You can't shut me out

The Federal government released a report highlighting issue’s faced by people with disabilities and their families in 2009.
I have lived with a disability for almost 28 years and have faced all the issue’s outlined in the report but one thing the report doesn’t show is the fact that despite all the issue’s you can’t shut me out.
The Shut out report does highlight food for thought for us as a community, area’s where the service system while brilliant is falling short.
If we want to truly empower people with disabilities we have to improve access to Aids and Equipment, community buildings, health care and transport.
One of the best ways to stop people with disabilities being shut out is to promote access to education opportunities. I am able to be effective in the community because l have had these chances a right that is protected by the UN. Every person has a right to education.
Statistics have also proven the better education a person has the better the access will be to employment. Yet another right protected by the UN.
If the government wants less people using up centerlink resources they can start by translating the words printed in a nice glossy Shut out report into action.
I am living proof that if action is taken you can overcome the issues raised in the Shut out report.
It is sad that in a prosperous country like Australia there are so many people with disabilities and their families that still feel disadvantaged and Shut out.
Miss Gillard you can’t shut me out. “Remember to keep the wheels of life turning in your direction”.

Seek asylum from hate

By Chris Van Ingen
Today I ask us to seek asylum from hate in our hearts and let asylum seekers into our beautiful country.
Boat people are not on a holiday cruise they want freedom from fear isn’t that what you want?
One of the units I train in the disability course is cultural diversity and the different family backgrounds of participants always amaze me, after all every European Australian only arrived a few generations ago.
On my dad’s side of the family I am second generation Australian so I try to remember that before I judge anyone coming to this country.
In my prep for the cultural diversity unit my wife pointed out that we live on an island and should something happen we would be boat people too, food for thought.
According to literature from the immigration museum most asylum seekers return to their homeland once the threat to their life has past.
Personally I think the people that stay make Australia the place it is but if you listen to the media we are being “Over Run!”, however, the fact is there are only a few hundred boat people every year.
Did you know? that it is not illegal to seek asylum and when we lock asylum seekers in detention centres we are braking a UN treaty we signed in good faith.
My disability has made me a person obsessed with security so I know we have to protect Australia but there has never been an asylum seeker that was a terrorist.
My disability also makes me realise how lucky I am because if I lived somewhere else I might not be alive and I want everyone to have the chance to live a life like the one I have been blessed with.
I don’t pretend to have the answers this blog is just a space to think. Please remember we are all human and when you forget try recalling that we live on an Island.
“Keep the wheels of life turning in your direction.”

This YoYo life

By Chris Van Ingen

I have been reflecting on the way of the world and I know that this is a yo-yo life it goes up and down but as long as you keep hold of the string you’ll be ok.
To some people life might seem like an illusion but you can be your very own illusionist and create magic in your life and here is the irony it doesn’t take any tricks.
Some people are determined to see me as an inspiration am l unique? No l am not all l am doing is adding my voice to all the people in history that have said anything is possible because l believe if enough people say it we can change the world.
I believe something as idealistic as world peace is attainable but every person on the planet has to go for it.
I haven’t posted anything for a while because l have been doing some spiritual meditation.
During this discovery process l have been melting together Zen philosophies with my Christian values my priest may not like this but for me the results have been profound.
“Life is as it is.” A favourite quote from many great Zen masters.
I have a disability so what it is as it is. I also have the most beautiful wife in history and the opportunity and skills to live a great life and if you are reading this Blog so do you.
Remember “ keep the wheels of life turning in your direction.”