Research and resources

Access audits help you determine if your premises are fully accessible and comply with disability discrimination legislation.

Association of Consultants in Access, Australia Inc (ACAA)

The ACAA can provide advice on access issues and their site includes a directory of accredited access consultants.

Australian Building Codes Board

The Australian Building Codes Board produces the Building Code of Australia which references the Australian Standards (see below). This is the official document to be used when designing premises.

Standards Australia

Standards Australia produce the Australian Standards which detail technical specifications that need to be considered when designing premises. The standards are published by SAI Global.

Disability Services Commissioner

The Disability Services Commissioner can provide people with a disability with information about the legislation and the Commissioner's independent and accessible complaints process.

 

The good, the bad and the ugly - Design and construction for access

This publication is full of photos which provide visual examples of good and bad practice when designing features including hand rails, steps and reception areas.

Access to buildings and services: Guidelines and information

This is a web-based checklist for service providers to see how accessible their premises are for people with a disability, including guidelines on providing accessible car parking spots.

The Disability Discrimination Legal Service (DDLS)

The Disability Discrimination Legal Service Inc (DDLS) is a state-wide independent community legal centre that specializes in disability discrimination legal matters.

Australian Human Rights Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission has a Disability Rights Unit. They undertake a wide range of activities to assist individuals and organisations to understand their rights and responsibilities.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC)

VEOHRC provide education about equality of opportunity and human rights. They also conduct research and provide legal and policy advice.

Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service

Villamanta is a free state-wide community legal service that works on disability related legal issues, with a particular focus on the rights of people who have an intellectual disability.

The Human Rights Law Resource Centre (HRLRC)

The HRLRC aims to support and enhance the capacity of the legal profession, judiciary, government and community sector to develop Australian law and policy consistently with international human rights standards.

Database of disability consultants (staff training)

This database contains a list of consultants who provide Disability Awareness training.

Disability awareness (JobAccess)

This section of the Federal Government's JobAccess website provides a list of Disability Awareness trainers and a range of online resources and fact sheets focusing on Disability Awareness.

Talk - a film by the former Disability Rights Commision (UK)

This film portrays a society where people without a disability are a minority and people with a disability live full and active lives. It is one of several films produced by the Disability Rights Commission available to download at this site.

Beyond Expectations

TAFE NSW has produced this DVD. It provides case studies of people with various disabilities and their experiences within the workforce. Extracts from the DVD can be viewed at this website.

A way with words

This document explains the importance of using the appropriate language when portraying or speaking with people with a disability. It also contains a list of words to avoid and suggests alternatives.

Inclusive consultation and communication resource list (PDF 588kB)

Inclusive consultation and communication resource list (Word 194kB)

This resource list includes the details of a range of organisations which can provide assistance with inclusive consultation and communication (some of whom are included on this page). It also includes resources on producing information in an accessible way for people with a disability.

Accessible events - a guide for organisers (PDF 120kB)

Accessible events - a guide for organisers (Word 126kB)

This guide was developed by the Meetings and Events Industry of Australia in collaboration with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. It is designed to help those responsible for organising events to ensure they are accessible for people with a disability - whether they are presenters, sponsors or participants.

Effective Engagement - Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)

This site provides an overview of engagement, including toolkits to develop an effective engagement plan, case studies and details of an effective engagement training package run by DSE.

Inclusive consultation and communication with people with a disability (PDF 1.4MB)

Inclusive consultation and communication with people with a disability (Word 81kB)

This guide contains information on face-to-face and written communication, including with people from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities who have a disability.

Developing an inclusive communication policy (PDF 97kB)

Developing an inclusive communication policy (Word 837kB)

This fact sheet provides guidance on developing an inclusive communication policy. It is to be used in conjunction with the guide ‘Inclusive consultation and communication with people with a disability’.

Participation and partnership guide (PDF 806kB)

Participation and partnership guide (Word 86kB)

This guide provides advice on the types of groups you can consult with, as well as general good practice guidance around accessible consultations and events.

Accessible consultations checklist (PDF 537kB)

Accessible consultations checklist (Word 70kB)

This checklist can help you quickly and easily assess whether or not your venue, the type of forum you are holding and its format are inclusive of people with a range of different disabilities.

Accessible written communication checklist (PDF 533kB)

Accessible written communication checklist (Word 52kB)

You can use this checklist to quickly and easily assess whether your written information is accessible to people with a range of disabilities.

Advice and equipment

Better Hearing Australia

Better Hearing Australia hire out hearing augmentation systems to support people with a hearing impairment to access meetings and events. They also provide hearing impairment awareness training.

Word of Mouth Technology Pty Ltd

You can contact Word of Mouth Technology for the purchase of Teletypewriters (TTY) and hearing augmentation systems.

Captions

Red Bee Media Australia

Red Bee Media Australia can provide support with captioning videos.

The Captioning Studio

The Captioning Studio can provide remote live captioning of conferences, meetings, lectures and other events, as well as captioning of DVDs, videos and internet media, and transcription of audio and video.

Interpreters and notetakers

Auslan Services

Auslan Services provide support with booking Australian Sign Language (Auslan) interpreters and notetakers and also run Deaf Awareness training sessions.

