++Government of South Australia: Department for Communities and Social Inclusion ++Promoting Independence ++Breaking down the barriers Celebrating progress made by the South Australian Government to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities through the Promoting Independence strategy ++Foreword The ‘Promoting Independence: Disability Action Plans for South Australia’ strategy has enabled the State Government to lead by example in improving services and increasing opportunities for people with disabilities. Under this strategy, all State Government agencies have developed a disability action plan. These plans ensure that each agency considers issues experienced by people with disabilities when developing programs and services. It is important that these plans are reviewed regularly by each agency to ensure that progress continues to be made. The strategy has achieved successful outcomes, demonstrated, amongst other achievements, by the improved accessibility of State Government buildings, improved employment opportunities for people with disabilities and in services which are more inclusive of people with disabilities. Although we have pursued a number of successful initiatives to date, it is important that we now lift the bar even higher. A review has been undertaken into Promoting Independence, which has identified the need for a new strategy to guarantee further improvements in access and inclusion for people with disabilities. This booklet recognises a number of successful initiatives which have improved outcomes for people with disabilities since Promoting Independence commenced in 2000. This will guide further action by State Government agencies under the proposed new strategy. I thank the portfolio chief executives and Promoting Independence Reference Group members who have worked to ensure that disability inclusion principles are incorporated into State Government services and programs. This continued leadership in this vital work is essential. I also thank the members of the Minister's Disability Advisory Council, who have provided invaluable advice on strategies to meet the needs of people with disabilities in South Australia. My government recognises that people with disabilities have a lot to contribute. We will continue to pursue initiatives to enable full participation in the community for all, through access to services catered to individual needs. by Ian Hunter MLC, Minister for Disabilities, December 2011 ++Contents - Introduction from the Executive Director - Minister’s Disability Advisory Council - The six outcomes of the Promoting Independence strategy - Access to facilities and services - Inclusive information and communication - Understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities - Consultation and complaints processes - Legislative compliance - Improved employment opportunities - The past twelve months - A snapshot of key initiatives ++Introduction from the Executive Director The Promoting Independence strategy has enabled the State Government to deliver services which are progressively more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. Coordination of the Promoting Independence strategy has been led by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (formerly the Department for Families and Communities). The Department’s Disability, Ageing and Carers branch has collated annual reports from each portfolio to measure progress made in addressing the six outcomes of the strategy. This booklet is not a complete reflection of every initiative pursued by State Government portfolios to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities. Although this booklet does provide an overview of some initiatives, it should be noted that portfolios have engaged in extensive work that may not be outlined in this booklet. This booklet takes a different approach to the usual annual reports by examining some of the key initiatives pursued by State Government portfolios over the entire course of the strategy, until the end of the 2010/11 financial year. This is a suitable approach given that the Promoting Independence review has recommended the development of a new strategy. It would be ideal for portfolios to use this new strategy as an opportunity to build upon the successful initiatives pursued under Promoting Independence. I therefore encourage all portfolios to use this booklet as a guide for best practice in future work to ensure access and inclusion for people with disabilities. Thank you to the numerous people who have committed their time and efforts to ensuring that the State Government delivers accessible and inclusive services for people with disabilities. by Dr David Caudrey, Executive Director, Disability, Ageing and Carers Branch, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion ++Minister’s Disability Advisory Council Promoting Independence is not simply a government strategy. It is a South Australian expression of the Independent Living Movement, which has had a major impact internationally for over forty years. The Independent Living Movement began with Ed Roberts (1939-1995), known as ‘the father of the disability rights movement’, who advocated for self-determination, self-respect and equal opportunities. Promoting Independence embraces these aspirations as well. After ten years of Promoting Independence, no one would ever think or say, ‘we tried it and it didn’t work!’ The effort that motivated individuals and agencies have brought to this initiative has rewarded us all. The next ten years have firm foundations on which to build. Yet, we enter the next decade knowing that the work of Promoting Independence, protecting rights, of ensuring a hope-filled future for people with disability is the work of generations. Therefore, we pause to celebrate ten years before embarking on the next set of challenges. We thank the mothers and fathers of our local disability rights movement and we commit to ensuring that South Australia is a community that opens all its doors to people with disability. by Dr Lorna Hallahan, Chairperson, Minister’s Disability Advisory Council ++The six outcomes of the Promoting Independence strategy 1. Portfolios and their agencies are to ensure access to their services and facilities to people with disabilities. 2. Portfolios and their agencies ensure that 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 concerning 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 (Commonwealth) and the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA). 6. Portfolios and their agencies will ensure they can meet South Australia’s Strategic Plan target T6.22 “to double the number of people with disabilities employed in the public sector by 2014”. Please note that this target has since been revised in the latest update of South Australia’s Strategic Plan. ++Access to facilities and services Significant progress has been achieved since 2000 in delivering appropriate access to facilities and services for people with disabilities. This had led to the adaptation and development of a wide range of new services which reflect the needs of people with disabilities. ++Disability access plans TAFE SA (Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology) Students with disability attending TAFE SA can fill out a disability access plan, which ensures that individual support is provided and teachers are made aware of any special requirements. Among other benefits, disability access plans allow TAFE SA teaching staff to use equipment, training and flexible teaching methods to improve learning outcomes for people with disabilities. Disability access plans have been placed online since 2009. This has had a positive impact on the consistency of the plans and allowed support for people with disabilities to be easily transitioned across different campuses or program areas. Donna, for example, was provided support by TAFE SA Student Services to develop a disability access plan. This helped her to successfully complete the TAFEstart program and a Certificate IV in Business Administration. Donna is now employed by TAFE SA and provides assistance for students in the TAFEstart program. 