Have Your Say on Draft Disability Action Plan

Have Your Say on Draft Disability Action Plan

Published on 27 November 2018

Baw Baw Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the draft Disability Action Plan that will guide the Council’s work to improve access and inclusion for people with a disability over the next four years.

The draft Disability Action Plan (DAP) is a strategic framework that will guide the Council’s delivery of priority actions relating to disability access between 2018 and 2022.

Aligned with the Disability Act 2006, the DAP aims to implement actions to address structural, attitudinal and cultural barriers people with a disability experience when participating in community life. It also aims to promote inclusion and participation and achieve positive changes in attitudes and practices which discriminate against persons with a disability.

Several action items are proposed under four overarching goals:

To promote community participation and inclusion of people with a disability. To improve access to transport, goods and services for people with a disability. To ensure consistent approaches in design and implementation of policy and infrastructure. To embed the principles of access and inclusion across Council.

This consultation opportunity is open until Friday 21 December 2018.

Feedback can be submitted online via a short online form or in writing via the downloadable consultation pack.

To see full project details including each detailed action item, please go to www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay

All enquiries can be directed to Council’s Rural Access Officer on 5624 2411.

Following this community consultation, feedback will be consolidated and considered. A decision will be made on the final details.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Mikaela Power

"We’ve drafted this four-year action plan to highlight how Council will support and improve access and inclusion for people with a disability. Now we’re asking the community to tell us if we’ve got it right.”

“We encourage feedback from community members with a disability, or family and friends who support people with a disability. Your feedback will help shape this action plan to ensure it reflects community wants, needs and expectations.”

Quotes attributable to Disability Advisory Committee representative and West Ward Cr Tricia Jones

“Council has made progress in many areas to ensure our services and programs are equitably available to all people within our diverse community – but there is still a way to go. We want to ensure that Baw Baw Shire is a leader in fairness, safety and inclusiveness for those with a disability, so it’s important we get our action plan right.”

"This draft action plan has been developed with the contribution and assistance of members of Council’s Disability Advisory Committee and we thank everyone involved for their contributions to our community.”