Sabra Lane: The mercury is set to soar into the 30s in every capital today, except Sydney. For some, it's a continuing heat wave. The sweaty and uncomfortable effects are even greater and potentially catastrophic for some people with disability. In some cases, it can lead to death. Advocates are calling for more support to help the disability community cope with the health impacts of heat. The details now from National Disability Affairs reporter Nas Campanella.
Nas Campanella: Deanna Renee used to enjoy summertime, but that was until the heat started drastically worsening her health. The Melbourne woman was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager.
Deanna Renee: I experience increased fatigue levels, difficulty walking. Sometimes I can get really confused when I'm out and about in a very familiar place when I get overheated, which could lead to difficulties in my concentration, my memory or maybe my decision making.
Nas Campanella: The heat can also make getting around harder.
Deanna Renee: I occasionally use a mobility aid in form of a walking stick. If I don't have that and I get overheated, I will stumble to one side.
Nas Campanella: The 34-year-old keeps cool using tools such as an ice ring around her neck, and she's lucky to be able to afford to run air conditioning at home. She worries about what might happen if she no longer can, or about those who can't afford equipment or the energy costs associated with keeping cool.
Deanna Renee: I would become extremely unwell. I would experience like cramping through intercostal muscles. It's extremely painful. I've had to be hospitalised for that before when I wasn't able to cool down.
Nas Campanella: Dealing with heatwaves is the focus of a letter that's been sent to the Minister in charge of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Bill Shorten. It was written by Disability Advocacy Network Australia and Sweltering Cities, which campaigns for sustainable communities. It calls for a series of measures to be put in place to better support the community, like working with services providers to ensure their facilities are safe for people with disability in heatwaves. The network's CEO is Geoff Smith.
Jeff Smith: We're also calling for a suite of measures to reduce people with disability's exposure to extreme heat, including putting air conditioning and energy efficient technologies in social and disability housing, and providing outreach services to check in on and help people with disability in heatwave situations.
Nas Campanella: He says research shows people with disability are hugely over-represented in heat-related deaths. In a statement, the NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten, acknowledges the concerns raised in the letter and says he's committed to working with the sector on this issue to ensure the needs of NDIS participants are met. He says the letter also recognises the importance of ensuring disability support providers are appropriately trained and prepared to manage their duties to participants in extreme heat conditions. Back in Melbourne, Deanna Rennee wants to see more public awareness campaigns so the wider community understands the health impacts on people with all types of disability.
Deanna Renee: These changes are instrumental for people to lead a life of dignity. I think you should never judge a book by its cover. You never want to be judged unfairly when you have something going on that's out of your control.
Sabra Lane: Deanna Rennee, who has multiple sclerosis, Nas Campanella reporting.
