Link December 2018 Volume 27 Issue 6 | Page 11

Calls for Royal Commission D isabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia) has welcomed the Royal Commission into Aged Care with the inclusion of young people with disability who live in nursing homes, but is disappointed calls for a Royal Commission into violence and abuse against all people with disability have been ignored. DPO Australia spokesperson, Therese Sands (pictured above), welcomed the Royal Commission into Aged Care including A cut above A hair dressing salon in Toowoomba has won an award for its low sensory hairdressing services for children and adults with autism. Jazzy Lane Hair Studio, Award winners Abbey Dodds, Gay Hold from Jazzy Lane Hair Studio, and Rhiannon Graham. legacy of Judy Antonio, who was the Awards’ Patron and who lost her battle with Motor Neurone Disease in 2015. Jazzy Lane Hair Studio employs and trains people with disability, including another the thousands of young people with which recently established award winner on the night, disability who live in nursing homes. ‘Tranquil Trims’ to provide Rhiannon Graham. Rhiannon “Recent data shows that the an autism-specific hairdressing was joint winner of the Elissa introduction of the NDIS has meant that experience, was a winner at the Flanagan Aim High Scholarship, only 23 young people with disability have Toowoomba and Darling Downs named in honour of Elissa, who been able to leave aged care facilities. This Business DisABILITY Awards, was involved in a fatal road is a disgrace,” she said. attended by 240 guests at a accident on her way home gala dinner recently. from the awards event in 2015. “Young people do not belong in aged care. The NDIS is not working to get young The Business DisABILITY Elissa’s family including her people with disability out of aged care and Awards recognise people and husband Rob Whitby and four into the community where they belong. The businesses who are helping children and grandmother Royal Commission must consider the crucial to create a more inclusive attended the event to present stories of these young people with disability.” workplace and community for the scholarship to Rhiannon and all abilities. fellow joint winner Neil Prince. Ms Sands said people with disability who are over 65 are not eligible for the Gay Hold from Jazzy Lane For a full list of winners NDIS, yet the aged care system is not Hair Studio was presented with from the night, visit designed to meet their specific disability the Judy Antonio Memorial www.toowoombabusiness support needs. Award which honours the disabilityawards.com.au www.dpoa.org.au linkonline.com.au news 11