to illness because it’s hard to pay rent AND eat properly AND pay for a mobile and the internet connection you need if you’re going to apply for jobs.
You’re vulnerable to mental health problems when you are constantly under the amount of stress that living on such a low income creates. Whatever health problems you already have are likely to be made worse. You’re likely to be financially dependent on others to help you keep your head above water.
Disability discrimination in employment is what makes disabled job seekers most vulnerable.
Once you, as a disabled person, are put on JobSeeker, my experience is that nobody works with you to look at the particular barriers to employment you face and how best to respond to them.
For the most part, employment consultants just check that you’ve applied for the requisite amount of jobs – regardless of how many you can find that are actually suitable for you. You’re left to deal with the fact that there are few jobs that would actually work and even fewer employers who are willing to give you a go.
Disability discrimination in employment is something the Disability Employment Service providers never admit to. It’s what makes disabled job seekers most vulnerable and it’s completely out of our control.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The COVID19 pandemic has demonstrated clearly that keeping welfare recipients in poverty is a government decision. It is possible to make sure people have enough money to live on and reduce their vulnerability. It’s not all cost either. It helps the economy.
Even if disabled people had enough money to live on without working, many of us would like to work. Government could be working with employers to develop pathways that would allow disabled people to develop and demonstrate the specific skills employers require and lead to employment for disabled people. Employment programs would also need to address the fears and prejudices that stop employers from including us in their workforce.
Our government and society make choices about whether or not to build accessible housing, accessible transport, accessible workplaces and shops, accessible web pages, accessible mental health facilities. Choosing not to do so increases the disadvantage and exclusion of anyone who needs better access.
Next time you hear someone in the media talk about “vulnerable people” ask whether or not they are acting to address disadvantage and reducing vulnerability of the people they are talking about.
What do you think about the way “vulnerable people” get talked about? Let me know in the comments.
If you appreciate this article and want to support Rolling Through, please, give it a Like, and share it on social media. You can also visit my Home page to subscribe for email updates and donate to keep me rolling!
Rolling Through 
Leave a comment