I am currently working on a project to develop a Disability Action Plan for a South Australian Government Department. All government departments are required to address 5 key outcomes, these being:
1. Portfolios and their agencies ensure accessibility to their services to people with disabilities.
2. Portfolios and their agencies ensure information about their services and programs is inclusive of people with disabilities.
3. Portfolios and their agencies deliver advice or services to people with disabilities with awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities.
4. Portfolios and their agencies provide opportunities for consultation with people with disabilities in decision-making processes regarding service delivery and in the implementation of complaints and grievance mechanisms.
5. Each Portfolio Chief Executive will ensure that their portfolio has met the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Equal Opportunity Act 1994.
Diversity is well and truly on the agenda in South Australia, but disability access is lagging somewhat. There is a focus on physical access issues (e.g., wheelchair access) and an increasing awareness of web accessibility (visual and impairment) and some awareness of hearing impairment.
What is not so evident is attention to areas such as mental disability, psychological disorders, effects of aging (we have an aging population - average age late 30s, average workforce age 46).
I'd be interested in people's comments on the kinds of issues they think are important to take into account when looking at a disability access plan. I'd also love to hear any anecdotes or experiences that I can use to support a range of strategies in the plan.
PROGRESS ENTERPRISE
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From Australia, Ballarat
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131. Portfolios and their agencies ensure accessibility to their services to people with disabilities.
2. Portfolios and their agencies ensure information about their services and programs is inclusive of people with disabilities.
3. Portfolios and their agencies deliver advice or services to people with disabilities with awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities.
4. Portfolios and their agencies provide opportunities for consultation with people with disabilities in decision-making processes regarding service delivery and in the implementation of complaints and grievance mechanisms.
5. Each Portfolio Chief Executive will ensure that their portfolio has met the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Equal Opportunity Act 1994.
Diversity is well and truly on the agenda in South Australia, but disability access is lagging somewhat. There is a focus on physical access issues (e.g., wheelchair access) and an increasing awareness of web accessibility (visual and impairment) and some awareness of hearing impairment.
What is not so evident is attention to areas such as mental disability, psychological disorders, effects of aging (we have an aging population - average age late 30s, average workforce age 46).
I'd be interested in people's comments on the kinds of issues they think are important to take into account when looking at a disability access plan. I'd also love to hear any anecdotes or experiences that I can use to support a range of strategies in the plan.
PROGRESS ENTERPRISE
[link outdated-removed]
From Australia, Ballarat
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Hi numerouno,
It's wonderful to work on such a project. You rightly said that mental disabilities, etc., are not really taken into account when discussing disability. I have no idea how people with mental disabilities are treated in Australia, but here in India, I have read many articles on mentally handicapped abuse. Leave alone their access to comforts/help, they are abused by being kept chained, cooped up in dark rooms, or sexually abused.
Is it possible for you to consider these issues and provide suggestions in your project?
Sabi
From India, Bharat
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It's wonderful to work on such a project. You rightly said that mental disabilities, etc., are not really taken into account when discussing disability. I have no idea how people with mental disabilities are treated in Australia, but here in India, I have read many articles on mentally handicapped abuse. Leave alone their access to comforts/help, they are abused by being kept chained, cooped up in dark rooms, or sexually abused.
Is it possible for you to consider these issues and provide suggestions in your project?
Sabi
From India, Bharat
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