'I could not have done it without the understanding and support TAFE SA provides to people with disabilities as well as other disadvantaged students,' said Donna. ++Accessible buildings and facilities Most State Government departments have pursued work to make buildings and facilities accessible for people with a range of different disabilities, such as those with mobility issues or vision impairment. This work was prioritised through a Promoting Independence initiative for departments to develop plans to improve access to their buildings and facilities. The Department for Water has, for instance, developed an accommodation plan which identifies upgrades to remove access barriers for people with disabilities. Some of the work pursued has included installing accessible toilets and shower facilities, widening corridors and doorways, introducing Braille and back-lit signage, and ensuring that light switches and benches are at an appropriate height. Also, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, through Arts SA, has constructed access ramps for two of the heritage-listed public buildings in the Migration Museum complex, including the pictured access ramp for The Chapel. Other accessibility improvements for Arts SA public buildings include extensive upgrades to the Dunstan Playhouse auditorium. Many of these modifications have the added benefit of improving accessibility for a wide range of people, not just those with disability. Based on the Age-friendly Cities work of the World Health Organisation, the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion is developing the South Australian age-friendly guidelines to improve the way we design and build accessible and inclusive communities. These guidelines include strategies to deliver age-friendly residential developments, communities, cities and regions. Communities that are age-friendly make a real difference to the independence and participation of people, regardless of age or abilities. - Appropriate and effective health care - SA Health SA Health has supported a number of initiatives to improve access to mainstream health services for people with disabilities since the Promoting Independence strategy was introduced. SA Health has established two specialised dental surgeries in the new Marion GP Plus Health Care Centre that cater for people in wheelchairs. The surgeries feature wheelchair tilting platforms that safely allow people to be reclined and receive clinical dental care whilst remaining in their wheelchair. People with disabilities often require carer support when accessing mainstream health services. Agreements between SA Health and disability service providers have enabled carer support people, who are known to the person with disability, to be funded by SA Health for the provision of personal care support during their stay in hospital. SA Health has also worked with the disability sector to identify and implement strategies which allow continuity of care for people with disabilities when accessing health services. This improves the management and coordination of health and disability services both pre-admission and after discharge from hospital. 'My biggest concern… was the fear of standing out and being treated differently because of my conditions. The attitude at the (former) Department of Planning and Local Government was empathetic to my situation and staff accepted me as an equal,' said Joe Federico, former Department of Planning and Local Government - Dreamnight@Cleland - Department of Environment and Natural Resources Dreamnight@Cleland is an annual event for children with a chronic illness or disability and their families. It is held each November at Cleland Wildlife Park, in conjunction with the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital. The program provides a much-welcome night out for families of children with a chronic illness or disability, and gives them an opportunity to interact with wildlife. Cleland Wildlife Park also offers other programs for special needs groups throughout the year, which are tailored to individual needs. - Improving access to heritage buildings Accommodating wheelchair access to heritage-listed buildings can sometimes be difficult, especially for buildings such as the Santos Museum of Economic Botany, which was constructed in 1881 and is the only museum of its type in South Australia. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has produced positive results in its refurbishment of the museum through the rearrangement of display cases and the installation of new exhibition furniture to accommodate wheelchair access. The visibility of labels was also improved through a combination of special display case lighting and appropriate label sizes. The Clock Tower Building at Glenside, the heritage-listed site for the South Australian Film Corporation at Adelaide Studios, has recently been upgraded to improve access for people with disabilities. Arts SA provided funding to enable the installation of a platform lift in addition to a hearing loop in the Screening Theatre. - Making public transport more accessible - Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (formerly the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure) Accessible public transport is an important factor in enabling people with disabilities to maintain an active presence in the community. Since the release of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport in 2002, millions of dollars have been committed in South Australia to ensuring that all forms of public transport are accessible for people with disabilities. This has resulted, for instance, in the increased availability of buses and trams with ramps for people in wheelchairs. Another initiative has commenced to upgrade a range of public transport customer information. For example, all timetables are being redesigned to use greater contrast between text and backgrounds, in addition to plain English descriptions. This will benefit people with visual impairment and intellectual disabilities. - Education for people with disabilities - Department for Education and Child Development (formerly the Department of Education and Children’s Services) The Department for Education and Child Development has pursued a number of initiatives over the course of the Promoting Independence strategy to provide tailored education for people with disabilities. A number of schools and facilities have been opened in recent years that provide specialised education services for people with disabilities. For instance, the Adelaide West Special Education Centre, which opened in 2010, provides state-of-the-art facilities for students with disability. Features of the Adelaide West Special Education Centre include high quality technology, overhead tracking systems for lifting and moving students and purpose-built sensory rooms to cater for the needs of students who experience sensory difficulties. With student-computer ratios improved in recent years, a number of assistive technologies and virtual learning environments have been expanded to allow universal access to learning for students with disabilities. In collaboration with Novita Children's Services, specialised equipment is provided to students with physical impairments in schools run by the Department. This equipment includes portable ramps, steps, hoists, low vision aids and specialist seating. - Richard Llewellyn Arts and Disability Trust - Department of the Premier and Cabinet 'The RLADT is so important for funding creative arts initiatives by disability organisations, especially with