Defining an organisation’s readiness to provide legal help to people with disability | Article

Key Finding 5

Defining an organisation’s readiness to provide comprehensive and competent legal assistance to people with disability presents several challenges. An integral aspect of this readiness lies in whether the organisation possesses the necessary specialist knowledge on relevant legal matters. Importantly, this expertise should not be limited to a single individual within the organisation; instead, it should be woven into the fabric of the entity itself. This ensures that the provision of legal help to people with disability is not dependent on a single figure but instead becomes part of the organisation’s systemic capability.

However, acquiring legal expertise is only one facet of the equation. An equally crucial consideration is whether the organisation has systems in place that promote inclusivity and cater to diverse needs. Accessibility and inclusivity, cornerstones of providing legal help to people with disability, require conscious effort and thorough implementation. For instance, the physical premises must be accessible, the staff must be trained to communicate effectively with people with various types of disabilities, and information must be provided in formats that are easy to comprehend. The readiness of an organisation to provide legal help is contingent on how well it has built and maintained these systems of accessibility and inclusivity.

The complexity deepens when we consider the intersection of disability with the nature of the legal problem. An organisation may be highly accessible and inclusive and may also have a specialist understanding of a legal area such as criminal or family law. However, this does not guarantee that the organisation comprehends how disability intersects with these legal areas. Understanding the unique challenges and circumstances that a person with a disability might face within these legal contexts necessitates a more profound awareness and sensitivity. It is this nuanced understanding that often falls through the cracks, impacting the readiness of organisations to assist effectively.

Given these intricacies, it becomes clear why it is essential to develop referral pathways tailored for people with disability to community legal services. These pathways are not just about directing individuals to legal assistance; they must be underpinned by a deep understanding of disability, inclusivity, and legal complexities. In developing these referral pathways, the priority must be to ensure that the community legal services are both accessible and have the necessary expertise to handle the legal issue at hand while appreciating the nuances of dealing with clients with disability.

The challenge of defining an organisation’s readiness to provide legal assistance to people with disability, therefore, goes beyond the simplistic view of merely having legal expertise or being accessible. It demands a more nuanced, multi-faceted approach that takes into consideration specialist legal knowledge, inclusivity, accessibility, and a deep understanding of how disability intersects with legal problems. It underscores the urgent need for a robust framework that encompasses these diverse aspects to improve the delivery of legal services to people with disabilities in Western Australia.

Further Reading | Defining an organisation’s readiness to provide legal help to people with disability

(1) Supporting the Legal Assistance Sector – Western Australian Government. https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/supporting-the-legal-assistance-sector

(2) Advocacy services for people with disability. https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/advocacy-services-people-disability

(3) Overviews of Culturally Safe Disability Services: WA Quality and …. https://www.nds.org.au/events-and-training/all-events-and-training/wa-sector-readiness-project-an-introduction-to-culturally-safe-disability-services-4718

(4) Disability Rights: disability legal services | Australian Human Rights …. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/disability-rights-disability-legal-services

(5) An Office of Disability – Western Australian Government. https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/office-of-disability