Hello Disability Care and Support Public Inquiry,
It is good to see finally a lot more attention and hopefully funding to people with disabilities.
In doing so I hope you can address the issues constructively so each person that has a disability irrespectively can live their lives with dignity

First on the agenda should be the removal of the title “disability” as that is degrading in itself.
Just because someone is has a broken leg for example it does not mean that they cannot get around, they find other means such as crutches
Perhaps a better term would be a “Capacity” allowance or pension or whatever other than that term
This indicates that you may not have the capacity to do certain things whereas disability gives the impression it is total incapacity

Second issue is that there are so many like myself that have been unemployable yet can be with the right treatment and opportunities
I suggest rehabilitation programs and create genuine opportunities for people to contribute to society
In my own case at the age of 60 I suffer from depression, a number of physical problems and symptoms such as chronic tiredness 
Recently I went broke losing everything owing a fair amount of money which has left me quite shattered to say the least
Especially as I have worked shiftwork at the age of 15, having owned a nice home and car etc

I have so much to offer society if given the opportunity yet I feel on the scrapheap with little income and no future 
Why should I feel that when there is so many things to do that can be done for all of us according to a person’s capacity.
One example would be doing work on a computer for the local council, either there or at home depending on the person needs
There are so many I know that can go back to the workforce including old age pensioners given the right circumstances
Why at my age do I have to feel I cannot start again and be able to pick up the pieces?

If you really want to help this section of the community you need to do the following!
a)	Assessment on the capabilities of what a person can do
b)	Full support & rehabilitation services where required 
c)	Access to education to further enhance employment prospects
d)	Create suitable work for that person according to their capabilities
e)	Allow them their pension plus any earnings on top so to give encouragement and sense of dignity
f)	Allow access to loans so as to be able to purchase a home or unit giving a sense of independence and goals that they can achieve

In regards to people with drugs and alcohol dependencies the same applies to them because it is in the same category
They need medical treatment and it must be enforced if they become a menace to society, by locking them up in a hospital especially designed for their treatment
Once treated they are given a pass out for one day and then they are tested 
If free say for a week with one day passes they are then given a two day passes once again proving each time they are drug free  
Then they go through the same system as those that have other capability difficulties

Every person you have working pays Income Tax and GST and there is less dependency for other support sources 
Remember one of the smartest men in the world is in wheel chair only able to use his brain and mouth yet he does so much in contributing to science

I conclude in saying there are many crying out for help I can tell you, this is so needed
You want to get people in the workforce, they want to get into the workforce but on one wants to employ, that is the major hurdle
Governments must employ these people and give them dignity, so they can feel they are contributing to the society too

Regards
Charles Meurer