The Disability Community Speaks Out against QUT

[dorthyandtoto72]

they say he who laughs last , laughs the hardest.. people with disablities will have the last laugh

[Kauwhaka]

Her sign says "Don't Laugh At The Disabled". But... what if they are funny?

[CHODESPAZ]

God put disabled people on this earth for our own amusement.

[Hazza101]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH

[blueguntwo]

Illogical nordicaryan says we should be getting rid of all disabled people. What? Get rid of Einstein?  Get rid of Bill Gates? Genius is precious! Who is without inadequacy? Let that person be the one to cast the first stone. Eliminating disability is too slippery a slope, and once medical science gets on that GE slope humanity will slip down into oblivion. Autism is the next salvation revelation. Following Inspiration, strong autism will wipe hypocrisy off the list of human sins.

[SpinergyDude]

The people here are speaking out about real issues, and we get ignorant fools on YouTube like this nordicaryan type who feel they are enititled to spewing hate like in his statement... All I can say is I would not fook with Karma.

[nordicaryan]

But we should be getting rid of all disabled people by breeding them out and by euthanasia, it's the best thing for them and for society.

[SpinergyDude]

I say you start with yourself.

[sheilawalshe]

QUT appear to be behaving in a disgraceful manner. Do the United States not have an anti discrinination law outlawing discrimination against disabled people@ In Ireland we have the Equal Status Act which allows a disabled person to bring a person to justice who has discriminated against him or her.every year we hear about successful cases won.

[lennedk]

QUT = Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia.

Australia is not under US jurisdiction.

Wonder why nobody has commented on this before...

[alwaysgoforgoals]

Unlikely Travellers screens at BIFF to a sell out crowd. More than 200 people made the effort to see what all the fuss is about and judging by their reaction, left the theatre in full support of the project and the people involved. A quick search for the review on the Paradigm Oz (google "paradigmoz") website sums up the audience reaction well.

[paradigmoz]

Why are 2 men aged 20 and 40 refered to as "boys" in this video? Does "the disability community" perceive intelectual disability as infantilism?

Is this why the poor vulnerable children need people to speak up for them against their families and work associates?

Noonan is on the right track in dismantling prejudices and stereotyping of "the disabled".

[danicabs]

Address 20 students with a megaphone? more like 150 students as well as other members of the community who are disgraced by QUT's actions.

[pthomas66]

'if you haven't seen the material - don't write or speak' And we're not going to see it. If it's so good and working so well, why the secrecy since questions emerged? Noonan says he is inspired by high ideals, but what matters is the result. If he wanted to use the Borat formula to help the disabled, he should have been prepared for suspicion, and to meet it. Instead we get secrecy and discipline, and are asked to trust it. No way

[ftvteacher]

I am dismayed at the unethical conduct by MacLennan & Hookham and the media beat-up that has transpired.I support MN and his right to investigate "the line" and I support his right to research & create without trial by media.Trial by CM and their facile attempts at journalism is perhaps a fate worse than death.Almost as facile as supporters of M&H holding some red tape in front of M & giving him a megaphone to address 20 students at Gardens Point for the cameras

[pthomas66]

M&H wound up on the CM's front page because they were suspended,so Noonan and McKee have got the trial by beat up they chose when they instituted disciplinary procedings.Now the protest supporting M&H is ludicrous because you say it was too small-where have I heard this one before?This secrecy,discipline & jeering does take me back to the 80s.'Don't write don't speak' & don't you worry about that.

[ceereason]

Sensational?? Strong rumours?? If we have learned anything from this very public debate, it is that, as a rational and just society, we should avoid sensationalism, rumours and heresay. We should listen to reason and communicate openly and in good faith. The reputation of Michael Noonan, his supervisors, QUT and Spectrum have been attacked on sensationalist and misinformed terms. If you're not prepared to wait for the facts, if you haven't seen the material -- then don't write or speak.

[alwaysgoforgoals]

This is correct ceereason, a point lost by cnoevilatal MacLennan... oops! To help gather the facts and understand the situation at hand, check out the Stateline QLD report posted onto YouTube. You can find it via the link on my page.

[cnoevilatal]

Senastional development!! Not yet confirmed but strong rumours are spreading about the violation of ethical procedures by QUT's ethics cttee in its approving of the PhD Project Laughing at the Disabled: Creating Comedy that Confronts Offends and Entertains.

[ceereason]

If you believe Hookham and MacLennan, there exists an evil conspiracy that seeks to "ridicule" the disabled. The "conspirators" include Michael Noonan, his supervisors, QUT, the ethics committee, the Spectrum Organization, the misconduct committee, and the parents and advocates of the two men involved in Noonan's project.. Does this seem logical to anyone? Isn't it more logical to assume that Hookham and MacLennan have misrepresented the facts to defend their hideous behaviour?

[cnoevilatal]

Hookham & Maclennan didn't take 2 intellectually disabled men into a pub and film them looking for romance. Noonan did. How hideous is that? Hookham & Macennan did not ask 2 intellectually disabled men what would they do if a girl fancied them both. Noonan did. How hideous is that?

[kiki2art]

But if these are men who wont find romance because people dont understand its not funny. I still want to see the film

[magimae12000]

omg I had no idea this was going on fgs!!! magi

[danicabs]

Rally Against Suspension of Lecturers

Wednesday 13th June

3pm (15:00 hrs)

U-Block Gardens Point Campus QUT

[anon4664]

Mr Noonan - please send me your video and I will comment on it. I have checked the SPECTRUM website. It has an 'Online Personality Test" - what this has to do with Disability Services/Advocacy? The website lists prices for its GYM from 2004. I hope that Spectrum is better run than its website suggests. I would like to see an actual Disability Advocacy group support your project. I want my tax money used on worthwhile projects and not on silencing Gary MacLennan and John Hookham.

