The latest report on disability in Australia, released today by
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, examines the
frequency of multiple disabilities and their impact on the care
needs of Australians.
Dr Xingyan Wen of the Institute's Functioning and Disability
Unit said, 'In 2003, half of all Australians with disability, or
about two million people, had a combination of two or more
disabilities.
'These disabilities can include intellectual, psychiatric,
sensory/speech, disability from acquired brain injury (ABI) and
physical disabilities,' he said.
The report shows that half of all children under the age of 15
who had a psychiatric disability (over 42,000 children) or ABI
(over 11,000 children) had three or more disabilities.
Over one-third of children with sensory/speech (over 48,000
children) or intellectual disability (over 55,000 children) had
three or more disabilities.
More than half of people aged 15 to 44 with ABI (more than
85,000 people) or intellectual disability (over 95,000 people) had
three or more disabilities.
'The more disabilities people had, the more likely they were to
need help with 'core' daily activities such as self care, mobility
and communication,' Dr Wen said.
'Some combinations of disabilities had more marked effects on
people's activity, participation in major life areas and the
subsequent need for assistance,' he said.
The report, Disability in Australia: multiple disabilities
and need for assistance, shows a substantial proportion of
care for people with multiple disabilities is provided by their
family members and friends.
The report also found that people with multiple disabilities who
needed very frequent assistance with daily activities were much
less likely to have their needs fully met than people with less
frequent need for assistance.
Support needs of people with early onset multiple disabilities
vary depending on the nature of their disabilities and their life
stages. As they grow older, they may have higher support needs than
other people with single or late onset disability.
People aged 15 to 64 years with a mix of psychiatric, physical
disabilities, and other disability were more likely than others to
have employment restrictions.
Over one-third of people with three disabilities and almost half
of people with four or five disabilities had profound employment
restriction.
Among people with four or five disabilities, 30% of those living
in households were unable to go out as often as they would like to
participate in community activities, over 40% were living in
institutions and a majority (77%) were aged 65 years or over.
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Further information: Dr Xingyan Wen, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1177mob. 0418 271 395
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area
for the availability of Disability in Australia:
multiple disabilities and need for assistance