Jared and Ivan
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Jared is in his 50s and has severe dyslexia. He often can’t understand big words or complex sentences.
A couple of years ago, police arrested Jared for trespassing on a derelict property.
Ivan, Jared’s cousin, told the Royal Commission that Jared had seen lights at the property and ‘was curious’. ‘Naturally, he regrets this now,’ Ivan said.
Ivan said footage from a police body-camera during his arrest showed Jared telling the police several times that he was dyslexic and having trouble understanding what they were saying.
‘They failed to … take this into account and ensure that he understood his rights and what he was being arrested for.’
During Jared’s arrest and a later recorded interview, the police didn’t tell him he had a right to have a support person present.
‘Persons with a disability need to be actively made aware of this right,’ Ivan said. ‘Even in a case where a person is not visibly or noticeably disabled on a surface level it is essential that the police still make them aware of this fact, as many disabilities may not be immediately distinguishable to the untrained eye.’
Ivan lodged a complaint with a human rights commission, which organised a meeting with the police.
‘But this meeting was unfortunately voluntary and they opted not to attend. The matter was subsequently dismissed.’
Ivan lodged another complaint, with a corruption watchdog, which six months later referred it back to a police misconduct unit.
One day, a police officer knocked on Jared’s door.
‘[They] seemed to intentionally speak to [Jared] at a time when he had been isolated from myself – despite the fact that I was the one that lodged the complaint,’ Ivan said.
The officer later questioned Jared’s need for a support person and Ivan’s authority to act on Jared’s behalf.
‘The exhausting battle I have endured to try and have my concerns about [Jared’s] treatment listened to has been disheartening and fruitless, ridden with bureaucratic failure and a severe lack of empathy and care.’
Ivan withdrew the original complaint because it was causing him stress.
‘It is not as if I have been seeking anything significant or abnormal – a mere acknowledgment of my complaint and the issue it represents is all I have asked for.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.