On the one-year anniversary of the ACT Disability Strategy, the ACT Government is reinforcing our commitment to fostering a more inclusive city for people with disability.
The development of the 10-year Strategy and associated action plans set a high bar as an example of extensive community-led co-design approaches with people with disability, advocates, carers and service providers.
The Government has committed more than $5.5 million to support delivering on the Strategy's priorities to continue removing barriers and enhancing accessibility for people with disability in the ACT.
Key achievements in the first year of the Strategy and First Action Plan include:
- Increasing funding for Disability Inclusion Grants and launching the new Supporting and Strengthening LGBTIQA+ Communities grant program to support community-led peer support initiatives for LGBTQI+ people with disabilities.
- The transition of International Day for people with Disability (I-Day) to community control to ensure celebrations of this important day are led by the disability community.
- The Our Canberra newsletter is now available in Easy English.
- Supporting all Canberrans to enjoy major festivals and events with more accessible change facilities at these events.
- Providing access to new sexual violence prevention training programs for ACT disability sector workers and Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence sector workers to support individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities.
The Government acknowledges there is still more to do to ensure Canberrans living with a disability have full and equal participation in all aspects of community life.
Key focus of the work ahead includes:
- Hosting a Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning Forum for people with disability to enhance safety during disasters.
- Investigating options to deliver a self-advocacy program to help people with disabilities understand and assert their human rights.
- Progressing a supported work experience pilot program for ACT students with disabilities to receive customised student-centred work experience.
- Providing ongoing opportunities for community participation through the YourSay Panel platform and increased funding for I-Day Grants.
The progression of this important work will continue to be guided and informed by the experiences of people with disability and the broader ACT Disability Community.
Quote attributable to Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services Suzanne Orr:
"Today marks an important milestone in our journey to ensuring Canberra is as inclusive as it can be and a place where people with disability can fully and easily participate in all aspects of our community.
"I would like to thank everyone who has shared their time, expertise and experience in the last year to ensure the needs of people with disability are heard and we are making the change that is needed.
"Making our city truly inclusive won't happen straight away and I look forward to working with the community as we continue to build on our work to date."
Quote attributable to Renée Heaton, Chair of Disability Reference Group:
"It has been 12 months since the ACT Disability Strategy was launched and with so much reform yet to come the DRG are pleased that the Strategy and first action plan is delivering for Canberrans with disability now.
"The actions delivered to date cross directorates and interlink to make sure that however a person with disability wants to live their life, they can.
"For example, if they want to go out to the multicultural festival, they can knowing there's an accessible changing places bathroom available.
"People with disability deserve to have great lives so we look forward to the ACT Government continuing to deliver on the First Action Plan and showing the rest of Australia how it's done."
