Update from Chairperson - Graham Douglas-Meyer

Seize the Moment, Make it Work

Rare news at the end of last month with Australia agreeing to accede to the optional protocol attached to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Rare, because in the past Australia has been loath to make itself vulnerable to the level of scrutiny that this can bring

This will mean that any Australian can bring a complaint regarding their life with disability in this country directly to the United Nations if all previous avenue in Australia have been exhausted.

This is a wonderful action to be taken by any government. However, the stated resolve by the government to better the lives of PWD has yet to be tested and governments in Australia, no matter their political colour have been quite willing to ignore the decisions of the United Nations when and if it does not suit its purpose.

We must ensure that the numerous committees and investigations that have been or are still being conducted actually follow through on the recommendations of those committees; not allowing them to simply become talkfests.

To this end AFDO’s role in the preparation of the Shadow report will provide a vital tool for the Australian government to make the lives of people living with disabilities much more in line with their able-bodied counterparts.

People with Disabilities Australia, Queensland Advocacy inc. and the Disability Legal Centre NSW have established a project to produce a Shadow report and AFDO has been welcomed as a member of that reference group. Through this collaborative effort the possibility of getting it right in the shortest time possible is increased. I look forward to the outcomes of this project.

Other groups are, I’m sure, preparing their own version or aspect of shadow reporting to government and as is always inevitable with human beings similar ideas and approaches will produce similar results and even duplication.

Facing our critics

For some, it would appear that this duplication is a point of criticism. However, in my mind this only serves to reinforce an idea or concept driving the idea home clearly, especially in the minds of funding bodies.

Unity of thought and purpose will cause government to sit up and listen. While they have groups criticising and undermining each other, no matter how unintentionally, government agencies have an excuse to hold back.

Unity doesn’t mean unthinkingly following one thought only. Disagreements will always happen. But when it comes to outside the sector a unified face will appear much stronger and more determined. If differences occur they are better discussed and aired than left to fester. This has been clearly exampled by the split in the Liberal party nationally.

If any member organisation has an issue with what AFDO is or is not doing we need to know about it; we need to hear from you. Waiting for a member meeting is not going to do it.

Communicate with the office and allow us to find out if it is a common problem or not. We are here to work with all of our members. But, if there is no communication we don’t know if there is something we need to change. We look forward to hearing from you.

Update from External Representatives

As a peak body AFDO gets asked from time to time to nominate a representative for reference groups and advisory committees. Our process for this is to ask our members to nominate someone who has the particular knowledge required and who can represent people with disability from a cross disability perspective.

We are currently updating our external representation policy and procedures as well as developing a useful reporting back mechanism. As part of this a regular information item will appear in this newsletter.

National Disability Insurance Scheme - NDIS

The call for a National Disability Insurance Scheme is gaining momentum. Since the beginning of this year AFDO has been involved in an alliance with National Disability Services and Carers Australia to promote the concept. Basically an NDIS is similar to a Medicare type levy allowing funds specifically targeted for supports for people with disability to be raised through the taxation system. This will ensure to a much greater extent than at present the proper funding of supports. An NDIS webpage at www.ndis.org.au has been established which enables people to join in the campaign.

Of course the proper funding of supports is only one part of the picture. Other areas are an accessible environment including removing discriminatory practices as well as how supports are delivered. AFDO is addressing both these areas through our work by calling for the introduction of a Disability Inclusion Allowance and advocating for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. More information about the Disability Inclusion Allowance can be found at www.afdo.org.au/node/283

Conference
The AFDO conference papers are now out. They are an invaluable resource for people wanting to know current thinking from an Australian perspective on the implementation of the UNCRPD. To view go to www.afdo.org.au/conference

Self Advocacy Project
AFDO in conjunction with one of our member organisations the Victorian Disability Resources Centre is undertaking a project to assist the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in conferences and meetings. The project specifically looks at what supports and strategies are useful and will develop a resource kit to promote these. The project started with a group of self advocates coming together to form a reference group. The group came up with a number of ideas which were tried out at the AFDO conference held in May. The next step is to now put the lessons learned at the conference as well as other information into the kit and then to distribute it. A self advocate, Janice Slattery, and a support worker will be employed to do this. The project has been funded by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.

Telecommunications – Frank Nowlan
The most important event in telecommunications over the past few months from a disability perspective has undoubtedly been the commencement of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). ACCAN has taken over TEDICORE’s role of disability representation and Gunela Astbrink, formerly TEDICORE’s National Co-ordinator, has now taken up the position of ACCAN’s Manager for Disability policy and research.

