Disability Rights update: October 2005
About this update | Employment | Mental health consultations | Education | Health access | Access to premises| Productivity Commission inquiry | Convention on human rights and disability | Captioning | Health access | Accessible electronic financial services || Accessible events | Recent speeches, media and meetings
Published 10 October 2005. Other recent editions: August 2005; June 2005; April 2005; March 2005; November 2004; September 2004; July 2004 . Material from older editions is incorporated in HREOC's annual reports available online.
About this update
This Update from Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski is a slightly edited version of his regular disability rights project report for meetings of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. It is published as close as possible to Commission meetings, which are generally held 6 to 8 weeks apart. Events are notified first in the What s New section of the Disability Rights home page, so check there if you want to keep fully up to date.
You can subscribe to our email list to be notified when new editions of this update are issued and when other major developments occur, by sending a blank message to join-drupdate@list.humanrights.gov.au
Your comments on any project or issue are welcome, preferably sent by e-mail. Contact us at: disabdis@humanrights.gov.au , or by mail to Disability Rights Unit, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 1042.
Employment issues
On 19 August 2005, the Inquiry released its Interim Report - 'WORK ability '. The report and summary paper can be found at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/employment_inquiry/index.htm .
The Interim Report made 28 interim recommendations. The Inquiry has called for public submissions in response to those interim recommendations and the content of the report generally. The deadline for those submissions is 30 September 2005.
Chapter 8 of the Interim Report sets out the Inquiry's 'Next Steps', namely:
- Develop a one-stop information shop (Interim Recommendations 1 and 2)
- Improve the Workplace Modifications Scheme (Interim Recommendation 10)
- Develop a model for providing ongoing support to employers and employers with disability (Interim Recommendations 16 and 17)
- Develop a model for a flexible workplace (Interim Recommendation 18)
- Develop a model for work trials (Interim Recommendation 14)
- Develop a pilot project to identify any risks associated with occupational health and safety laws, disability discrimination laws and industrial relations laws (Interim Recommendation 12)
- Research international models for increasing participation and employment (Interim Recommendation 4)
- Research international models for government procurement policies (Interim Recommendation 23)
The Inquiry is using three different methods to purse these areas:
- Consultation and input into Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) processes (1-2 above)
DEWR has been highly cooperative in the context of developing a one stop information shop. Inquiry staff will be meeting DEWR staff on 5 October to discuss these issues further.
- Convening working groups to develop models in specific aspects of the employment process (3-6 above)
The Inquiry has held the first round of working group meetings on all four topics. The working groups are currently developing ideas via email. If the groups think it necessary, there will be a second round of meetings at the end of October.
- Research to be published in Issues Papers (7-8 above)
Internal research is ongoing.
The final report of the Inquiry will summarise the outcomes of the 'Next Steps' of the Inquiry and any other feedback received in response to the Interim Report. The intention is to transmit the final report to the Attorney General in early December.
Release of the report of the consultations which we held last year jointly with the Mental Health Council of Australia and the Brain and Mind Research Institute has been postponed during discussions within government on launch arrangements. Launch by the Minister for Health is now definite with a date this month to be announced shortly.
Education
As foreshadowed in the last report the Disability Standards for Education entered into force on 18 August. In my press release the next day announcing the release of the interim report of the employment inquiry I also welcomed the commencement of these Standards.
Health access
A report on the outcomes of the meeting held earlier this year is now available through our website. The meeting with representatives from disability advocacy groups and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) focused on a current review of General Practitioner Standards and on the MBS rebate schedule and the difficulties patients with disabilities might experience getting annual medical checks and sufficient consultation time.
A number of follow-up actions were identified aimed at improving access, training and information services. I will continue to contribute to discussions on the MBS rebate schedule and encourage partnerships to develop new material aimed at improving health services access.
Access to Premises
I am hopeful that work on a revised Regulation Impact Statement of the proposed Premises Standard will be completed soon by the Australian Building Codes Board. I understand the report will be forwarded to the Attorney-General and Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources for their consideration.