support and advice to those not already working in the arts,' said a funding recipient, 2007-08. Arts SA established the Richard Llewellyn Arts and Disability Trust (RLADT) in 2007 to support projects and initiatives developed by people with disabilities. The RLADT also supports disability arts organisations and creative collaborations, bringing together arts and disability. The RLADT is the first program of its type in Australia, and provides a positive example of how the Promoting Independence strategy has enabled improved inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. Now in its fifth year of operation, the RLADT has contributed over $1 million of funding to support projects undertaken by individual artists and organisations. One of these projects, ‘This Place’ by Nina Pearce, won the Jill Blewett Playwright’s Award in the 2010 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature. Another example of the RLADT supporting people with disability is the funding provided to artist Jungle Phillip to present his work at two exhibitions in Sydney in 2008 and 2009. The number of artists with disabilities applying for funding in South Australia has increased significantly since the RLADT commenced. To support these applications, a large print handbook with clear and simple information and a new accessible website have been developed. Individual support is also provided to people with disabilities to develop successful applications. - SA Health supported the ‘Special Smiles’ program at the Special Olympics Australia lX National Games held in Adelaide in April 2010. The SA Dental Service provided dental screening and an oral health promotion and referral program for 367 athletes. - The Department for Education and Child Development has developed a free website accessibility tool to aid learning for students and teachers with disability, and particularly those with a vision impairment. - WorkCover SA has developed a policy to deliver free interpreting and translation services to its clients, including Auslan sign interpreting and access to a teletypewriter (TTY) service. - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is improving access and facilities in South Australia’s national parks and marine parks through its People and Parks strategy. All facility upgrades and new facilities within national parks and the Adelaide Botanic Garden are now designed with access ramps, toilets with disability access, and accessible pathways. - The Legal Services Commission maintains an active role in helping people with an intellectual disability or mental health issue who have been charged with criminal offences, by providing services specific to their requirements. - The College for Learning and Development, in the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, provides a screen magnifier, audio tools and Auslan interpreting services for people with disabilities. - The Office of the Outback Communities Authority identified a lack of wheelchair access to the second floor of its new accommodation. Key facilities have therefore been relocated to the ground floor. - The Department for Education and Child Development has established systems which allow schools to have easy access to a range of disability support services. - SA Ambulance Service has a wide array of access facilities, such as ramps, amenities, wide-access doorways and lifts at its properties and ambulance stations. - The Department of the Premier and Cabinet has overseen installation of hearing loops in all regional theatres operated by Country Arts SA, in Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Adelaide Festival Centre Theatre, and in the auditorium of the Art Gallery of South Australia. ++Inclusive information and communication The Promoting Independence strategy has enabled State Government departments to pursue a range of initiatives which have improved information for, and communication with, people with disabilities. A selection of these initiatives is outlined to illustrate that these services have become progressively inclusive of people with disabilities. - Delivering accessible websites Most State Government departments have undertaken work to improve the accessibility of their websites since the Promoting Independence strategy commenced. In many cases, accessibility has been further improved by ensuring compliance against the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which set a number of detailed criteria to improve the accessibility of website content. The Government of South Australia website at www.sa.gov.au is an example of a website that meets these accessibility standards. Accessible websites provide content which can be presented in a range of formats, ensuring that content can be easily understood. Because websites will often be adapted and changed over time, audits are conducted to ensure that a high standard of accessibility is maintained. For example, each year WorkCover reviews its website and aims to meet the AAA standards of the W3C Accessibility Guidelines. - Style Guides Style guides are important tools to ensure that information provided by the State Government to the public is consistent and accessible for people with disabilities. A number of departments have developed a style guide to be used by all staff when developing publications. Expanding the use of style guides within the State Government has been a key initiative of the Promoting Independence strategy. An effective style guide should list a number of design and print tips which can make reading a document easier for someone with vision impairment. These include using sufficient colour contrast between background and text, avoiding the use of small fonts and not overlapping graphics with text. Style guides also list a comprehensive range of writing and grammatical tips to ensure that publications are written in plain English that is easy to understand. The introduction of style guides over recent years has had positive results in improving the accessibility of State Government publications for people with disabilities. - Inclusive communication State Government departments have introduced tools which support effective communication with people with disabilities. Examples include: - The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has upgraded a wide range of signage and instructional materials, making them clearly designed and labelled, and introduced accessible audio and Braille tools. - The SA Cervix Screening Program and BreastScreenSA developed resources and brochures in large print, audio and Braille to aid access for people with disabilities. - The South Australian School for Vision Impaired is a statewide service that provides Braille, audio and large print versions of publications to students upon request. - The Commissioner for Victims' Rights developed an audio recording and a Braille version of the Information for Victims of Crime booklet. This ensures that people with disability who are a victim of crime can be made aware of the legal process and how to obtain assistance. - TAFE SA developed the Guide for Students with a Disability or Medical Condition booklet in 2006 and A Guide for Staff in 2009. The student guide outlines the support available, the student’s responsibilities and how to gain further support or information. - The Department for Education and Child Development has developed the ‘Children ... come and talk’ program, which provides a culturally inclusive communication assessment process for Aboriginal children and students with disability. - The Department for Water includes a review of access and equity issues in all communication and event planning, ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are always considered. - The Department for Education and Child Development runs the Special Needs Helpline (freecall 1800 222 696) for parents and service providers