ACCAN is holding a meeting on August 31st, attended largely by former TEDICORE members, to discuss its draft strategic plan. The meeting will have a particular focus on issues around the selection and operation of its disability advisory group.

ACCAN held a roundtable on August 26 in Melbourne attended by 25 invited participants. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss a range of issues and how ACCAN might best engage with them. These issues included consumer complaints, contracts and bundling, and protecting vulnerable consumers. I took the opportunity to refer to the Memorandum of Understanding between AFDO and ACCAN to emphasize the important role AFDO could and should play in ACCAN’s ongoing work in the area of disability advocacy on telecommunications issues. Those attending the roundtable included people from a range of organizations including some not directly related to the telecommunications industry such as the Victorian Energy and Water Ombudsman. ACCAN’s CEO Alan Asher stressed ACCAN’s commitment to do whatever was necessary to adequately protect the rights and interests of vulnerable consumers including those with a disability and seemed receptive to ideas as to how this might best be done.

Gunela Astbrink recently demonstrated a technology known as “real-time text” (RTT) at Parliament House Canberra, to an audience of interested politicians. RTT is a technique which facilitates communication by members of the deaf community. The demonstration was well received and generated considerable interest.

The National Communication Guidelines Working Group (WG) - Dean Barton-Smith
This groups focus is on emergency management including counter terrorism and they held their first meeting on 6 August 2009 at the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations office.

The meeting was attended by representatives from:

• Fire and Emergency Service Authority (Western Australia)
• Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (Dean Barton-Smith)
• Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
• Department of Justice (Victoria)
• Attorney-General’s Department
• Australian Communication Exchange

The main purpose of this meeting was to scope the work and identify key areas of focus.

The National Working Group was provided a background briefing on the Review into Government Communications During a Crisis and the National Forum on Emergency Warnings to the Community (NFEWC) activities which initially identified the lack of detailed consideration of the specific needs of PWD in all areas of emergency management, but communication in particular.

The group revisited the outcomes of February 2009 meeting of the NFEWC when it was proposed that a working group be established to develop a model that embraces inclusion and accessibility in the provision of, but not limited to, emergency services, warning systems and media information. Recognising that there is minimal information available on the diverse communication needs of PWD the NFEWC agreed to establish a sub-working group to progress and develop the guidelines.

In the development stage of the National Communication Guidelines the working group (WG) agreed that evidence based research was essential. The WG looked at numerous publications on emergency management and counter terrorism for ideas and possible content (including best practice models) both at national and international levels.

In terms of Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, the WG agreed that submissions to and recommendations from the Interim Report should be considered in the development and implementation of the Communication Guidelines.

The meeting then discussed the broad objectives for the content of the Communication Guidelines and agreed that they should:

• aim to enhance the delivery of public information and emergency warnings to PWD,
• inform the national security (emergency management and counter terrorism) community of communication needs of PWD,
• incorporate the comprehensive emergency management principles (Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery ) and integrated emergency management arrangements at national, state/territory and local government levels,
• apply to all hazards,
• aim to build closer partnerships, and
• aim to build community resilience.

To ensure that the National Communication Guidelines are coherent with national strategies, the WG decided that they should be underpinned by, but not limited to:

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, National Disability Agreement,
• National Disability Strategy (currently under development), and
• Disability Discrimination Act.

  The guidelines will also need to be consistent with:

• Social Inclusion Principles for Australia,
• National Principles for Disaster Recovery,
• National Security Statement,
• National Counter-Terrorism Committee Guidelines on National Security Public Information,
• National Guidelines for the Request and Broadcast of Emergency Warnings,
• Emergency Warnings - Choosing Your Words, and
• Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Emergency Management endorsed Emergency Warning System Framework National Principles.

To raise awareness on the development of the National Communication Guidelines, the WG group agreed that both the Attorney General Department and Australian Federation of Disability Organisations will work in tandem to inform and engage appropriate committees and Federal Ministers.

Timeframe

It was deemed appropriate to wait for the release Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report on 17 August before setting timelines for the National Communication Guidelines. The Interim Report may provide guidance, and set priorities, the development and implementation of the guidelines.

Consultation

The consultation process will involve relevant government Departments and Agencies and non-government organisations however, the NFEWC was agreed as the most appropriate platform to commence the consultation process. A draft copy of the National Communication Guidelines will be forwarded to the NFEWC broad membership and networks for comment. The same will be distributed AFDO’s membership base and relevant peak disability organisations across Australia.

Lastly, the Attorney-General’s Department will cover the associated costs with the development the National Communication Guidelines.

Further updates will be made available when they come to hand. It would be appreciated that when a draft guideline is distributed that each organisation carefully review the draft guideline and provide critical feedback where necessary.