+++AUSTRALIAN BLINDNESS FORUM and NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES. ++ABF UPDATE NOVEMBER 2008. [Contents begin] +01. ABF Activities. +02. Economic Security Strategy. +03. Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Conference. +04. New National Disability Agreement. +05. Australian Disability Enterprises. +06. Amendments to Disability Discrimination Act. +07. Access to Premises Standards. +08. High Court Decision and Tax-Exempt Charities. +09. Pension Review. +10. National Disability Strategy. +11. National Arts and Disability Strategy. +12. Social Inclusion Agenda. +13. Supporting Families and Schools to Work Together. +14. Information, Publications. +15. ABF Member Organisations. +16. National Conferences. +17. NDS Events. +18. World Blind Union. +19. Other International Items. - Getting More Information on Issues in this Update - Reproducing Information from this Update - About Australian Blindness Forum - About National Disability Services [End Contents] [Update begins] +01. ABF ACTIVITIES. ABF Directors will hold a strategic planning day in Canberra on 15 December. +02. ECONOMIC SECURITY STRATEGY. Around 4 million pensioners, carers, people with disability and veterans and around 2 million families will receive lump sum payments after legislation for the $10.4 billion Economic Security Strategy passed the Parliament on 25 November. Single pensioners will receive a payment of $1400, couples $2100 and Carer Allowance recipients will get $1000 for each person in their care. Families will receive $1000 for each child eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A. Most payments will be made automatically through Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs in the fortnight beginning 8 December this year. Payments are non-taxable and will not be included for home testing purposes. To read Minister Jenny Macklin’s media release, go to http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/economic_security_25nov08.htm. +03. COMMUNITY AND DISABILITY SERVICES MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE. Disability Ministers have endorsed the progress being made on implementing the new National Disability Reform Agenda. Key areas agreed to on 7 November include: better measurement of current and future need; national population benchmarks; and workforce capacity. Ministers also noted the agreement on information sharing at the last meeting of the Council of Australian Governments and recognised this as a significant step forward in the development of the National Child Protection Framework. Ministers also agreed to support the next stage in the development of a National Compact with the not-for-profit sector – this will incorporate a comprehensive, inclusive consultation process in 2009. For more information, go to http://www.csmac.gov.au/home.aspx. +04. NEW NATIONAL DISABILITY AGREEMENT. The Australian Government will provide $5.3 billion over five years for the new National Disability Agreement (NDA), which will replace the CSTDA. This includes providing States and Territories with new funds of $408 million for growth and reform as well as the previously announced $901 million for more accommodation, respite and in-home care. From 1 January 2009, the Commonwealth contribution to the NDA will be indexed at around 6 per cent over the five-year agreement, compared to the current rate of around 1.8 per cent. To find out more, read the media release at http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/5.3bill_support_30nov08.htm. +05. AUSTRALIAN DISABILITY ENTERPRISES. Disability Business Services across Australia will now be known as Australian Disability Enterprises and a new business directory will detail their products and services. A redesigned website will be available from March 2009, making it easier for potential customers to engage businesses and access up-to-date information at any time. Revised Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines from 1 December 2008 will provide an exemption and flexibility for Australian Government Departments and agencies looking to undertake simple procurement process from Australian Disability Enterprises. For more information, go to http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/disabilities/services-bis_services1.htm. +06. AMENDMENTS TO DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT. A Bill tabled in the House of Representatives seeks to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) to implement various recommendations made by the Australian Government Productivity Commission in its 2004 report, ‘Review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and by the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. The Bill provides certainty for people with assistance animals and services providers by recognising animals accredited either under a State or Territory law or by a relevant organisation and by clarifying each party’s obligations. The Bill also consolidates the provisions in the DDA relating to carers, assistants and aids, and addresses the issues raised by the Full Federal Court in Forest (2008) by clarifying that discrimination on the basis that a person possesses or is accompanied by a carer, assistant