seeking advice about service delivery to students with disability. - South Australia Police has fitted 23 hearing assistance systems to a number of metropolitan stations and local service area headquarter stations throughout South Australia. - SA Health provides training to all staff who write or publish website content, to ensure that accessibility standards are followed. - The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has collaborated with schools to enable students with disability to use public transport and travel with classmates on excursions. - TAFE SA has run ‘Come and Try’ days, a concept that enables school-age students with disability to attend TAFE SA for a day to find out more about TAFE. ++Understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities It is important that the State Government maintains an awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities. Significant work has therefore been undertaken since 2000 to ensure that State Government departments deliver advice and services to people with disabilities that are appropriate to their needs. - Disability awareness and communication training A key feature of the Promoting Independence strategy has been the introduction of disability awareness and communication training for public sector employees. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (formerly the Department of Primary Industries and Resources), for instance, developed two online training tools in 2008, in partnership with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Cadre Design Solutions. These tools provide training for staff to develop an awareness of disability issues and an understanding of best practice in liaising or communicating with people with disabilities. The training tools meet accessibility standards and present short videos of people with disabilities describing their experiences. Participants have the ability to demonstrate their understanding of the learning material through a series of quizzes and interactive learning activities. The program has proven very successful in promoting awareness of issues experienced by people with disabilities. It has since been introduced by other State Government departments and will continue to be adapted and expanded to keep up-to-date with new developments and best practice in communicating with people with disabilities. The Attorney-General's Department has revised the Department of Primary Industries and Regions’ training tool to include contemporary references to matters such as legislative changes and recent research. This training is mandated for all new staff in the Department as well as those with customer service responsibilities. Some departments have also developed their own disability awareness and communication programs for staff since the Promoting Independence strategy commenced in 2000, using a combination of electronic resources and seminars. South Australia Police, for instance, delivered 81 training seminars to more than 1500 staff in 2010-11, in addition to complementary online disability awareness training. - Disability: Our Stories - SA Health in partnership with Novita Children’s Services ‘Disability: Our Stories’ is an electronic learning resource for health care workers who provide support for children with disability and their families. It was developed through a partnership of SA Health and Novita Children’s Services, with funding provided by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion. This innovative resource describes best practice for health care workers in providing assistance to, and communicating with, children with disability. It assists these professionals to engage with children by adopting a family-centred approach. This uses the experience and expertise of parents and meets the needs of children with disabilities, parents and other family carers. - Training for education providers - Department for Education and Child Development Specialised training programs and workshops are provided for teachers by the Department for Education and Child Development to facilitate positive learning outcomes for students with disability. A selection of these programs is outlined below. A course on best practice in teaching students with disability or learning difficulty was undertaken by 76 staff in 2010. There are now 22 tutors who, having undertaken a five-day training course, will provide ongoing training in this area to other teachers. Induction training is provided annually to students studying teaching in South Australian universities, covering issues experienced by people with disabilities or learning difficulties. In 2010-11, a four-day training course was provided to 118 staff from metropolitan and country schools and all regional support services to increase knowledge of how to support students with autism spectrum disorder. The annual Special Education Expo, organised and run by the Department for Education and Child Development, recently attracted more than 700 participants to more than 85 workshops. Topics have included autism spectrum disorder, literacy, and oral language development. - Supporting women with disabilities - Office for Women and the Legal Services Commission The Office for Women has worked closely with the South Australian branch of Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) in relation to the ‘Don’t Cross the Line’ anti-violence campaign. As part of this campaign, funding was provided to WWDA to conduct awareness training for the public in a number of metropolitan and regional areas, in order to raise awareness of the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009 (SA). These sessions provided information and advice to women with disabilities in regard to the measures under the Act to prevent domestic and non-domestic abuse. The funding will also assist WWDA in working with young women with disabilities and women's domestic violence services to enhance service support for women with disabilities. The Legal Services Commission, through funding provided by the Office for Women, is developing a project to expand awareness of sexual assault among young people with disabilities. This will be delivered in conjunction with Tutti Ensemble, which promotes arts and cultural assistance for young people with disabilities. - Occupational health and safety for people with disabilities - WorkCover SA Following the introduction of the Promoting Independence strategy in 2000, WorkCover SA pursued a range of initiatives over the following few years, in collaboration with a disability stakeholder group, to increase awareness of health and safety issues for workers with disability. - Information sessions held for organisations which help workers with disability in the workplace. - A safe work checklist to promote workplace safety for people with disabilities. - Training products for workers with disability and for disability support workers. - Posters for people with intellectual disability to help identify hazards in the workplace. - An information card for workers with disability and their families to assist with reporting workplace injuries. WorkCover SA also partnered with the Australian Paralympic Committee in 2009-10 to run several motivational sessions featuring Australian paralympians. Attendees included injured workers, rehabilitation providers and WorkCover SA staff. 