DISABILITY ACTION PLANS AND YOUR CENTRE

Inclusion and Disability: Removing the Barriers in Community Legal Centres  

Why CLCs and DAPS?

Federation 53 clc- ‘best practice’ FIVE good reasons?

DAPs are a voluntary mechanism to eliminate disability discrimination!

Influence P & P!

Risk management in the event of a complaint !

Legal compliance!

CLCs that embrace a DAP are acknowledging and addressing the barriers that currently exist.

Anti discrimination laws?

CRPD – International treaty

DDA 1992 Objects of the Act (HREOC)

EOA 1995 (VEOHRC)

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities VIC 2006 – section 8

Disability is?

Under the DDA, disability is….a) – k)!

Broad definition? Why? The future?

Test yourselves under s 4 definition!

DIRECT DISCRIMINATION?

Direct discrimination is when someone treats you less favourably or proposes to treat you less favourably than someone in the same circumstances who does not have a disability

The COMPARATOR?!

INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION

Indirect discrimination happens when a person is required to comply with unreasonable conditions which have a detrimental effect upon a person because of their disability or-

- is there something you can not do, because of your disability and

- a substantial higher proportion of people without your disability probably could do it and

- is the requirement not reasonable in the circumstances?

Examples? Policies, procedures? Are you treating everyone the same?

DEFENCES?

S 11 Unjustifiable hardship

Nature of the benefit or detriment;Effect of the disability concerned;Financial circumstances and the estimated amount of expenditure;In the case of provision of services, or the making available of facilities – an action plan given to HREOC under s 64

WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF DISCRIMINATION?oEmploymentoClubs and associationsoAccess to Premises used by the publicoProvision of goods, services and facilities oEducationoCommonwealth laws and programmesoRequests for informationoAccommodation and more!

WHAT DOES THE DDA SAY ABOUT DISABILITY ACTION PLANS? EFFECTIVE PLANS?

RELEVANT SECTIONS ss 59-65 DDA

S 61 – The devising of policies and programmes to achieve the objects of the Act;A process for the communication of these policies; Review of practices with a view to identifying and eliminating disability discrimination;Setting of goals and targets, which can be measured, has priorities which are relevant and has a nominated position/person responsible.

WHAT DOES A DAP CONTAIN?

Organisation brief description – Who we are– What we do Organisation aims and objectivesA disability access policy Actions, timeframes and position/ responsibilitiesOutcomes and performance indicatorsEvaluation, monitoring and reporting A communication strategy

 

IS IT EXPENSIVE?

NOT NECESSARILY!

IN APPENDIX OF GUIDE - FUNDING SOURCES

USE dap TO LOBBY FOR FUNDS

A LIVING DOCUMENT?

ORGANISATIONAL POLICY-

INCORPORATE INTO SSPI MANUAL

WRITE INTO EMPLOYEES PD

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL?!

Actions NOT JUST words!

PUBLICISING YOUR DAP?

DO NOT PUT IT IN A DRAWER!COMMUNICATE TO STAFF;SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION;PUT ON YOUR WEBSITE;REGISTER IT AT HREOC!

EVALUATE PROGRESS, MONITOR AND REPORT!

Evaluate- goals achieved? 

Successful compliance - an inspiration to other centres! 

Audited? – a working Disability Action Plan can be used as a model of a successful centre committed to non- discrimination. 

‘Best practice’ can be a reality!

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? RESOURCING YOUR DAP?

Position descriptions

Job contracts, performance appraisal?

Buy in!

Culture of organisation

Incorporate into current, future budgets

Now?... STEPS!

Step 1 - Review current practices

Step 2 - consultation is essential!-within CLC(staff, COM, volunteers)- Outside the organisation- pwd, organisations- local govt? access workers?

Step 3 - develop policies & programmes

Possible areas for a DAP?

•Access to buildings and all of your services

•Employment and volunteering

•Communication

•Values and attitudes

ACCESS is?

Areas- physical, information and?

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Heritage buildings?

Communication barriers?

Omission? Portrayal?Plain language? Alternative formats?

ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS

Staff? Language?Ignorance?Disability awareness training?Responsibility for DAP?

CONFIDENTIALITY?

Requests for information?Confidentiality agreements?Disclosure? What does the law say?Personal information?Volunteers covered under DAP?

WHERE TO FIND $$$? ATTRACTING PWD?

Workplace modifications scheme – Job Access

Australian Employers Network on Disability

LODGE AT HREOC

Put in on your website or -

Submit electronically to disabdis@humanrights.gov.au and provide in HTML, text or word processor format if at all possible rather than only in PDF, due to access issues with PDF.

www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/action_plans/index.html

Finally…

As long or short as you want.

Approach with glee! The spirit of the DDA..

Work through it and….

Good luck!