Inclusion (disability) advisory panel 2023 meetings

A presentation was provided on accessible and affordable housing and the City of Sydney’s Housing For All: Local Housing Strategy. The city currently uses planning control to influence the amount of adaptable and affordable housing, as well as provides grants and land, engages in developer partnerships and undertakes advocacy.

The panel gave the following feedback and advice:

• Accessible housing should be prioritised for people with disability, and be close to public transport, accessible parking and services. The City should support people with disability to be aware of adaptable and affordable housing that meets their diverse needs. 
• There is a need to advocate to NSW Government for a more streamlined approach to home modification system that allows for improved ability to amend adaptable dwellings.
• The Dalton and Carter report (PDF 875Kb) demonstrates that additional costs for developers is not a barrier for setting minimum accessibility standards for the National Construction Code. The City should consider advocating for more than 15% platinum and minimum 100% silver standards for the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines.
• Greater assistance for people with disability to find and apply for affordable or social housing is needed, along with more Specialist Disability Accommodation in the City of Sydney area.
• Innovative housing models that support people with disability should be investigated, including co-location of individual units with concierge or support services that support independent living.

A presentation was given on the homelessness for people with disability and the City of Sydney’s Homelessness Action Plan. The City has an active homelessness team that proactively supports people sleeping rough to find and keep housing; and advocates for greater supports, funding and housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The Panel gave the following feedback and advice:

• People with disability experiencing homelessness is increasing.
• Greater awareness of homelessness services and supports available for people with disability are needed; including for the ‘hidden homeless’ for example those couch surfing.
• More disability and mental health awareness and inclusion training could benefit those working with people experiencing homelessness in the City of Sydney area.
• Avoiding criminalisation is important, with a greater need for post-release supports.
• The PACER program with mental health service supports embedded with Police has assisted those in crisis experiencing a mental health emergency.
• There is a service gap that exists for non-residents with a greater number of migrants and international students experiencing homelessness in the City of Sydney area.
• There is an opportunity to advocate strongly for change with the new Homes NSW looking at housing reform.
• City of Sydney’s Homelessness Action Plan will be reviewed in 2024 once the NSW and Federal Government have released their new homelessness and housing plans.

A presentation was provided on the mindDog assistance dog program. This program is available to pensioners with disability free of charge to provide accredited training for the owner and dog team in 2023-24.

The City of Sydney’s draft resilience strategy was presented and feedback was requested to understand the panel’s experiences responding to and recovering from shocks and stresses. The panel gave the following feedback and advice:

• Emergencies can be especially challenging for people with disability, and it is important to pre-plan and prepare where possible. Disability inclusive disaster risk reduction was suggested as a means for the City of Sydney to collaborate with people with disability to increase disaster resilience.
• The City of Sydney can learn from the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 to enhance disaster preparedness and improve response and recovery.
• Information and communication should be accessible and provided in alternative formats for people with disability, with further consideration given to when there is no access to power or the internet.

The panel shared its experiences using public transport in the city, including barriers faced and possible solutions, to enhance accessibility and remove discrimination from public transport. The panel highlighted the need for:

• Access to information in alternative formats and real-time availability.
• Personal assistance from trained and supportive staff.
• Signs and wayfinding at transport stops, stations and terminals, and in the public domain.
• Accessibility provisions on public transport need to be readily available, in working order and with staff that are trained and willing to assist.
• The compliance date of 31 December 2032 for trains and trams is insufficient and should be prioritised.
• Wheelchair accessible taxis and taxi ranks, as well as accessible drop-off and pick-up points in the city should be included in the reform of the transport standards.
• The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 has improved access and inclusion, and helped to remove discrimination from public transport, but there is still a long way to go. One in 6 people aged 15 years and over with disability have difficulty using public transport (PDF 10,281 KB).

The panel’s feedback will be reflected in the City of Sydney’s submission on the Review of Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport in June 2023.

People with Disability Australia gave a presentation to the panel on the social versus medical model of disability.