or aid, is discrimination on the basis of disability. For more detail, read the Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/r4024_ems_8bc886ee-d639-4080-a1a4-1e6c421c3cf5/upload_word/321472.DOC;fileType=application%2Fmsword. +07. ACCESS TO PREMISES STANDARDS. Draft Disability Discrimination Act Access to Premises Standards have been tabled in Parliament by the Attorney-General. In development since 2000, the Premises Standards will provide specific guidance on design and construction of buildings so that they will be accessible for all Australians. They address access issues such as signage, circulation space in lifts and accessible toilets, the number of wheelchair spaces in theatres and the use of tactile warning indicators on stairways and ramps. When the Premises Standards are completed, it is intended to make corresponding changes to the Building Code of Australia. It is expected that the proposed Premises Standards will be referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for consideration and consultation in early 2009. To read the draft Premises Standards, go to http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/RobertMc.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2008_FourthQuarter_2December2008-BetterAccesstoPremisesforPersonswithaDisability. +08. HIGH COURT DECISION AND TAX-EXEMPT CHARITIES . Today the High Court handed down its decision that a company that conducted commercial businesses to raise funds for a missionary organisation was entitled to the status of a tax-exempt charity. The Court, by a 4-1 majority, dismissed the Commissioner of Taxation’s appeal against Word Investments. The Court held that Word’s purposes were charitable, that it was a charitable institution, and that that character was not lost by the fact that it did not advance charitable purposes directly but gave its profits to other institutions which did. There’s a one-page summary at http://www.hcourt.gov.au/media/Commissioner_of_Taxation_v_Word_Investments.pdf. +09. PENSION REVIEW. NDS, in its submission, pointed out that the review provides an opportunity to highlight the need for increases in the levels of pensions and allowances. However, this will only be part of a solution to address the significant disadvantages experienced by people with disability – for improved quality of life they require greater employment opportunities and support, improved access to support services (specialist disability services as well as improved access to general community services), and improved access to the aids and equipment that assist people to build and maintain independence. Action on many fronts is required if people with disability are to have a valued place in Australian society. NDS members can read the submission at http://www.nds.org.au. +10. NATIONAL DISABILITY STRATEGY. Following discussions and after attending a consultation on the National Disability Strategy, the ABF lodged a submission on the Strategy on the due date of 1 December. NDS has also lodged a submission. +11. NATIONAL ARTS AND DISABILITY STRATEGY. NDS, in its submission on the strategy, drew attention to the fact that while recognition of the importance of participation in the cultural life of the community, people with disability have not participated to the same extent as the general population. Making disability a key focus on the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion agenda could help improve the lives of a very disadvantaged group of people and the National Arts and Disability Strategy would support this inclusion agenda. NDS members (at http://www.nds.org.au) can read the submission, which includes the following recommendations: - Keeping admission prices for art and cultural events as low as possible for holders of Pensioner Concession Cards, and - Extending the Companion Card scheme into a nationwide program and encouraging widespread participation by public transport providers, and arts, sporting and cultural venues. +12. SOCIAL INCLUSION AGENDA. A research paper, ‘Social Inclusion – Origins, concepts and key themes’, prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, explores the priority areas identified for action by the Australian Government, including children at risk, child poverty, jobless families and intergenerational disadvantage. In May this year, NDS met with the government to discuss how the economic and social disadvantages experienced by people with disability can be addressed within this new social policy framework. To read the research paper, go to http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/publications.htm. +13. SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS TO WORK TOGETHER. In announcing the Family-School Partnerships Framework, Minister for Education Julia Gillard said that all Australian schools and parent associations will soon receive a copy. The Framework underpins the ideals of the recently established Family-School and Community Partnerships Bureau (http://www.familyschool.org.au) and will complement the work of the COAG Productivity Agenda Working Group. However, it is disappointing that there are no specific references to the additional focus and collaboration needed for families of students with