CONTENTS
- DRAFT
DISABILITY STANDARDS FOR ACCESS TO
PREMISES
- TIME
TO RETURN TO A FULL-TIME DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION
COMMISSIONER AT HREOC
- RTA
CONFIRMS MOBILITY PARKING SCHEME PHOTOS ESSENTIAL &
PRIVATE
- ACCESSIBLE
ATM GOES ON PUBLIC TRIAL
- JOB
VACANCY: EXECUTIVE OFFICER - ACCESSIBLE
ARTS
- THE
PDCN FORUM
- ABOUT
THE PDCN BULLETIN
Welcome to Issue No: 27 of THE PDCN
BULLETIN, our topical issues newsletter and information
source for opinion formers, decision-makers and others
interested in disability sector topics. The bulletin is
produced by the Physical Disability Council of New South
Wales (PDCN). We are the peak body representing people with
physical disability across the State.
Our aim is to provide readers with
accurate, up-to-date and timely information, comment and
analysis of disability sector issues from the perspective of
people with physical disability in NSW, including children
with disability and their representatives.
1. DRAFT DISABILITY
STANDARDS FOR ACCESS TO PREMISES
PDCN Members and
representatives were among the 200-plus participants in
public information sessions about the draft DDA
Disability Standard held in Sydney on 9th February. The
Chairperson of the session went to great pains to make it
clear that we were not participating in a 'consultation
meeting', which is just as well. There were over two
hours of spoken presentations, a fifteen-minute break and
half an hour for questions.
At a meeting held on the evening of
the same Monday, the PDCN Management Committee agreed to
endorse the draft standard in principle. Our final
endorsement will depend on there being no fundamental
diminution of the access rights set out in the current
draft. We also wish to see clarification and certainty
given about these areas of concern:
- The review processes described
(very briefly) in the draft standard;
- The need for changes to the
exempted areas (which currently appear to undermine
employment rights); and
- Further work carried out on the
protocol that recommends the creation of access
panels.
We will publish the early draft of
the PDCN response soon. So watch this space.
PDCN strongly urges readers of this
bulletin to take an active interest in the development of
the draft standard. It is critically important that
people and organisations committed to the principle of
equal rights for people with disability respond to the
discussion papers associated with this draft
standard.
It was crystal clear from Monday's
information session that the Property Council of
Australia is opposed to key sections of the current draft
standard. It should surprise no one if the Council
lobbies hard to remove crucial sections of the
draft.
At yesterday's meeting the Property
Council's representative specifically mentioned their
doubts about / opposition to these areas:
- They appear to be against
requiring two-storey new buildings to have lift
access.
- They question the proposal that
refurbishment of 50% or more of a building should be
deemed exempt from the unjustifiable hardship defence
of the DDA.
- They do not support the draft
requirement to install unisex, wheelchair accessible
toilet facilities wherever there are suites of male
and female toilets that are not
accessible.
PDCN supports all of these
provisions. We must not allow these and other
improvements to be lost in the debate during the months
ahead.
We strongly urge readers to
participate in the debate. Express your opinions and make
comments about the proposals to the Australian Building
Codes Board (ABCB)
There are six documents with more
than 300 pages in total. The primary documents are
available on the Australian Building Codes Board web site
at
 www.abcb.gov.au/content/access/
In addition to the text of the
draft standard, the power point presentations and
speeches at the information sessions will be posted to
the ABCB web site.
If you want copies of the draft
Australian Standards referenced in the Premises Standard
they are available from Standards Australia. To download
free copies of the drafts, go to the Standards Australia
International website at:
www.standards.com.au/catalogue/script/Search.asp
You will then need to enter the
following 'DR' numbers in the 'Search field':
- Draft for AS 1428.1 enter -
DR04019
- Draft for AS/NZS 1428.4.1 enter
- DR04020
- Draft for AS/NZS 2890.6 enter -
DR04021
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2. TIME TO
RETURN TO A FULL-TIME DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION COMMISSIONER
AT HREOC
The term of office of the
current Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner of
HREOC ends in April 2004. PDCN believes that now is the
time for the Federal Government to return the position to
a permanent appointment with the full status of
Commissioner (i.e. no longer an "Acting" Disability
Discrimination Commissioner) within the Human Rights and
Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).
We are asking readers of the
bulletin to write to the Federal Attorney General in
support of a permanent, full-status HREOC Commissioner.
Here are some key points you might like to
note:
- There has not been a full
status Disability Discrimination Commissioner since
1997, when Elisabeth Hastings completed her term of
office.
- All of the Acting Commissioners
since then have done their best to fill the 'acting
role' but we feel that the demands of the position
require a permanent, full time
Commissioner.
- We believe it would add great
value if the next Disability Discrimination
Commissioner was an appropriately qualified individual
with direct personal experience of
disability.
- Disability discrimination still
exists in areas such as employment, education, access
to buildings, goods and services, transport and
information. HREOC has plenty to do with regard to
disability discrimination.
- More than 10 years on from the
enactment of the DDA returning to a full Commissioner
would represent a powerful symbolic act on the part of
the Federal Government.
Please support the call for a
full-status Disability Discrimination Commissioner by
writing a letter to the Federal Attorney
General.
The Hon. Philip Ruddock
MP
Attorney General
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
If you do send a letter to the
Attorney General, please send a copy to our Executive
Officer at the address below.
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3. RTA
CONFIRMS MOBILITY PARKING SCHEME PHOTOS ESSENTIAL &
PRIVATE
Photo identification on
Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) cards has been introduced
to protect the interests of legitimate users.
