By Us, For Us — Disability Messaging Guide
By Us, For Us - A Disability Messaging Guide, produced in partnership with Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) and Australian Progress, is the product of an urgent and groundbreaking research project to shift public narratives by testing and developing messages that build widespread support for transformative disability policy change.
Mainstream narratives influence public opinion, in turn shaping political decision making. To create a society that works for all of us, we must build and demonstrate widespread public support for transformative disability policy change, shifting mainstream narratives and public sentiment from prevalent deficit frames, into strengths and values-based frames.
The project is based on a proven theory of change for messaging that has shifted national narratives and public support on issues from First Nations justice to refugee rights. It responds to both the identified capacity building needs of disability advocates, and external factors like public sentiment and the opportunities to influence political change in the coming 12 months.
In the immediate term, the upcoming May 2024 Federal budget promises an important opportunity to reframe mainstream media conversations about funding of the NDIS and disability supports in a way that centres the strengths of the disability community, demonstrates practical concepts of self determination, creates shared values, and shares a vision for the future where people with disability live fulfilling and independent lives.
Initial findings and recommendations from our research with Common Cause Australia will provide you – disability advocates and allies – with the narrative tools to advocate for these changes.
Here are the resources from phase 1:
Click here to watch a recording of the By Us, For Us messaging briefing with Auslan interpretation.
Click here to watch a recording of the By Us, For Us messaging briefing with captions.
Beyond the budget, state and federal elections in the coming 12 months offer a political opportunity to firmly place disability front and centre on election policy agendas, building the public momentum and political will necessary to ensure a society that includes and values people with disabilities and respects human rights for all.
People with disability have the solutions needed to realise this vision, but advocates have let us know that right now, shared, persuasive messaging that’s tested and proven to build public and political support for these solutions is a critical gap. Under guidance from the project Steering Committee – including El Gibbs, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA); Kelly Cox, Senior Policy Officer and NDIS Lead, First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN); Kirsten Deane, Deputy Director, Melbourne Disability Institute; Stephen Ellis, messaging and communications expert and DANA Board Director; and Elise Dalley, Acting Co-Executive Director, Australian Progress – this project will build advocacy messaging and leadership capacity to fill this gap.
The second phase of this project is due in FY25. We welcome supporters for the next phase of this work please contact elise@australianprogress.org.au.
We welcome feedback on this guide which you can share by submitting via this form or getting in touch with us directly at info@australianprogress.org.au.