It was announced in the Federal government budget that funding for ABC's disability news and opinion website, Ramp Up, was discontinued.
Sadly, the ABC decided not to incorporate Ramp Up into their core operations. Therefore, Australia's only legitimate media outlet for the Voices of people with disabilities has been axed.
The outrage expressed by members of the disabled community has been significant. The Facebook group Save ABC Ramp Up, has already attracted over 1000 members. A petition on change.org addressed to ABC Managing Director Mark Scott and Assistant Minister for
Social Services Mitch Fifield, has been signed by / 16,500 supporters.
Crikey writer Shakira Hussein says that the scrapping of Ramp Up looks like an attempt to suppress disability dissent at a crucial moment for the sector, as the nation embarks on the building of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and following the abolition
of the Disability Discrimination Commissioner position.
This project will take action to give people with disabilities a voice again by creating a news and opinion website that will continue the important work of Ramp Up. It will also create employment opportunities for people with disabilities
by paying for content and engaging people with disabilities in editorial and marketing roles.
We believe that with your generous initial contributions it will be possible to establish a sustainable, reputable and independent web-based media portal by and for people with disabilities and our families and supporters.
By supporting this project, you will be playing an important role in enabling people with disabilities to have their say on the issues that affect us the most.
This project is designed to ensure that the important perspectives of people with disabilities and our families are heard and to make real the disability rights motto of "Nothing about Us, Without Us".
So, please help us to make this a reality, by sharing this project with your friends, and making a contribution, large or small, everything helps.
Thank you.