Robyn
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.
‘Everyone discriminates against disabled people, and especially if it's something you can't see. If you can't see, it doesn't exist.’
A few years ago, Robyn’s psychiatrist diagnosed her with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Robyn is in her 60s.
‘I have been seeing psychiatrists on and off since I was at university, so I don't know why it took so long,’ Robyn told the Royal Commission.
Robyn has multiple university degrees, but has struggled to fill in forms to apply for jobs and support.
‘So many of the forms online I find extremely difficult,’ Robyn said. ‘The way these websites are written to deliver a simple message, it's so complicated and so hard to read. I don't know how they find these writers. They are so bad, giving reams and reams of details and it's actually quite hard to understand.’
Robyn has been permanently locked out of the federal government’s MyGov website because she ‘made too many mistakes’.
‘So, that's pretty funny isn't it? You can't even contact them by email and you can't actually talk to them because no-one answers the phone.’
Robyn lost her job several years ago.
‘Your income and your job control so much of your life.’
She applied for a government job that she’d already done, and for which she had all the qualifications and experience.
‘The skills you need to [apply for the job] are often totally different from the skills you need to do the job.’
She said it took her seven hours to fill in the forms and she didn’t get an interview.
Recently, Robyn moved interstate and applied for a new driving licence.
‘I had to have a letter from a doctor to say, you know, I had ADHD and I was okay to drive. Like, I haven't had an accident for, like, 40 years.’
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.