Echo Interpreting

Echo Interpreting provide support with booking Auslan interpreters and notetakers.

Gippsland Auslan Interpreting Service

Gippsland Auslan Interpreting Service provide support with booking Auslan interpreters.

Voice: (03) 5136 5277
SMS: 0428 300 935
Fax: (03) 5136 5450
TTY: (03) 5133 6517
Email: auslan@lchs.com.au

Vic Deaf - Auslan Booking System

Vic Deaf provide support with booking Auslan interpreters and notetakers.

Telephone relay services

National Relay Service (NRS)

NRS is an Australia-wide telephone access service that relay calls. People with speech and hearing impairment can contact anyone through the NRS, using a Teletypewriter (TTY) or a computer with a modem.

Adobe Accessibility Resource Centre

The Adobe Accessibility Resource Centre contains a range of resources. These include online tutorials and a guide for creating accessible PDF documents, spreadsheets and images.

Red Bee Media Australia

Red Bee Media Australia provides support with audio description on film clips.

Blind Citizens Australia

Blind Citizens Australia can provide advice and assistance in preparing material for people with a vision impairment.

Vision Australia Radio (formerly 3PH)

Vision Australia Radio is a network of community radio stations that provide news, information and entertainment for people who are unable to read the standard printed word.

Vision Australia

Vision Australia can provide information in large print, Braille and audio formats. They also provide an audio description service for film clips.

Communication Aids Users Society Inc (CAUS) - Communication Rights Australia

CAUS can provide support with producing information for and setting up consultations with people with communication or speech difficulties. This includes producing materials in Easy English.

Communication Resource Centre (CRC) - A service of Scope

The Communication Resource Centre has an Accessible Information Unit which specialises in Easy English, plain language and other accessible written information. The Unit is also experienced in training, consultancy, peer support and partnering with organisations and businesses to provide written information in accessible formats.

ComTEC

ComTEC offers services throughout Victoria to people of all ages with a disability who have communication and technology needs. The ComTEC team consists of speech pathologists and occupational therapists, with expertise in communication and technology for people with a disability.

Website Accessibility – Factsheets for the Victorian Government

A series of factsheets covering the following website accessibility topics:

• PDFs and accessibility factsheet (Word 60kB)
• Videos and accessibility factsheet (Word 66kB)
• Flash and accessibility factsheet (Word 68kB)
• JavaScript and accessibility factsheet (Word 66kB)
• Web 2.0 factsheet (Word 60kB)
• WCAG 2.0 factsheet (Word 60kB)

Two checklists were developed along with the factsheets:

• Web Developers Checklist (Word 110kB)
• Web Managers Checklist (Word 110kB)

Website Accessibility Resources (Word 63kB) and a full print version of the Website Accessibility – Factsheets for the Victorian Government (PDF 566kB) are also available.

The W3C Accessibility Initiative

W3C oversee international standards on design. This page provides a range of resources about designing accessible sites. Their Australia W3C Accessibility Initiative Office also has a site.

Are people with disability at risk at work? A review of the evidence

This publication is produced by Safe Work Australia’s (formerly the Australian Safety and Compensation Council) and provides an overview of the situation regarding people with a disability in employment.

Australian Network on Disability

The Australian Network on Disability is a not for profit organisation funded by its members to take a leadership role in advancing the equitable inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of business.

Business benefits

This section of the JobAccess website explains the business benefits of employing people with a disability. It includes examples of success stories and videos covering issues such as low absenteeism and compensation costs.

Ace National Network Inc

Ace National Network Inc is the peak body for Australia’s Disability Employment Network (DEN). DEN members are specialists in finding employment for people with a disability.

Disability Works Australia

Disability Works Australia (DWA) facilitate the provision of employment for people with a disability by providing employers with access to a single, free, effective contact point for recruiting people with disabilities. DWA provide advice on employer benefits such as the "Wage Subsidies" scheme.

The recruitment process

This section of the JobAccess website contains advice on designing job descriptions and interviewing people with a disability.

Willing and Able Mentoring Program

The Willing and Able Mentoring (WAM) Program matches job seekers or tertiary students who have a disability with Mentors in leading organisations in the job seekers/students' field of interest. The WAM site includes examples of the organisations who have taken part in the scheme.

Essential elements of an effective reasonable adjustment policy

This list can be located on the Australian Employers Network on Disability’s website.

Workplace modifications and adjustments

This section of the JobAccess website contains information about the "Workplace Modifications Scheme", a "Workplace Adjustment Tool" and a series of case studies and success stories.

Occupational health and safety

This section of the JobAccess website provides an overview of your OHS responsibilities as an employer and sources of support. It includes specific information about modifying evacuation procedures for people with a disability.

Disclosing Disability in Employment Guidelines

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has produced guidelines about disclosing disability for employers and for people with a disability. These guidelines provide guidance about legal requirements and good practice around disclosure when related to recruitment and selection, as well as a selection of case studies.

Disclosure of disability and privacy

This section of the JobAccess website provides information about the legal requirements under discrimination and privacy law regarding disclosure, and when you can and cannot ask questions about someone's disability or illness.