August 2009 Volume 2, Issue 2
In this issue ....
Update from Chairperson - Graham Douglas-Meyer
Seize the Moment, Make it Work
FEATURE ARTICLE
Broken, not just broke!
AFDO’s response to the Shut Out report
IN DEPTH
AFDO Policy and Campaign Update/s
Disability Rights Monitoring Project - David Webb
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) includes strict obligations for ensuring the effective monitoring of its implementation. These obligations need to be integrated into Australia’s National Disability Strategy (NDS) due to be released mid-2010.
Access to Premises
On June 15th 2009 the Access All Areas report from the House of Representatives Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee was tabled in Parliament. This report summarised views from the consultations on the draft Access to Premises Standard, and made recommendations to move forward.
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.
National Disability Insurance Scheme - NDIS
The call for a National Disability Insurance Scheme is gaining momentum.
Conference
The AFDO conference papers are now out.
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.
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).
The National Communication Guidelines Working Group (WG) - Dean Barton-Smith
This group's 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.
What have our members been doing?
AFDO members are from a diverse range of backgrounds, and cover many different issues relevant to the disability community. This new section of the AFDO newsletter is designed to keep you up to date on one or two key activities of each member organisation.