'People with disabilities (now) enjoy a level of prominence in business planning and resourcing not previously evident,' said a SA Government department representative - The Legal Services Commission maintains an active role in educating parents and carers of people with disability, particularly in regard to wills and advance directives. Seminars have also been held for a range of organisations that provide assistance for people with disabilities to help increase awareness of avenues for legal support. - The former Department of Planning and Local Government raised staff awareness about the issues faced by people living with a disability. An intranet page was identified as an effective means to provide information on best practice in supporting people living with a disability. - Staff of the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy are encouraged to use the Communicating with People who have a Disability booklet. This booklet provides information and promotes an awareness among staff of issues for people with disabilities. - The Department for Correctional Services provides training to its trainee correctional officers in best practice in managing prisoners with intellectual disabilities. - The Social Inclusion Unit has conducted research to improve the pathways of young people with disabilities to the post-school environment. This work culminated in the release of the June 2009 report Choices and Connections: The Better Pathways Service Approach for Young People with Disabilities. The report covered systemic changes at the national and state levels, and State Government funding was established for a Pathways Co-ordination Program commencing in 2009/10. - The Department of Treasury and Finance incorporates a module on the Department’s disability action plan and its key outcomes into its induction package for new employees and also seeks to improve disability awareness for staff. Existing staff who have not previously undertaken disability awareness training also undertake this program. - TAFE SA has developed an extensive program of disability awareness training for its staff over the course of the Promoting Independence strategy. This includes training in mental health first aid, training to manage challenging behaviours and training to develop an awareness of specific disabilities. - Arts SA requires all organisations that receive ongoing funding to maintain a current disability action plan. Training and support is provided to these organisations to develop and implement their plans. ++Consultation and complaints processes Providing people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the planning and evaluation of State Government service delivery has had positive results in ensuring that services are appropriately tailored to the needs of people with disabilities. Following the introduction of the Promoting Independence strategy it has become common practice for departments to consult people with disabilities on a range of initiatives. - Disability Blueprint In December 2009 the then Premier of South Australia, Hon Mike Rann MP, referred the issue of disability reform to the Social Inclusion Board. The Board was asked to develop a long-term Disability Blueprint to set the future direction for the way people with disabilities, their families and carers are supported in South Australia. The Disability Blueprint, which was tabled in Parliament on 19 October 2011 by the then Premier Mike Rann MP, provides part of the context for the proposed new Promoting Independence strategy. An extensive process of community consultation with people with disabilities, their families and carers was undertaken in support of this work by the Social Inclusion Unit. This ensured that the issues experienced by people with disabilities would inform future strategic policy development and the provision of services appropriate to their needs. Three panels were established in 2011 to provide advice to the Social Inclusion Board about the key themes that emerged from the community forums and survey responses. Each panel included people with disabilities, physical and intellectual, from metropolitan and regional South Australia. As part of the community engagement process, the Activating Citizenship discussion paper was developed to set a clear agenda for disability reform. This paper was provided in a range of accessible formats to allow people with disabilities the chance to have input. This included versions in simple English, Braille, audio, and a screen-reader compatible version. The Social Inclusion Unit liaised with people with disabilities and a number of organisations to ensure these materials and the consumer engagement process were appropriate for the needs of people with disabilities. - Consultation for disability action plans In order to deliver appropriate services to people with disabilities, it is important that State Government agencies consult people with disabilities during the development of their disability action plans. As an example, TAFE SA consulted with students with disabilities when developing its first disability action plans for each of its three institutes in 2003. This ensures that its services and programs are inclusive of these students’ needs. The disability action plans were subsequently recognised by the Australian Human Rights Commission as an impressive model. During the development of the first disability action plan for the Attorney-General's Department in 2006, 14 South Australian organisations which represent the interests of people with disabilities were consulted. This had positive results and so a similar process was undertaken during the development of the Department's second disability action plan in 2009. - Transport Accessibility Advisory Group - Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure The Promoting Independence strategy encourages State Government agencies to consult with people with disabilities in planning service delivery. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has therefore pursued opportunities to allow people with disabilities to provide input on a range of issues. The Transport Accessibility Advisory Group, for instance, provides the opportunity for people with disabilities to be consulted on the effective delivery of public transport services in South Australia. A number of peak disability bodies are invited to attend meetings, and at least one representative is always drawn from the recognised areas of disability. This has ensured that the interests of people with a range of disabilities are represented in discussions. This advisory group and other associated committees have enabled the implementation of disability parking permits and the design of accessible infrastructure, among other achievements. - An inclusive approach to policing - South Australia Police South Australia Police routinely consults with peak disability organisations when developing policies, processes and practice that may impact on people with disabilities. This helps to minimise the likelihood of services not being tailored to the individual needs of people with disabilities. South Australia Police has liaised, for instance, with individuals and peak bodies, such as Deaf Can Do, to identify areas for improvement in its customer service. Feedback received through this process indicated that specific awareness around issues for deaf people would be helpful. South Australia Police is therefore developing an additional component to its disability awareness training which specifically provides training in communicating with deaf people. This illustrates the positive effect that Promoting Independence has had in encouraging cooperation between State Government agencies and people with disabilities. - Autism-specific units - Department for Education and Child Development Two autism-specific units are being developed at mainstream public schools to meet the educational needs of students with autism/Asperger syndrome. These units will be located at Blackwood High/Blackwood Primary Schools and The Heights R-12 School. The Department for Education and Child Development consulted with a number of stakeholders to ensure that these services will be appropriately tailored to the needs of students. Parent and advocacy groups for students with disabilities, such as Autism SA, have been working collaboratively with the Department during the initial