To promote and safeguard the rights of

ethnic people with disabilities and their carers

ABOUT DISABILITY FIRST STOP (DFS)

DISABILITY FIRST STOP is a project funded by the WA Disability Services Commission and was set up to assist people with a disability and their families get the help they need within the first 18 months of diagnosis.

The Hon Sheila McHale who launched DFS noted that each year about 8,500 children and adults are diagnosed with a disability as a result of prenatal events, illness or accidents in WA. It was emphasized that DFS was established specifically to meet a need for more concentrated assistance for people with a disability and their families during the initial period following diagnosis.

The DFS service aims to reduce confusion about the range of disability services available for people with a disability and their families and also assist them locate the help they need tailored to their special circumstances.

The project recognizes that people with a disability and their families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may have additional difficulties during the initial and post diagnosis stages. The Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre specializes in assisting people with a disability and their families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds with a range of matters and is one of five partner agencies involved in the implementation of DFS

DFS ADVOCATE
Lee Bickford has taken over from Luba McMaugh as the DFS Advocate at EDAC. Lee has had considerable experience in working with people with a disability and their families from a CALD background. Enquiries or referrals can be discussed with Lee by calling her on 9388 7455 or emailing her at: leebickford@edac.org.au

As part of her DFS advocacy role Lee may:

• provide information by phone, email or in person;
• assist CALD consumers or their families with individual planning
• provide advocacy or supported referrals to appropriate services
• facilitate access to interpreters or translators
• facilitate referrals to bilingual counselors
• link people with disabilities or their families to culturally and/or linguistically appropriate support services where available

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DFS IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Information about DFS (a Multilingual Brochure) has now been translated into Arabic, Amharic, Bahasa Malay, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Dari, Farsi, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Vietnamese.

Arabic

Bosnian

Chinese

Croatian

Farsi

Dari

Bahasa Malay

Vietnamese

Tigrinya

Amharic

Serbian

Somali

Spanish

LINK TO OTHER AGENCIES

This program funded by the Disability Services Commission (WA) is an information and support service for people with disability and their families within the first 18 months of diagnosis or where people:

•  are transitioning from hospital to community-based services
• are newly arrived in Australia and diagnosed with disability in their country of origin
• have a deteriorating medical condition that requires disability support services
• with a diagnosed disability receive a second diagnosis that requires assessment, information and support.

 http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/forindividuals/disabilityservices/disability_first_stop.html

Partner organisations include Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre, Headwest, People With disabilities WA and Kalparrin. Each organisation caters for a specific client group

Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre:  www.edac.org.au
 Provides individual and systemic advocacy to people with disability from non-English speaking and culturally diverse backgrounds, in order for them to achieve equal access to services and resources in the community. 

Headwest: http://www.headwest.asn.au/
 Provides individual and systemic advocacy in an effort to improve the quality of life for people with acquired brain injury. Promotes greater community awareness of the impact of acquired brain injury on individuals, families, carers and friends throughout Western Australia.
 

Kalparrin: http://www.kalparrin.org.au/
 Provides practical information and emotional support for families of children with disabilities and other special needs. Kalparrin holds a number of respite events for mothers, fathers, couples, siblings, families and links families to other families of children with similar conditions and operates a drop-in centre at Princess Margaret Hospital.
 Program Page: http://www.kalparrin.org.au/about-us/disabilityfirststop/
 

People With disabilities WA: http://www.pwdwa.org/
 A consumer-managed organisation which represents and advocates for the rights and equity of all Western Australians with disability.
Program Page: http://www.pwdwa.org/content.aspx?cId=25

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