disability. In particular, NDS, in collaboration with the Australian Blindness Forum, will continue to call for recognition of a framework and service delivery model that will bring together families, educators and service providers for the benefit of students who are blind or vision impaired. To read the framework, go to http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/school_education/publications_resources/profiles/Family_School_Partnerships_Framework.htm. +14. INFORMATION, PUBLICATIONS. - ‘Opportunity’: This new publication, produced by Australian Employers Network on Disability with Australian Government funds, outlines compelling reasons for including people with disability as customers and employees. The publication was launched alongside the new website http://www.disabilityconfidence.org.au, which will provide useful advice and links to assist employers and the community in getting more information on the business case for employing people with disability. - ‘Disability Support Services 2006-07’ is an AIHW report on data collected as part of the CSTDA National Minimum Data Set between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007. The report shows that the number of people using disability support services has increased by nearly 25 per cent over the past four years. The largest increases were in respite care, community support and employment services. Community support services, such as therapy, early intervention and case management, were the most commonly used services. Intellectual disability was the most common primary disability (around one in three service users), followed by psychiatric disability then physical disability. The proportion of service users who always need help with basic activities such as mobility, self-care and communication has remained stable over the four-year period. To find out more, go to http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2008/mr20081029.cfm. - ‘Eye health among Australian children’, a new AIHW report, has found that eye disorders are the most common long-term health problem experienced by children from birth to14 years along with allergies and asthma. The report includes some references to long-term conditions, congenital anomalies and disability services. To read more, go to http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2008/mr20081107.cfm. - Quantum Technology Scholarships: The Gillian Gale Award for Braille Literacy, WYNN Scholarship Program 2008 and JAWS Scholarship Program 2008 are open and applications for all close on Thursday 11 December 2008. For more information, phone Lexie Challis on 02 8844 9834 or email lchallis@quantumtechnology.com.au. - Google Search for VI Users: Google’s Accessible Search for Users with Vision Impairment (http://labs.google.com/accessible), currently being tested, may be beneficial by making searching easier. A FAQ on this is available at http://labs.google.com/accessible/faq.html. +15. ABF MEMBER ORGANISATIONS. Macular Degeneration Foundation: Vision Van, Australia’s first mobile screening unit for aged-related macular degeneration (AMD) is nearing the end of its 90-day tour around Australia. Equipped with state-of-the-art optometry facilities, free screening for AMD is being offered to people aged 50 years and over until 19 December. For information, go to http://www.maculardegeneration.com.au/vision-van-launches.aspx. From the MD Foundation’s website http://www.maculardegeneration.com.au/default.aspx has a link to AMD Alliance International (http://www.amdalliance.org/) where there is a Macular Disease Patient Charter. Recently, this Charter was presented to Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Royal Society for the Blind of SA (RSB): The RSB Guide Dog Service has offered ‘an Australian first to four high school students with vision impairment aged 16 to 18 years to trial guide dogs in Adelaide for a weekend as part of the K94U2C Program’. For more information, phone RSB on 08 8223 6222. Vision Australia (VA) announced that, from 18 December 2009, the responsibility for the education of all students at the VA School will be transferred from the VA Education Centre to the Victorian Government and other specialist education providers. VA will continue to support students on a needs assessed basis during the 2010 school year. This policy decision has been made in line with the belief that the children have the right to be educated within a mainstream education environment supported by specialist services which address their specific needs. The students’ mainstream education will be enhanced by life skills programs that VA plans to expand and roll-out nationally. To read the VA media release, go to http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=823&news=833. Blind Citizens Australia has called for a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the impending closure and the future supports for the students who will be affected. BCA’s media release is at http://www.bca.org.au/mediarel.htm. - VA website is one of only two in the world to achieve the highest level of conformance (Level AAA) to the new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0). To read the media release and link to the WCAG 2.0 overview, go