phases of planning for the two autism-specific units. The Department also has an employee seconded from Autism SA to work with Department staff to ensure that the services provided to students with autism/Asperger syndrome meet their educational needs. The autism-specific units will also make use of lessons learnt from other service models interstate. The Department for Education and Child Development visited sites in Western Australia and New South Wales to explore a range of services which cater to the learning needs of students with autism spectrum disorder. - The Department of Primary Industries and Regions consults with the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service to ensure that appropriate support is provided to people with disabilities to assist with their employment. - The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has consulted extensively with people with disabilities prior to undertaking major rail upgrades to ensure their travelling needs could continue to be met. - The Minister’s Disability Advisory Council (MDAC), which comprises people with a lived experience of disability, was established in 2007. The MDAC provides strategic advice to the Minister for Disabilities on issues relating to access and inclusion for people with disabilities across government and in the community. - South Australia Police trains and coordinates a network of 120 staff as ‘equity contact officers’, whose role is to promote an equitable workplace free from harassment, bullying and discrimination. They can also facilitate a formal grievance process where these behaviours may have occurred. - The Office for Recreation and Sport consulted the Ability Network, Minda Aquatic Centre and athletes with disability in the development of the new State Aquatic Centre to ensure that the centre was inclusive of the needs of people with disabilities. - Information on the WorkCover SA complaints process is available in Braille, electronic text, large print and audio formats. - The Department of Treasury and Finance reviews its complaints processes to ensure they remain appropriate and tailored to the needs of people with disabilities. - Families SA has led development of the resource Protecting Children and Young People with Disabilities: a booklet for parents and carers. This booklet provides clear, accessible information to parents and carers on prevention of abuse and neglect of children with disabilities. People with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities were consulted to ensure that the content and design of the booklet was accessible. ++Legislative compliance Providing people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the planning and evaluation of State Government service delivery has had positive results in ensuring that services are appropriately tailored to the needs of people with disabilities. Following the introduction of the Promoting Independence strategy it has become common practice for departments to consult people with disabilities on a range of initiatives. - Disability action plans The Promoting Independence strategy requires that each State Government agency develop a disability action plan to enable access and inclusion for people with disabilities. Disability action plans also establish compliance with legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) and the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA). Many agencies have developed strategies to help implement their disability action plan, which have often become common practice as the strategy has progressed. South Australia Police, for instance, has made its disability action plan a key component of its online disability awareness training program which all staff undertake. South Australia Police’s disability action plan is also supported by other measures such as a checklist to assist with decision making and a comprehensive quarterly audit process and reporting framework. These strategies ensure that access and inclusion issues for people with disabilities remain at the forefront of planning of services and programs across South Australia Police. A similar approach is taken by a number of other State Government agencies. SA Health maintains a particularly strong commitment to implementing its disability action plan across all of its services. This is achieved through performance agreements with each of the health regions and the SA Ambulance Service, which require them to implement the plan and report annually on progress. This ensures that the disability action plan remains a key agenda item. 'Promoting Independence provided a guide to where we want to be and how to get there,' said a SA Government department representative - Improving protection for people with disabilities - Changes to the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA) The Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA) was amended in 2009 to include new grounds for discrimination for people with disabilities. The definition of disability now extends to include people with a mental illness, intellectual disability, or those who have an infection that can cause disease. Carers of people with disabilities are also protected under the amended legislation. The number of disability-related complaints accepted by the Commissioner under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA) against State Government agencies had been trending downwards until recently. There were 12 such complaints accepted in 2005-06 and 6 in 2008-09. The recent rise in the number of complaints (to 20 in 2010-11) may be due in part to the added protection for people with disabilities included under the amended legislation. This has enabled State Government departments to identify further improvements in access and inclusion for people with a more extensive range of disabilities. Public awareness of the rights for people with disabilities has been promoted by the Equal Opportunity Commission through attendance at disability-related events, including the Disability and Ageing Expo. - On the Same Basis - Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) Standards for Education - Department for Education and Child Development In 2007, the former Department of Education and Children’s Services created a training resource for a number of its schools and offices, tertiary institutions, disability support agencies and public libraries. This resource, On the Same Basis: Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act Standards for Education, sought to increase awareness of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) in relation to education for people with disabilities. This ensures that students with disability do not experience any discrimination through limited or lack of access to services provided by educational institutions. The Standards for Education 2005 are currently under review and the Department for Education and Child Development has had input in this process. Changes to the standards will facilitate further improvement in services for students with disability. ++Improved employment opportunities The sixth outcome of the Promoting Independence strategy to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the public sector was only introduced in 2007. Significant work has been pursued however since the commencement of the strategy to enhance employment opportunities in general. This includes a range of initiatives to recruit and provide ongoing support to people with disabilities in their employment. - Disability Employment Register The Disability Employment Register has proved to be an important initiative under the Promoting Independence strategy. It supports people with disabilities who are not currently employed in the public sector to apply for positions advertised in the Government of South Australia’s Notice of Vacancies. This initiative has provided