Judith Lavender. Photo by Kym Vaitiekus

Making Rights Real is a series of videos and resources introducing workers and their managers to the experiences of people with cognitive disability.  People’s experiences with justice and rights are at the heart of this course. You will hear from people who tell of their experiences:

• in jail and how they got there,
• with the police, and
• in the community.

These stories are enhanced through interviews with a number of people who have experiences working alongside people with cognitive disability. Academics, lawyers, advocates and activists who not only validate the stories told but also put them into a broader, more systemic picture, connecting individual stories with wider systemic problems or drawing on their experiences to provide another perspective and level of insight into the issues.

The four modules are an introduction to some of the key issues and provide a broad overview.

1. Rights Matter: focuses on the importance of rights, both universal and specific human rights; ideas of privilege, equality and equity. We hear Matthew’s story, a young Aboriginal man with cognitive disability and explore some of the bigger issues facing people with cognitive disability (especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who come in contact with the criminal justice system
2. Toward Inclusion: stories from people with cognitive disability about their experiences of exclusion, bullying, name-calling, discrimination and harassment in schools, by the Police and in the community at large. This module culminates in a discussion about why the National Disability Strategy is so important in achieving positive lasting change for people with disability.
3. People with cognitive disability and the law: looks at what happens to people with cognitive disability when they come into contact with the law, including some of the options available and some of the problems with the current system. There is a significant focus on the importance of the right supports being available for people with cognitive disability who are in trouble with the law.
4. Making Rights Real: the final module focuses on learning and knowing about rights and having relationships with peers, allies and supporters protecting and promoting the voice of people with disability, both as a safeguard for people and as a tool for social change.

An additional video series, “How you can make a difference”, has been developed as a resource focusing on how workers, supporters and allies can make a difference. It explores what people with cognitive disability themselves look for in a supporter. It also explores what allies, workers, advocates and lawyers have learned while working alongside people with cognitive disability.

How to use the resources
The videos and resources of this course complement each other. We recommend that you start by watching the module video, then go through the resources in order. You’ll be prompted at times to go back to the video.

Each resource contains additional information and invites you to stop and reflect, not only on what you learned but also what you can do in practice to make a difference in the lives of people with cognitive disability who you know.

Each resource also has links to external resources, which you can access to deepen your knowledge.

How long will it take?
Each video runs about 5 – 10 minutes. Depending on how intensively you work through each resource it should take you at least 15 minutes.  Of course if you go through all the resources and read everything, it will take you much longer.

This course (video and resources) has been produced by futures Upfront and Think Well Digital for the Disability Justice Project, 2017.

Course Registration

Participants will need to create an account to enroll in our online courses. If you have already registered you can log in here.