to http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=823&news=870. - VA’s Dickinson Literary Award is open to all Australian writers who are blind or have low vision. There are seven categories, each of which has a first prize of a Vision Australia Equipment Solution’s voucher to the value of $500. Categories for fiction and non-fiction are separated into Adults 25 and Over; Young Adults 16-24; Youth Under 16 and Open for All Ages. Australian citizens who are ‘legally’ blind are invited to make submissions by 31 December. More information is at http://www.visionaustralia.org/literaryaward/. +16. NATIONAL CONFERENCES. - AFDO first national conference postponed: ‘Policy About Us, For Us! A Practical Revolution in the Lives of People with Disabilities’ which was to be held in Melbourne on 9 and 10 October this year has been postponed to May 2009 – read the AFDO release at http://www.afdo.org.au/node/229. +17. NDS EVENTS. - Workforce 09, the NDS National Workforce and OHS Conference, will be held in Hobart on 4 and 5 May 2009. The Call for Papers closed on 3 December. For more information, go to http://www.nds.org.au/conferences/WF2009/CallForPapers.pdf. +18. WORLD BLIND UNION (WBU). - General Assembly Reports and resolutions from the 2008 assembly can be downloaded from http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/home6cbc.html?id=4&nivel=1. - Right to Read Campaign: In response to the dearth of books and other publications available in accessible formats (only around 5 per cent globally each year), the 2008 General Assembly resolved to appoint a working group to develop the Right to Read Campaign; collaborate with DAISY Consortium and IFLA’s Libraries for the Blind Section towards the establishment of a Global Lending Library for the Blind and Partially Sighted; continue dialogue with the International Publishers Association and with the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organisation to promote legislation to protect the right of accessibility to all published reading materials on a ‘same day, same price’ basis. To find out more about the Right to Read Campaign, go to http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/right-to-read.html and http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_r2rhome.hcsp. +19. OTHER INTERNATIONAL ITEMS. - UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Public consultations in Australia on the Optional Protocol to the UN CRPD have closed. The Australian Government tabled a National Interest Analysis in Parliament proposing that Australia become a party to the Optional Protocol. Under the Optional Protocol, a person who considers that Australia has not complied with the Convention and has exhausted all domestic remedies will be able to lodge a complaint with a specialised UN Committee. The National Interest Analysis will now be considered by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. Information on the Optional Protocol and consultation process can be found on the Attorney-General’s website at http://www.ag.gov.au/disabilityconvention. - UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Congratulations to Professor Ron McCallum AO on his election as one of the twelve independent experts to this UN Committee that will monitor implementation of the CRPD. The former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Sydney University and an expert in industrial law, Professor McCallum was the first totally blind person to be appointed to a full professorship in any field at any university in Australia or New Zealand. He is also Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of Vision Australia, Chair of Radio for the Print Handicapped and the inaugural President of the Australian Labour Law Association. We also understand that five of the twelve Committee members are blind. More information about the Committee can be found at http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=16&pid=157. - International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) on 3 December this year had the theme ‘Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us’. A summary, ‘The Year in Disability’, was released on the day – an accessible version will be available by next week. The IDPWD website is at http://www.idpwd.com.au/. - Australia’s international development program for the first time has a priority focus on disability. Australia’s first disability strategy for the Australian aid program 2009-2014, ‘Development for All’, was launched on 25 November to guide Australia’s aid program in supporting people in the developing world. For more information, go to http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/pdf/draft_disability_strategy_09to14_largeprint.pdf. - UK organisations combine services: RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and Action for Blind People have agreed in principle to combine their services across England. Together the two charities aim to share skills and expertise to provide more and better services to people who are blind or partially sighted. More information is at http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_prrnibandaction.hcsp. - Louis Braille Bicentenary 4 January 2009: Under the sponsorship of