a referral service and individual support to a large number of people with disabilities who have sought employment in the public sector. The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology has contracted Disability Works Australia to manage the register. Besides referral to vacancies, other means of assistance are also provided to job-seekers through the register. These include workshops which cover strategies to assist people with disabilities to address selection criteria for State Government jobs, and individual assistance in applying for positions. - Training and employment programs - Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology A range of initiatives have been pursued by the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) to provide people with disabilities the means to develop their skills and secure employment. The South Australia Works program has provided assistance for employers and people with disabilities to develop skills and expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Since the program commenced in 2004, nearly 5000 people with disabilities have been provided support. The Abilities for All program provides tailored pathways to learning, training and work for jobseekers with disabilities. To overcome the significant barriers experienced by this group of jobseekers a unique collaboration of community, training, employment and disability services and the State Government has been developed. Abilities for All is flexible and responsive to the unique needs of people living with disability, wraps support services around the client, meets high and complex needs through a joined-up approach from program partners, and responds to gaps in services through a user-centric, holistic approach. The program has changed the lives of many previously welfare dependent, hard-to-reach learners, by engaging them on a pathway to training and employment. With a high success rate, this unique program is highly regarded in Australia and internationally. The VET to Work program provides one-on-one mentoring and case management support each year to approximately 60 students with disabilities studying in the vocational education and training sector. The program also provides students with links to disability employment services towards the end of their studies, supporting them to find and sustain employment. Andy, pictured above, has access to ongoing training through his employer, the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. This, in addition to workplace modification and the support of his colleagues, has given him the means to succeed in his job. - A supportive workplace - Department for Communities and Social Inclusion It is important that people with disabilities have a supportive workplace in order to carry out their work in an efficient manner. This support will often amount to only minor changes such as providing an adjustable workstation, which can make everyday tasks much easier for people with disabilities. The Promoting Independence strategy has helped to enable positive outcomes in this area for people with disability who are employed in the public sector. The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion provided support to Mick, pictured below, to be able to drive a government vehicle. Hand controls were installed that allowed him to drive the vehicle despite his physical disability. This allowed Mick to attend the numerous home visits, meetings and case conferences required in his role as a service coordinator. - Surveys to measure access and inclusion 'Some of it has become second nature ... It has made a difference, for example, on physical access, audits and web access,' said a SA Government department representative A number of State Government departments have surveyed staff members with disabilities and their managers to gauge the success of strategies to improve access and inclusion. In 2008, the former Department of Primary Industries and Resources conducted a survey of its staff to determine whether the work environment promoted inclusive recruitment and employment practices. Of those who responded, 77 identified that they had a disability; be it physical, intellectual, sensory or psychological. The data collected from this survey was valuable in measuring the success of initiatives pursued by the Department, such as workplace modifications. - The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion is conducting a survey of staff with disabilities and their managers. The results of this survey will assist in developing an understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and provide information about support available for both staff and their managers. The results of this anonymous survey will be used to inform the Department of any gaps in current supports for staff with disability so that suitable strategies can be considered for development. - The Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (formerly the Department of Trade and Economic Development) has produced the Employment of People with a Disability fact sheet to guide its recruiting practices. It provides comprehensive information to managers on the employment of people with disabilities. This process is supported by a partnership with Disability Works Australia, which assists people with disabilities to find vacancies within the Department. - The Department for Water is one of a number of State Government departments that refers vacancies to Disability Works Australia to help secure employment for people with disabilities. A positive outcome of this strategy is that the number of people with an identified disability who are employed by the Department for Water has remained consistent, despite the Department reducing in size overall. - The Department for Education and Child Development’s Daws Road and Prospect centres provide work-focused education for students with disability aged 15 years and over. Students attend for up to two days a week and study a range of SACE and vocational education and training subjects in small groups. This helps to embed skills in their learning that assist in the transition to the workforce. - The Legal Services Commission provides effective support to a criminal lawyer with a vision impairment it employs. This has allowed her to fully engage with clients and provide effective legal advice and representation services. - The Department of Treasury and Finance has sought to expand opportunities for employment in the Department for people with disabilities. This has been achieved by liaising with Disability Works Australia to ensure that genuine opportunities are provided for referrals from them and by ensuring that feedback is provided on the suitability of referrals. - The Department for Education and Child Development provides funding to enable over 100 school service officers and early childhood workers to complete the Certificate III in Government - Disability Stream each year. This is a competency-based program that increases the knowledge and skills of support workers in schools and preschools. - The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology encourages businesses to employ apprentices and trainees with a disability. This is achieved through targeted employer incentives and training subsidies as part of the Joint Group Training Program (JGTP), and User Choice funding. - The Department for Education and Child Development has sponsored more than 270 teachers to complete a graduate certificate in a disability-related topic since 2000. - The Department of the Premier and Cabinet provides targeted recruitment for people with disabilities through its trainee and graduate programs. Vacancies for these programs are advertised through Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services, Disability Works Australia and Disability Support Officers within universities. - SA