News

25 disability groups sign joint statement to increase disability employment

11 Apr

Media Release

Vision Australia’s joint statement signed by 25 disability advocacy organisations and peak bodies has led to positive feedback from the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) who has pledged to promote and closely monitor accessibility guidelines.

The joint statement, delivered to key officials last week, details how procuring accessible information and communications technology (ICT) can help increase the disability employment rate within the Australian Public Service (APS).

It specifically urges for the Australian Standard for the procurement of accessible information and communications technology (ICT) to be enforce, promoted and monitored within the APS.

Subsequent to the joint statement being received, Vision Australia was pleased to have met with the DTA and has begun encouraging conversations about the vital need for accessible ICT in APS workplaces.

Vision Australia General Manager of Advocacy and Engagement Karen Knight explained that a large proportion of people with disability are excluded from employment opportunities in the majority of Australian workplaces often due to the absence of accessible ICT.

“While all employers should strive for accessible workplaces, public agencies and departments have an obligation to lead the way in digital inclusion,” Ms Knight said.

“We know that this simple yet effective change in procurement could see an increase in people with disability being employed in the APS.”

In March 2017, Standards Australia adopted an Australian Standard specifically designed to address the accessibility of ICT, such as office equipment. Based on a European Standard, Australia is the first country outside of Europe to adopt it.

“We are hopeful that the initial discussions with key officials will lead to substantive action and help educate procurement officers in the practical application for acquiring accessible ICT. This will, in turn, increase the diversity within public services across the country.

“Inaccessible ICT is one of the key factors contributing to the under-representation of people with disability in the APS workforce but this could change if the standard was widely promoted and closely monitored.

“While we look forward to continuing discussions with the DTA, we are mindful that the work toward equal access to employment in Australia will take both hard work and ongoing commitment from both disability groups and decision makers,” she said.

Any progress on the campaign to ensure accessible ICT is procured by all government departments and agencies will be posted on the Vision Australia website.

Ends

Notes to the Editor

The joint statement is supported by the following organisations:

  1. Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities Inc
  2. Australian Blindness Forum
  3. Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
  4. Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
  5. Blind Citizen’s Australia
  6. Disability Employment Australia
  7. Disabled People’s Organisations Australia
  8. House with No Steps
  9. Life Without Barriers
  10. Macular Disease Foundation Australia
  11. National Disability Services
  12. Queensland Braille Writing Association
  13. Regional Disability Advocacy Service
  14. Retina Australia
  15. Royal Society for the Blind
  16. Tipping Foundation
  17. Uniting Victoria Tasmania
  18. Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability
  19. VisAbility
  20. Vision Australia
  21. Vision 2020 Australia
  22. Women with Disabilities Victoria
  23. Yooralla
  24. Youth Affairs Council Victoria
  25. Youth Disability Advocacy Service

 

For further information contact:

Jamila Savoy | Vision Australia | 0403 003 238 | Jamila.savoy@visionaustralia.org

 

Key blindness and low vision figures

  • Vision Australia estimates there are 384,000 people in Australia who are blind or have low vision. Of these 37,000 (approx. 10%) are blind and 347,000 (approx. 90%) have low vision (refractive error not included)*.
  • The blind and low vision population in Australia (refractive error not included) grew by 7.6% to 384,000 (2016 population estimate) from 357,000 (2013 population data)*.
  • Vision Australia predicts there will be 564,000 blind and low vision people in Australia by 2030, based on ABS population projections (refractive error not included)*.
  • Only 5% of print material is available in accessible formats in Australia. (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions website).
  • The most common causes of blindness and low vision are age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.