UNESCO, World Blind Union and the French National Committee for the Social Promotion of Blind and Partially Sighted People, the international conference ‘1809 to 2009 – the writing with 6 dots and its future’ will be held in Paris from 4 to 8 January 2009 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth. For more information, email ch.coudert@avh.asso.fr or Catherine Munoz-Smith at the WBU office at caterine.munoz-smith@wbuoffice.org. National Braille Press, a non-profit printing house in the US, has secured the domain name http://www.louisbraillebicentennial.com for 2008 and 2009. Louis Braille Medal 2009 Bicentenary Award: The Louis Braille medal is the most prestigious award accorded by the WBU with a maximum of two medals awarded at any one General Assembly. It is granted to individuals who have made a substantial and outstanding contribution to people who are blind or partially sighted through international service or to the WBU over a long period of item. Individuals, groups of individuals or national members may prepare an application for a person to be considered to receive the Louis Braille Medal 2009 Bicentenary Award. For more information and the application form, go to http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/documents/awards-scholarships/Nomination-Form-for-LB-Medallion.doc. Celebrations in Australia: A list of ideas for promoting the Bicentenary throughout the coming months in Australia is available from the RIDBC Renwick Centre by emailing mike.steer@ridbc.org.au. While many local and state activities are still being planned, the Louis Braille Bicentenary Working Party, convened by Vision Australia, has confirmed some key national activities. (A list of confirmed activities will shortly be available on the ABF website http://www.australianblindnessforum.org.au.) Brailled Australia Post Pre-stamped Envelope: the limited edition commemorative envelope was launched on 28 November at Vision Australia’s AGM by the French Consul-General, Mr Lionel Majeste-Larrouy and will shortly be available for sale at Australia Post outlets. They can also be purchased online at http://www.stamps.com.au/shop/stationery/ppe or by contacting Australia Post on 1800 331 794. Power House Museum Exhibition, ‘Living in a Sensory World: stories from people living with blindness and low vision’, has opened at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum. Part of the collection highlights alternative formats, including Braille. The exhibition is expected to tour the country over the coming years. For more information, phone 02 9217 0111 or go to http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/exhibitions/coming.asp. Cash Test: The Reserve Bank of Australia, in collaboration with Blind Citizens Australia, has updated the bank note guide and supplies will be available by February 2009. For more information, phone BCA on 03 9654 1400 or go online at http://www.bca.org.au/. - SPEVI Biennial Conference: The 2009 Biennial Conference of the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment will be held from 6 to 9 January 2009 in Adelaide. The theme of ‘Challenges and Choices’ will focus on vision impairment, adaptive technology, early intervention and partnerships. For more information, go to http://www.e-bility.com/spevi/conf09.php or phone Jessica Bosnakis of All Occasions Management on 08 8354 2285 or email Jessica@aomevents.com. - Twenty-fifth Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities: A Call for Papers (deadline 12 December) has been issued by the Center on Disability Studies (http://www.cds.hawaii.edu) for this conference, which will be held in Honolulu on 4 to 5 May 2009. More information about the PacRim conference is at http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/. - Getting more information on issues in this Update: Unless otherwise stated, please contact Margaret Verick at margaret.verick@nds.org.au, phone 02 6283 3214. - Reproducing information from this Update: Anyone may reproduce any of the information in this Update – just acknowledge this source. - About AUSTRALIAN BLINDNESS FORUM (http://www.australianblindnessforum.org.au). Australian Blindness Forum (ABF) was first formed as an unincorporated body in 1992, funded only by its members. In April 2007, the ABF became an Australian public company limited by guarantee, funded by its members and governed by a board of directors. The purpose of the ABF is to operate as a peak body representing the blindness sector for the benefit of people who are blind or vision impaired. The Project Officer (Australian Blindness Forum) is located at the ABF registered office, 33 Thesiger Court, Deakin ACT 2600 – contact Margaret Verick, email margaret.verick@nds.org.au, phone 02 6283 3214. - About NATIONAL DISABILTY SERVICES (http://www.nds.org.au). National Disability Services (NDS) is the national industry association for disability services, representing over 600 not-for-profit organisations. Collectively, NDS’s members operate several thousand services for Australians with all types of disability. NDS’s members range in size from small support groups to large multi-service organisations, and are located in every State and Territory across Australia. [Update ends] 1