The panel provided the following input and feedback for the update of the City’s Accessible and Inclusive Event Guidelines:

• Access and inclusion at events should be at the forefront of event planning and not considered as an afterthought. It should be considered an essential component of events and best practice sought in access and inclusion through implementation of the Guidelines.
• Where possible, the City should use its influence to ensure the Guidelines are implemented.
• In addition to updating the Australian Standards and providing guidance for online events, testimony and case studies should be added to give examples of lived experience.
• Information for pre-planning to attend events is key for people with disability and should be made available via event websites prior to the event along with a person to phone and email.
• Having disability aware staff at events can assist with help and support, and accessibility enables people with disability to attend and participate in inclusive events.

The Panel discussed issues faced by people with invisible disabilities, providing the following feedback:

• If people cannot visibly see your disability, people may ignore it, disbelieve it, or react negatively towards a person with lived experience.
• Greater understand and acceptance of all disabilities (including non-visible disabilities) requires utilising regular opportunities to share lived experience and educate the community to ‘normalise’ disability.
• People should not make assumptions, and should openly ask the question: Do you have any access requirements? What are they? How can I help you?

The Panel discussed priorities for 2023 meetings, including: Reviewing and embedding the ‘Social Model’ of disability and the use of enabling language; accessible and affordable housing; reviewing Council’s Inclusion (Disability) Action Plan and the 4 priority areas; and educating businesses to improve access and inclusion.

A presentation was provided on creating meaningful employment of people with disability by People and Culture. The City is currently accredited as a Disability Confident Recruiter by the Australian Network on Disability and endeavours to undertake flexible and supportive recruitment processes. The Panel gave the following feedback and advice:

• The Australian Public Service RecruitAbility scheme is best practice in recruiting and retaining people with disability. The City should continue to replicate the scheme to increase opportunities to recruit more people with disability and a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer at the City could provide ongoing support to help retain and support people with disability.
• Diversity and inclusion are embedded within the City’s culture and values and a range of training opportunities are provided to staff throughout the organisation to enhance disability awareness and inclusion. Additional specialised training to improve access and inclusion, along with a focus on leadership and development would enhance opportunities for people with disability at the City.
• Further suggestions were made to recruit and retain people with disability, positively change attitudes and build skills and knowledge about disability, as well as develop confidence and trust with staff with disability to increase the number of people choosing to identify.
• The City can take a leadership role with local businesses to improve access and inclusion and promote the benefits of employment of people with disability.

A presentation was given on the City’s Draft Walking Strategy and its aim to create a city for walking (including people using wheelchairs or mobility devices). The Panel gave the following feedback and advice:

• The unique needs of people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities needs to be carefully considered when creating infrastructure that enables people with disability to walk, for example, adequate rest stops and seating, drop-off and pick-up areas, accessible toilets, lighting for safety and accessible wayfinding.
• The Principles of Universal Design should be considered and applied in the Public Domain to enhance ‘walkability’.
• People with disability could be a part of an external reference group to guide implementation of the Strategy.
• A sense of destination with activations and installations would increase people wanting to walk and experience neighbourhoods, for example, George Street and Barangaroo are inviting for people walking. Social stories about walking through neighbourhoods could be created to support this and encourage more people with disability to walk.

A presentation was given on the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and the panel was invited to share ideas on ways to celebrate IDPwD in 2023. Suggestions included:

• Showcasing in the leadup to the day this year a film created in 2022 for International Day of People with Disability that shares the lived experience of five people with disability.
• Providing an experiential opportunity to create greater awareness of disability, for example, blindness or low vision, d/Deaf or hard of hearing, using a wheelchair, etc.
• Promoting businesses to be more accessible and inclusive. 
• Hosting a Film Festival that showcased the worst and best portrayals of disability over time.
• An inclusive Talent Show or creative/cultural art exhibition or performance that provides an opportunity for people with disability to showcase talents and celebrate together.