About CoSP 17
CoSP 17 was held from 10-12 June 2024. DSA’s CEO Darryl Steff, and self-advocate and DSAN member, Michael Cox attended this year’s event.
Darryl and Michael contributed to CoSP 17 by:
- delivering 3 formal presentations across CoSP and Civil Society
- hosting a side event in conjunction with Canadian groups, My Home My Rights and Respecting Rights
- attending 7 other side events and networking events
- further developing networks and connections through side meetings.
Civil Society Forum
Michael presented an intervention on the CoSP sub-theme of “Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to decent work and sustainable livelihood”.
Key points included:
- The inequity of employment outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities
- The need to pay fair wages
- The need for training and awareness for employers
- That people with intellectual disability should be included in these reforms.
- How segregated employment negatively impacts people with intellectual disability
Roundtable
Michael was the only Australian panel member on any of the Roundtable discussions. He spoke on roundtable 3, on “Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to decent work and sustainable livelihood”.
Michael discussed the challenges of employment for people with intellectual disabilities and on what needs to change in order for employment outcomes to improve.