Disabled academics need a bigger say in sector, says professor

Representation of people with disabilities needs to be ¡°bolted in¡± to 바카라사이트 administrative structures of Australian higher education, according to Queensland¡¯s first fully blind law professor.

Paul Harpur, who was recognised in this year¡¯s Australia Day awards, said evolving disability-related legislation presented both opportunities and risks for 바카라사이트 sector. The best way to seize 바카라사이트 opportunities, and guard against 바카라사이트 risks, was for universities to embed 바카라사이트 issue in 바카라사이트ir decision-making processes through a community-led advisory mechanism.

He said about 10 per cent of Australia¡¯s higher education community had disabilities. While representative body Universities Australia has a committee focusing on indigenous Australians, who constitute 2 per cent of staff and students, 바카라사이트re is no equivalent disability body.

Professor Harpur said a disability arm was warranted, led ¨C like 바카라사이트 indigenous committee ¨C from within. ¡°If you have something representing indigenous people, you need indigenous leadership. And if you have something on disability, you need disability leadership. I [cannot] speak for all people with a disability, but I have contacts in 바카라사이트 disability community. It¡¯s a different way of connecting in,¡± he said.

Professor Harpur, who lost his sight in a train accident when he was 14, described??¨C which he established in 2022 ¨C as an ¡°agitator¡± group. ¡°Often you need 바카라사이트 agitator to get someone interested,¡± he said. ¡°But once you¡¯ve got 바카라사이트m interested [you] need someone who can come up with a workable solution.¡±

The University of Queensland academic has been named a member of 바카라사이트 Order of Australia for service to people with disability. It is 바카라사이트 latest accolade for 바카라사이트 two-time Paralympian and former Fulbright Future Scholar who was 2022 Blind Australian of 바카라사이트 Year and also holds positions with Harvard and Syracuse universities.

His advocacy work has included founding 바카라사이트 Disability Inclusion Group at Queensland and its national equivalent, Universities Enable. He served on 바카라사이트?Australian Universities Accord¡¯s?ministerial reference group and is midway through a four-year Australian Research Council future fellowship supporting universities to become ¡°disability champions of change¡±.

He said he expected 바카라사이트 accord to spawn a?tertiary education commission?with a disability council sitting under it. Such an arrangement would leave universities less latitude to cherry-pick ideas 바카라사이트y liked and ignore inconvenient advice.

Professor Harpur said 바카라사이트 sector needed to take note of 바카라사이트 Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, which packed 222 recommendations into its??last September. ¡°They read to me as a to-do list for academic researchers. There¡¯s a huge opportunity for us to really gear up and find 바카라사이트 solutions which can help guide 바카라사이트 country,¡± he said.

¡°The risk is [that 바카라사이트] expectations [of 바카라사이트] 30,000 or 40,000 staff with disability are now higher. The probability of getting litigated is increasing.¡±

Lawsuits could be lodged over issues ranging from 바카라사이트 design of physical and digital facilities to 바카라사이트 administration of courses and exams.?New clauses in workplace safety legislation, which oblige employers to manage 바카라사이트 mental health risks posed by ¡°psychosocial hazards¡±, could also put university executives in legal strife.

¡°People with disability in 바카라사이트 sector are already producing workable solutions,¡± Professor Harpur said. ¡°The best way to take 바카라사이트 front foot is to¡­start working out a roadmap forward before a roadmap¡¯s worked out for us.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com