Health offers information sessions for managers and staff as part of the yearly training calendar. The sessions focus on recruitment and selection, and promote the use of the Disability Employment Register. - The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology secured funding for 24 people with disabilities to undertake a contract of training, providing them access to vocational education and training. This was a trial involving group training organisations and disability employment agencies, and at the time was the only such trial featuring a partnership of this nature. ++The past twelve months - Education for the future - Department for Education and Child Development In the past few years the Department for Education and Child Development has begun to develop a ten-year plan that sets a vision to improve outcomes in the education of students with disabilities, in schools and preschools run by the Department. The Special Education Taskforce was established to analyse current data, trends and the impact of continuing growth in the overall numbers of students with a disability. A report on this research has been delivered to support the development of the ten-year plan. - Disability Register - Department for Communities and Social Inclusion As part of its Consumer Engagement Strategy for Disability, the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion has launched a pilot project for the South Australian Disability Register. The Disability Register provides a listing of persons who agree to be consulted on topics concerning disability. People who nominate for the South Australian Disability Register identify their interests, experience and knowledge of issues central to the lives of people living with disability (and their families). When established, members of the Disability Register will provide advice through the use of surveys, focus groups and online facilities. The Disability Register provides a resource for policy-makers to engage with the community to inform the development of disability policy. The pilot phase is expected to conclude in 2011, with a wider expansion of the program to occur through the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion in 2012. - Housing for people with disabilities - Department for Communities and Social Inclusion The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion has been allocated eight apartments for accessible housing in stage one of the Woodville West Urban Development project. These will be used to demonstrate how people with disabilities with high needs can be supported to live in their own apartment at the same or less cost than shared and supported community accommodation. This will be achieved through the use of a variety of innovative technologies to assist people with disabilities to exercise control over their lives and have full access to their local community. These include environmental controls and video conference facilities for each property. This new model of support for people with disabilities will allow people with high needs to live by themselves while retaining access to 24-hour support in a more cost effective and inclusive manner. Feedback from residents will be valuable to inform the possible future expansion of such developments. Other initiatives have been pursued since 2000 to provide accessible housing for people with disabilities. For instance, in 2003 the SA Housing Trust, now Housing SA, committed to a minimum of 75% of all new housing incorporating adaptable requirements. By 2009, over 2,750 modifications had been undertaken at an average annual cost of more than $3 million. It has been found from experience that it is impractical to anticipate all needs with a universal housing model. Housing SA has therefore adopted a flexible approach by using an adaptable model, with accessibility features embedded into all new housing projects. This expansion of adaptable housing has ensured that the needs of people with a range of disabilities can continue to be met. A positive example of adaptable housing is the development at Amos Way, in Royal Park, where 95% of homes built within the Housing SA program comply with adaptable housing design principles. These requirements are outlined in detail in the Design Criteria for Adaptable Housing guidelines developed by Housing SA. - Supporting offenders and prisoners with disabilities - Department for Correctional Services In recognition of the increasing number of offenders and prisoners with disabilities, the Department for Correctional Services has pursued significant work to provide equitable access to facilities and services under its new disability action plan. For example, the new Gawler Community Corrections Centre has been built with disability access incorporated, and the Noarlunga Community Corrections Centre has been modified for wheelchair access. In addition, an upgrade of the Port Lincoln Prison has delivered accessible and supported living areas to accommodate prisoners with special health and mobility needs. Planning is underway for the construction of a High Dependency Unit as part of the Yatala Labour Prison capital works program, which will provide effective support for prisoners with mental health issues, among other benefits. These improvements to facilities have been supported by collaboration with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to ensure that access is appropriate to the needs of people with disabilities. The Department for Correctional Services has also pursued a collaborative approach to service delivery with other agencies. This includes working with Disability Services, within the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, to identify support groups that can provide practical information and expertise for people with disabilities. - The Attorney-General’s Department has completed significant work over the past 12 months to improve access for people with disabilities to its 45 Pirie Street tenancy. For instance, accessible toilets, kitchens and utility rooms have been developed, and a number of improvements such as widened doorways and Braille and other communication tools in lifts have been introduced. - WorkCover SA’s television advertisements for the Recover Better at Work campaign included captions for the hearing impaired. - Arts SA has influenced the marked increase in Auslan interpreted performances and captioned theatre shows over recent years. For instance, an Auslan translation was provided for the performance of the hit musical Wicked, staged at the Adelaide Festival Centre. ++A snapshot of key initiatives The Promoting Independence strategy has enabled the adoption of a number of key initiatives across State Government departments, some of which are outlined below. This has resulted in services which are of a consistently high standard across government. It is anticipated that the proposed new Promoting Independence strategy will allow each State Government department the opportunity to further develop these initiatives. - Disability action plans - Disability awareness training for staff - Committing to employing people with disabilities - Disability policy statements - Complying with website accessibility standards - Accommodation master plans which identify access barriers - Style guides for publications to meet standards for access and inclusion ++Contact details The information in this publication can be provided in an alternative format or another language on request. Please contact: - Telephone: 8207 0522 - Email: odacs@dfc.sa.gov.au - Website: www.sa.gov.au/disability - Postal address: PO Box 70, Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000 - Street address: Level 4 South West, Riverside Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 - Office hours: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday - ISBN: 978-1-921649-42-4