I was recently asked by the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations for my views on the expected effect of the draft standard on small businesses and have made my response more widely available through our website. I continue to be concerned that the right balance is found in the standard between the existing rights of people with disabilities and appropriately target concessions that recognise genuine difficulties that small business might experience in providing full access.
The Commission participated in the first of a series of national meetings organised by the Office of an Ageing Australia on design of the built environment. This initiative aims to develop ideas on how to create a more sustainable built environment that encourages health and wellbeing for the growing ageing population. I will be following up on issues raised at this meeting to ensure opportunities presented by the Premises Standard are fully recognised as being able to significantly contribute to this project.
Convention on human rights and disability
I have had initial discussions with disability community representatives on possibilities for further consultation with the community on key issues in the further development of the draft Convention on human rights and disability.
Productivity Commission inquiry
We are working on a response to the Attorney-General's letter requesting development of guidelines in a number of areas and also requesting advice on means of implementing the Government's decision that the Commission should have the function of formal certification of codes for compliance with the DDA.
Cinema Captioning
I have been encouraged by the response to the new technology used for open captions in cinemas since its introduction in August. Ten cinemas now operate the system and discussions are taking place with several others interested in joining the program.
The new system allows for captioned new release films to be shown very close to the release date of the general film and the benefit of this is being reflected in the numbers of cinema attendances. For example, the recent release Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had over 2,200 people around the country enjoying the captioned sessions.
Accessible electronic financial services
Recent proposals by financial institutions to introduce authentication and security systems for customers using electronic banking services have raised some access questions.
Two approaches that seem to be the most frequently mentioned are:
- The use of SMS messages. When a user logs into an online service, an SMS message is sent to a preselected mobile phone. The message contains a security code that the user must retrieve from the message and enter into an edit field on the computer screen;
- The use of a Token system. Each user of the online service is provided with a small "token" that incorporates a display. Pressing a button on the token generates a special security code that can be verified by the server provided it is entered into an edit field on the login screen within a fixed period of time.
These and similar strategies present a number of potential problems for users with disabilities as both approaches rely on the user being able to see the security code, either displayed on the screen of the mobile phone or on the screen of the token.
People with intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, and those who have difficulty using a computer keyboard may also experience difficulties using such verification procedures.
I have written to the Australian Bankers' Association asking for their advice and assistance to find solutions to these possible difficulties.
Accessible events
Work has been progressing on the development of a guide to assist people organising events such as conferences and festivals to make them more accessible. This guide is being developed in partnership with the organisation Meetings Events Australia and will be completed within the next month.
Recent meetings / speeches / media
29 September: Global Access Project forum, Macquarie University, Sydney (Mr Innes)
27 Sept: Participation in 'Building the Future' National Speaker Series, Sydney (Mr Small)
21 Sept: Meetings with COTA National Seniors, Sydney (Mr Small)
15 September: Independent Education Union re standards, Sydney (Mr Innes)
14 September: Employment inquiry working group meetings, Sydney (Ms Lesnie, Ms Ricci)
13 September: ABCB Conference 'Building Australia's Future', Surfer's Paradise (Mr Innes, Mr Small)
8 September: 3rd National Conference on Human Rights and Mental Health, Parliament House Canberra
8 September: Meeting with South Korean disability delegation, Sydney (Mr Small)
7 September: Diversity Council Australia Inaugural Diversity Conference, Sydney (Mr Mason)
6 September: Employment inquiry working group meetings, Sydney (Ms Lesnie, Ms Ricci, Mr Mason)
6 September: Macarthur Disability Services Annual PSO, ATLAS & Day Services State Conference, Sydney (Mr Small)
1 September: Eastern Metropolitan Region Student Disability Conference, Melbourne
31 August: Mental Health, Social Inclusion and Citizenship Conference, Adelaide
25August: meeting Attorney-General, Sydney
16 August: Meeting of Disability Rights Information Network on Compliance, Sydney (Mr Small)
15 August: Meeting with Tourism Australia , Sydney (Mr Small)