Anti-Oppressive Practice in Disability Advocacy: Addressing Systemic Barriers in Public Transport SWK4032

1. Introduction

Urban infrastructure can't work without public transport, which gives everyone in the community access to the needed mobility. However, a critical service like that was almost impossible to receive for people with special needs like autism or chronic issues with pain, such as Kerry-Ann Tape. The 31-year-old digital archivist Kerry-Ann of Sydney finds moving very problematic using public transport. Her experiences showcase the continued chasms in accessibility & diversity that characterize the current public transportation system. The wider issue that Kerry-Ann's situation brings to the forefront is the institutional failures in addressing the needs of people with a disability. In terms of practice, regulations like the DDA 1992, which specify that all public transport must be accessible, are not applied effectively. For example, Kerry-Ann reported difficulties getting on buses because of thoughtless driving & a lack of adequate facilities, such as worked ramps & accessible seating. Moreover, her impediment is invisible, so it is all the more difficult for her to get the required help & further isolates her from society heightening her troubles. While the transport sector responded, little has been done to act on long-term issues that Kerry Ann & others still face, such as refusing to fund accessibility improvements & educating staff on disability awareness. The current case study attempts to tease out the factors working against Kerry-Ann's inclusivity, highlighting what lies beneath: structural & historical factors, & assessing how privilege & power are used in the maintenance of systemic inequalities. This paper seeks to formulate, using an Anti-Oppressive Practice framework, a plan for a community service project that answers these challenges & leads toward an accessible & more inclusive public transportation system for all people with disabilities.

2. Model or Framework of oppressive practice

This report will apply the AOP framework. AOP is one of the main methods focused on social justice within social work. It identifies structural roots of oppression & works for social reform by drawing on critical theories such as feminist, Marxist, postmodernist, Indigenous, poststructuralist, anti-colonial, anti-racist theories, & so on. It concerns equality, social justice, & activity on the part of the marginalized in decisions that affect their lives.

3. Part One: Aspects of Diversity and Barriers to Inclusion

Target Audience: Kerry-Ann belongs to the community of disabled people and, further on, to the community of people living with invisible disabilities, including people with autism & long-term pain syndromes. This community, because of their disability, runs into specific obstacles in their lives that might give rise to discrimination against them & several misapprehensions.

Inclusion Barriers:-
Physical Barriers: These occur when drivers do not allow or yield to those who have some type of mobility aid, hence restricting their access to public transport.
Attitude Barriers: Ignorance & lack of compassion from other commuters and transportation staff predispose users to harassment and a clear disregard for the needs of people with invisible disabilities.
Systemic Barriers: Minimal training given to transport staff & poor enforcement disability regulations reinforce the according exclusion of persons with disabilities from public transport.

4. Part Two: Historical Context and Structural Oppression

Historical Context: In summary, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) seeks to ensure it becomes illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability within a variety of public contexts, such as in employment, educational institutions, services they receive or access, housing they rent or buy, and public places. This is one of the legislation and acts that shaped disability rights over time in Australia (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2014). However, due to these limitations, have been applied and enforced haphazardly, problems have persisted.

Structural oppression: Systemic oppression of people with disabilities has occurred due to previous neglect & ineffective policy implementation. This has caused systemic barriers to accessing public services, such as transportation. The lack of adequate measures whereby to ensure compliance with disability standards is the reason these issues have continued.

5.Part Three: Power and Privilege

Oppression Issues in Today's Society:

Intangible disability: Kerry-Ann has intangible disabilities that create invisible boundaries for her, which are not easy to accommodate and therefore misinterpreted.
Microaggressions: She faces harassment every day by other passengers for using disabled seats in the train/cars, and the cars are not willing to put down their ramps.
Systemic Discrimination: it is caused by officials of transports, that are equipped with inadequate access and staff training ("Access under Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport | Australian Human Rights Commission, 2020").

The role of privilege and power:-
Intersectional Identities: Kerry-Ann is marginalized on two fronts; her disability, & dependence on public transportation.
Power Dynamics: While enforcement of the accessibility laws ought to lie in the hands of the
transport operators, it is rarely the case.
Privilege: This shows privilege within the community of Persons with Disabilities given that people who obviously have a disability, and those who do not, may be better taken care of & provided for ("What We Do).

6.Part Four: Project Plan

Community service project plan:
Initiative for Inclusive Transport Awareness and Training (ITATI). (Transport,2018-22).
Objective: The aim of this campaign is to enhance the level of disability awareness among public transportation staff & create an all-inclusive atmosphere for all commuters.

• Crucial Tasks:

Disability Awareness Training: This training is compulsory for all staff in public transportation. It includes training on sensitivity, ramp deployment, and accessible access.

Awareness campaign: Informational and educational activities carried out with the aim of enlightening the necessity of showing respect to the facilities provided for the disabled people.
Feedback Mechanism: Developing a system that would allow people with disabilities to outline their concerns and propose betterment suggestions.

Timeline: 12 months.
Budget: $200,000 (Funding from government grants and partnership with disability advocacy organizations)
Desired Outcomes:
Enhanced sensitivity & awareness among transportation staff towards persons with disabilities.
Better awareness among the public at large and reduction in incidents of harassment & discrimination.
More access & diversity in public transportation services.

7. Conclusion:

Kerry-Ann Tape's battles against Sydney's public transport encapsulate the significant challenges disabled persons face, but more importantly, pinpoint exactly why, despite legislation the Disabilities Discrimination Act of 1992, it is that change remains to be effected. At worst, the practical issues she faces include uncouth bus drivers who are totally oblivious to the articulation of disability issues. Other than disrupting the everyday life of Kerry-Ann, these problems point at deeper flaws structurally within the realm of disability accommodations. Stemming from institutional oppressions & a long history of disability rights, the transport system of Australia often cannot cater to all of its users. Current investments & policy developments are ostensibly targeting these deficiencies, but inadequate implementation & enforcement makes a more effective solution increasingly urgent. These power dynamics, such as non-disabled privilege or transit operators with their authority, intertwine in the striving for more equal access. This is why a community service project plan, such as the Inclusive Transport Awareness & Training Initiative, is called for to deal with the above-mentioned issues. This initiative aims at offering specific training to transportation personnel, public awareness campaigns, & an effective feedback mechanism that is sure to enhance public transportation services. Implementing these strategies will ensure that individuals such as Kerry-Ann are fully accommodated in everyday life in addition to being legally protected, thus closing the gap between policy & practice.

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