[danicabs]

I am sure you have more knowledge on this subject than most due to your research, although there are valid points coming from the disability community. Also 'cnoevilatall' also has a point about Spectrum's financial interest in the film. Why not gather other opinions from a wider range of disability groups? After all is that not what research is finding multiple sources?

[danicabs]

I witnessed first hand the laughter from the students, as well as the look of guilt on their faces when you introduced both D and J to us. I also spoke with many peers afterwards and they expressed their guilt for laughing.

[danicabs]

"I've shown it to the people who matter -- the two stars, their families, the ethics committee, my confirmation panel and our disability consultants. They all have the right to see it. No-one else does."

'Unlikelytraveller' I quote one of your comments because I was present as a 1st year student in one of the lectures where you showed both films. I believe we matter.

[cnoevilatall]

On 18th April, Prof Haseman wrote "[ethical] approval was given in the knowledge that the film being produced...would actively involve officers of Spectrum". But Spectrum has a financial interest in Noonan's project. They stand to make money from it. So of course they love it. Come on Professor you have to do better than that.

[cnoevilatall]

You are not the victim here. The young disabled men you had people laugh at are the victims. You need new supervisors and you need to approach the true disability community for guidance. If you will just listen to them a solution can be found.

[unlikelytraveller]

There are clearly two sides to this issue and both are worthy of an informed, rational discussion. What disturbs me is that one side of this debate --- the one attacking my project -- consistently resorts to vitriolic personal attacks. They make heavy-handed demands for my footage, insult my character, and cast aspersions about the people and organisations involved in my work. They do all these things while claiming the moral high ground and seeking to the make the world a better place.

[cnoevilatall]

Could you explain to us in a rational and informed way how laughing at the disabled makes the world a better place? Maybe your supervisors can explain to us if you cannot.

[petitchoulalou]

I have to say that I agree with the part about personal attacks. People - PLEASE don't demean yourself by doing this, because it only demonstrates stupidity and people disregard posts like that. If you want to argue about something, do it intelligently. Which brings me to: Please could you show your work to us? Not showing us suggests that there's a lot of truth in the 'hearsay' and you are afraid the footage will prove us right.

[petitchoulalou]

I just have one question for you: My little sister has cerebral palsy. Would you be happy with her seeing the footage and how would you explain your actions to her,others with disabilities and their families? I want to wait until I see all the evidence before I make a judgement, which is hard because you're not helping us much there... Maybe you could summarise your footage?

[petitchoulalou]

Anyway, I thought the issue was about Gary being allowed to speak out against material he finds unethical...Which he should be allowed to do and I don't see why people tried to stop him except if they didn't want the Uni to look bad...but it has ended up looking bad anyway by suspending Gary and John...What do other people think?

[unlikelytraveller]

I appreciate your concerns, "petitchoulalou". "Unlikely Travellers" will be on TV soon -- and I look forward to hearing what you, your sister and your family think. The current show I'm making isn't finished -- that's why I'm not showing footage to the broader public. I've shown it to the people who matter -- the two stars, their families, the ethics committee, my confirmation panel and our disability consultants. They all have the right to see it. No-one else does.

[cnoevilatall]

You still won't admit the turth. If the reports of the footage are accurate and you have not denied the descriptions, then you have acted unethically. Your supervisors and Spectrum have encouraged that unethical behaviour. Show the tape or admit the truth of the allegations against you.

[cnoevilatall]

Are you not capable of understanding that the disability community has a legitmate interest in preventing the mockery, abuse and vilification of the disabled? All of which you, your supervisors and Spectrum have sanctioned. Show the tape and prove the disability community wrong.

[rivendellresident]

Michael,if in an attempt to bring attention to the needs of others, you hurt far more, then maybe your aim was off. Step back from your own hurt and listen to that still small voice which tell us we may have gotten off the track.  Be open and transparent, most importantly be willing to be sorry, if not for the intention, for the outcome. Through their oppressive tactics, QUT have sentenced you, not saved you. Don't stand behind something that grows increasingly smaller than all of us.

[kiki2art]

Well michael we r soooo sooo sorry gary isnt allowed 2 speak out!! You sound like an evil man with no heart to love! If there is nothing wrong with the video then show us at an agreed location - such as H Block in the installation room. Us vis art people wont mind. After all CI people are 1 big family

[unlikelytraveller]

This is Michael Noonan. I am sure all of the interviewees in this 11 minute piece -- Rosemary McBride, Kevin Cocks, Philip Castles and Dr Lisa Bridle -- have the best of intentions. But NOT ONE of them has viewed a single frame of my material -- nor have they attempted to contact me to discuss these issues. They condemn me, my project and the Spectrum Organization on the basis of heresay, misinformation and a provocative title. All they had to do was pick up the phone.

[cnoevilatall]

Kevin Cocks, Philip Castle and Dr Bridle have asked to see your confirmatiion material and you have refused to show it. Are you now saying you will show it to them? If so that could be the beginning of a way out for you. A way out of the hole your supervisors have dug for you.

[Costablu]

Given Michaels knowledge of our concerns he hasn't contacted us. However, it is mis-information to suggest that I and Dr Lisa bridle have not requested to view Michael's material and discuss these issues as he claims. In our letter to the Vice-Chancellor we did request to review the material produced by Michael. Additionally, in an e-mail exchange with Alan McKee I offered to meet with both McKee and Noonan in McKee's response he said he would forward my e-mail to Noonan. Kevin Cocks

[cnoevilatall]

This is very damaging to those who have supported this terrible project. Surely now Noonan must approach the real disability community and seek the help and guidance that his supervisors are obviously not able to give him.