Workshops on using the Disability Discrimination Act
During 2001 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's Disability Rights unit will be available to run a small number of workshops on effective strategies to use the Disability Discrimination Act to achieve increased access and equality for people with disabilities.
A few organisations have already taken up this invitation when it was circulated by email earlier this year. It is now being placed on the web site to ensure it is available to any organisation interested.
The workshops would be aimed at disability advocates and organisations representing people with disabilities. These are not intended as general information or training sessions on the DDA, but as practical sessions to assist in advancing priority issues for the community through DDA based strategies.
Our intention is that
- We will provide information and advice
- Interested organisations or groups will organise and auspice the event in consultation with us
- Participants will have identified several priority issues (and preferably identified these to us in advance by email) and come prepared to discuss effective strategies for applying the DDA to these issues
- We will provide funding (to a reasonable level to be discussed) for workshop expenses such as room hire, interpreters if required, and refreshments.
Why now?
- Because you asked for it: A need for a program like this was identified by people in the community who responded to our recent survey of the effectiveness of our information and communications strategies
- Because we believe more use, and more effective use, could be made of the opportunities available under the DDA by disability community organisations
- Because our new Human Rights Commissioner and Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Sev Ozdowski, puts a high priority on HREOC being in close and effective contact with the community
- Because we can: The financial savings we are making by use of the Internet as our main channel for information provision mean we have some resources available this year for more interactive communications strategies
What to do
Organisations interested in hosting such a workshop should contact us by email, at disabdis@humanrights.gov.au .
David Mason, Director, Disability Rights policy, HREOC
