Something Stronger: Truth-telling on Hurt and Loss, Strength and Healing, from First Nations People with Disability

This research paper on the discourses of First Nation people with disability was commissioned by the Royal Commission into Violence Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The purpose of this research paper is to support engagement with the First Nations disability community that is considerate of their cultural values and beliefs on disability and inclusion, and acknowledges the unique traumas arising from their experiences of social isolation, inequality and discrimination. This research paper builds upon a comprehensive program of research that was led from within the First Peoples Disability Network, a non-government community organisation established by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability. The research program sourced the testimonies of 47 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability which have been used as the data source for this research paper. The community-based principles and findings from this research program have been published as Culture is Inclusion: A narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability5. This research paper focuses on testimonies that disclosed incidents of violence from within the narrative database that was produced by the research program and contains new content and analysis that has not been previously published.