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Disability access and inclusion

The department is finalising its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) in line with the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020. This is in consultation with the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) to ensure that the plan will not only comply with legislated requirements but also closely align with community and industry needs.

The AAC consists of representatives of peak industry disability organisations and is acknowledged for the important role it has in the development of the department’s DAIP.

Along with development of the DAIP, the department continues with a range of initiatives that progress our commitment to disability access and inclusion. These initiatives ensure accessibility to our services and facilities and recognise the rights of people with disabilities to have the same opportunities as others to all facets of community life.

The department has a well established induction program which includes disability awareness training and a range of resources for employees, with more targeted training and resources available to frontline staff, including training and development presentations by peak disability organisations.

Opportunities are provided to people with disabilities through the department’s recruitment processes, presenting all vacancies up to and including the ASO4 level to the Disability Employment Register. A partnership with Barkuma Inc., intended to increase workforce participation for people with intellectual disabilities, saw eleven Barkuma staff commence with the department, with additional disability awareness training sessions held for staff.

The department’s intranet also provides a range of information about working with people with a disability and highlights the commitment to a diverse, discrimination free workplace. References are provided for managers and employees relating to recruitment, workplace modifications and other general support that is available through disability service providers.

Public transport has a very important place in the ongoing improvement in accessibility for the South Australian community. The department is committed to continually improving public transport services and infrastructure, making public transport more accessible and easier to use for people with disabilities. The bus fleet is now 88.5 per cent accessible (not including the rail substitute bus fleet made up of older buses kept in reserve for major rail works) compared to approximately 31 per cent in 2002.

Work has continued to provide upgrades that focus on improving the accessibility of other public transport infrastructure. A detailed review and subsequent research relating to way finding and information provision at Adelaide Railway Station (ARS) for all customers commenced during the end of 2015.

The department has also reviewed the platform signage, resulting in new signage near the gate displaying “If you need assistance to board a train, please notify staff at the accessible gate or wait near the first door of the leading train carriage.” This message is also being displayed randomly on the station monitors.

Information regarding accessible journeys has also been published on the Adelaide Metro website at: https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Using-Adelaide-Metro/Accessibility-Disability/Accessible-Journeys and a voice-over message for the ARS is planned to be recorded.

Department officers at the ARS that monitor accessibility gates also provide ‘sighted guide’ assistance to passengers to board trains if needed.

The importance of accessible communication is recognised with the department continuing to make enhancements, with all online and printed material made available in a range of formats to ensure accessibility and inclusiveness. The department aims to have all publications, information and marketing material use inclusive language, correct symbols and access information (where relevant). Accessible design principles are applied when new publications are being developed.

The Office for Recreation and Sport also promotes disability access and inclusion in sport and active recreation, as demonstrated by the series of Empowering Sport to Reflect Community Round Tables held in August 2015. Representatives from 20 sport and active recreation organisations attended the round tables which sought to:

  • identify if access and inclusion is currently reflected in organisation’s strategic plans
  • identify if sport in South Australia has moved on from inclusion being a “special project or a ‘nice’ thing to do”
  • prioritise actions and outcomes to generate change at an organisational level and in the programs and services provided to a point where structural barriers do not stop people finding sport.

A number of tools and resources have been developed and shared with sport and active recreation organisations. These include:

  • posters to promote equality and equity in sport; and
  • a video “Inclusion – Where do I Stand”

The resources are designed to break down the perception that including people with a disability is too hard. Both the resources have been promoted through a range of mediums including at face to face workshops, through the ORS website and social media.

In 2015-16 the department, through the Office for Recreation and Sport provided:

  • 20 sporting scholarships to elite athletes with a disability, through the South Australian Sports Institute; these scholarships support athletes to participate in the social, cultural, recreational and sporting life of the community and to excel on the world stage
  • five SASI athletes had been selected to represent Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics
  • $185 000 to six state-sporting-organisations-for-people-with-a-disability to provide leadership, policies and services to their membership
  • funding for 30 disability-specific projects totalling $775,800 through the Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program
  • funding for one disability-specific project totalling $4 938 through the Active Club Program.