The New South Wales Government has launched a new strategy that it promises will deliver a different perspective on disability and accessibility issues.

 

The National Disability Strategy NSW Implementation Plan 2012-14 commits all arms of the State Government to shift the structural and attitudinal barriers which impact on the lives of those people with a disability.

 

The release of the plan marks the first whole-of-government disability  for the state and was produced in conjunction with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

 

There are 1.3 million people in NSW with disability, of whom 420,000 have a severe or profound disability that affects their ability to communicate, get around and care for themselves.

 

Six National Disability Strategy outcome areas have been identified in the plan which require a whole-of-government, whole of life approach to disability planning and service delivery and over 130 actions will be taken.

 

The National Disability Strategy NSW Implementation Plan outcomes areas are:

  • Inclusive and accessible communities - transport, housing, buildings, websites
  • Rights protection, justice and legislation – address criminal justice issues, improve access to complaints handling, support people with disability to stand for local government elections in 2016, maximise people’s autonomy through supported decision making
  • Economic security and employment - provide incentives to employ people with disability, create pathways for school leavers and volunteering opportunities
  • Access to personal and community support – through self directed supports and individualised funding, assistive technology, housing for Aboriginal people with mental illness
  • Learning and skills development - early childhood education, improve options to develop skills through community participation, life choices and active ageing
  • Health and wellbeing – improve access to health services, prevention and screening programs

 

The plan can be found here