An integral part of the scheme is
the licence-style card, which includes a photo of the
cardholder. Photos on the MPS cards are essential to
maintaining the integrity of the scheme and, as is the
case with driver licences, having photo identification
helps guard against fraud.
Some people have raised privacy
concerns about the photos, but the cards are displayed
with the photo facing inwards, protected by the opaque
backing of the card pocket. Only the card type, expiry
date and card number are visible.
People can apply for a photo
exemption, but this is only for those who cannot
reasonably attend a registry due to a severe disability
or significant facial disfigurement. Photo exemption
applications must be made in writing with detailed
information about why it is impracticable for the
cardholder to attend a registry, with a supporting letter
from a doctor and a completed MPS application
form.
Eligibility for an MPS card does
not mean the applicant is exempt from attending a motor
registry.
Most RTA registries provide
disability access and parking spaces for people with
disabilities. If applicants have the required forms
completed along with suitable proof of identity
documents, getting an MPS card should take no more than
10 minutes.
For more information, visit
www.rta.nsw.gov.au
or contact the RTA on 13 2213.
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4. ACCESSIBLE
ATM GOES ON PUBLIC TRIAL
Hi everyone, we've received
the message below from the Commonwealth Bank.
Commonwealth Bank have commenced a
trial of a new ATM design, which provides enhanced access
to Commonwealth Bank ATMs, including for customers using
wheelchairs. The new design of the ATM surround and
signage provides enhanced frontal access to the ATM by
having a recessed knee and toe clearance zone. The design
also includes a parcel shelf, a walking stick rest, a
grab bar and an instep zone.
The ATMs are located at
- Town Hall Branch NSW, 546-548
George St, Sydney (Middle ATM)
- Stafford City Branch QLD, Shops
59-65 Stafford City Shopping Centre,
We anticipate the trial going until
the end of March 2004 when we will review all feedback we
have received prior to commencing a nationwide roll-out
of the design at selected ATM locations. We will liaise
with key disability groups to determine the most
appropriate placement for ATMs with this new
feature.
The Bank is committed to improving
equity of access to Commonwealth Bank ATMs for all our
customers and would welcome any feedback on the new
design via the email address listed below. As mentioned
above we would like to collate all feedback by 31 March
2004 to enable the design to be finalised and the
roll-out to commence.
To give feedback, send e.mails
directly to tedescco@cba.com.au
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5. JOB VACANCY
- EXECUTIVE OFFICER - ACCESSIBLE ARTS
Accessible Arts, the peak
arts and disability body in NSW, is seeking a new
Executive Officer who will be responsible for managing
the organisation and developing strategic networks and
partnerships in the area of arts and disability in
regional and metropolitan NSW.
The successful candidate will have
experience in community cultural development and a proven
track record of working with the three tiers of
government in the arts and/or health sectors.
Also essential are demonstrated
leadership, human resources and financial management
skills, experience in producing high quality proposals,
funding applications, reports, business plans &
budgets, excellent written & verbal communication
skills, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to
manage multiple projects, priorities and
deadlines.
As an equal opportunity employer
Accessible Arts encourages people with a disability to
apply. For selection criteria & position description
contact Stella Collier 02 9251 6499 or info@aarts.net.au
Applications close 5.00pm Friday
February 13 2004.
Address any further inquiries and
all applications to:
Deborah Mills
2/21 Darling Street
Balmain NSW 2041
Tel: 02-9555-2533)
Applications should be hard copies
(not email) and should address the selection
criteria.
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6. JOIN THE PDCN
FORUM
The
PDCN Forum is an email list
where people and ideas come together around issues of
concern and interest to people with physical disability
across NSW. The PDCN Forum is about people with physical
disability in NSW and how we can contribute to re-shaping
the society in which we live, making it more accessible,
more inclusive and better equipped to ensure that the
rights of people with physical disability are met.
We're not trying to re-invent the
wheel here. PDCA and OzAdvocacy provide
forums for national discussions, which we are part of.
Our Forum focuses on NSW.
The PDCN Forum is for people with
physical disability and others interested in the issues
that concern the Physical Disability Council of NSW. We
hope people will share ideas, debate issues and formulate
new strategic directions for disability policy about and
in New South Wales.
The list is managed by Dougie Herd,
PDCN Executive Officer and administered by our Project
Officer, Craig Andrews.
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ABOUT THE PDCN
BULLETIN
The PDCN BULLETIN is compiled
by Dougie Herd (PDCN Executive Officer). The views
expressed in the BULLETIN are not necessarily those of
PDCN. If you wish to comment on the BULLETIN or submit a
short article for inclusion please contact:
Dougie Herd
PDCN Executive Officer
St Helen's Community Centre, 3/184 Glebe Point Road,
Glebe NSW 2037
Email: pdcnsw@pdcnsw.org.au
Tel: (02) 9552 1606
Freecall: 1800 688 831
Fax: (02) 9552 4644
Privacy
PDCN respects the right to privacy
of all people receiving information by electronic or
other means. PDCN distributes electronic mail to list
members in such a way that no address or contact details
are obtainable by others. PDCN does not release any
information about individuals without
permission.
Previous bulletins can be
downloaded from the PDCN Web site
PDCN welcomes comments and feedback
about the bulletin. And please forward it to anyone who
would find it useful. If you would prefer not to receive
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PDC NSW Inc is
funded by the NSW Government's Ageing and Disability
Department. Views expressed by PDC NSW Inc are not
necessarily endorsed by the NSW Government.
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