Update from the Coalition for Disability Rights - Victoria

Date posted: 
1 November 2006

Coalition for Disability Rights Call to the Parties – summary of commitments sought

The Call to the Parties details the commitments which the Coalition for Disability Rights is seeking from the parties and candidates contesting the 2006 Victorian State election. It calls for a fairer deal for people with disabilities and their families through action in the following areas:

A FAIR START IN LIFE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
  • More Early Childhood Intervention places to reduce waiting lists and provide earlier assistance.
  • Expansion of the Kindergarten Inclusion Support Scheme.
  • Expansion of student support services for school aged children to increase access to speech therapy, behavioural support and curriculum advice.
  • Reduction of waiting times for support for children and young people experiencing behavioural or mental health difficulties.
  • Improved Individual Education Plans and better implementation of those plans.
  • Ensuring that from age 15 all young people with a disability are assisted to plan for what they want to achieve in their early adult years after leaving school.
  • Better co-operation between Commonwealth and State Governments so young people leaving school can get the mix of supports they need.
  • More realistic funding levels under the Futures for Young Adults program to support young people making the transition from school.
A FAIRER DEAL IN ACCOMMODATION AND COMMUNITY LIVING
  • Significant reduction in the long waiting lists and waiting times for supported accommodation and in-home support – adequate funding to meet the needs of those on the urgent and high priority waiting lists.
  • Annual increases to cover the known forecast growth in need for accommodation and in-home support.
  • A plan for the closure of large scale institutions.
  • Adoption of universal accessible design requirements for housing.
  • Support for innovation in community living support to enhance community participation and inclusion.
SUPPORT FOR A REASONABLE LIFE – SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND LIFE ACTIVITES
  • Significant reduction in the waiting list for day programs - funding for community participation / life activities support for those on the urgent and high priority waiting lists.
  • Annual increases to cover the known forecast growth in need for community participation / life activities support.
  • Review of funding of community participation / life activities support to better reflect individualised support for adult life activities.
  • Guarantee that young people who require ongoing support for adult life activities receive that support when they leave the Futures for Young Adults program.
  • Better co-operation between Commonwealth and State Governments so young people leaving school can get a mix of employment, training, community participation and life activities support which suits their circumstances and aspirations.
A FAIR BREAK FOR FAMILIES
  • More respite places with the goal of ensuring that every family caring for a person with a disability is entitled to and can access four weeks respite each year.
  • Annual increases to cover the known forecast growth in need for respite.
  • Establishment of respite information systems and effective respite co-ordination in every region to assist families to access appropriate respite options.
  • Provision of accommodation and support packages so people living in facility based respite because of a lack of other options can move to more appropriate housing.
FAIR SUPPORT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE – AIDS AND EQUIPMENT
  • Reduction of waiting times and improved subsidy levels for the Victorian Aids and Equipment program so children and adults with disabilities have fair access to aids and equipment they need for everyday life.
  • Removal of the once in a lifetime restriction on home modifications to recognise that an individual’s needs may change as they grow up or grow older.
  • Establishment of a subsidy for vehicle modifications so that families of children and young adults with disabilities can afford modifications necessary for the transport of their family member with a disability.
FAIRER, MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
  • An ongoing community education and information campaign to build community understanding and inclusiveness.
  • Provision of funds to enhance accessibility and inclusiveness of community facilities such as neighbourhood houses.
  • Immediate funding for replacement of disability transport vehicles which are essential in enabling people with disabilities to participate in the community.
  • A longer term plan for development of accessible and effective local transport.
  • Continued upgrading of tram stops and train stations to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
  • Removal of inappropriate restrictions on use of the Multi Purpose Taxi program.
  • Regulatory reform to increase access to the built environment including dwellings and public and commercial buildings.
HIGH QUALITY, ROBUST SERVICES
  • A guarantee to maintain the quality, quantity and spread of services by ensuring funding keeps pace with increases in the costs of providing services.
  • Review of disability services funding in order to ensure the ongoing viability of services so people with disabilities and their families have access to the high quality supports they need.
  • Funding for maintenance and upgrading of disability services buildings and facilities and to support innovation in the provision of support for people with disabilities and their families.
  • Funding to ensure services can cover additional costs arising from the new Victorian Disability Act.
  • Strategic planning and action to ensure there are enough appropriately skilled and trained staff to maintain a high quality disability support system. This includes ensuring that wages and conditions for disability services staff are in line with community standards; removing the difference in wages and conditions between people doing the same work in government and non-government disability services; and considering initiatives which may encourage people to continue working in disability services.
  • More and better training and professional development for staff working in non-government disability services.
FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
  • Ensuring that public health staff are trained to provide good health services to people with disabilities.
  • Reduction in the public hospital waiting times for orthopaedic surgery required by children with disabilities.
  • Action to increase the participation of people with disabilities in general health screening programs.
RIGHTS
  • Conduct of an inquiry into access to the justice system for people with disabilities and inequities in the treatment of people with disabilities within the justice system.
  • Ensuring that people with disabilities have access to support they need to exercise their rights by increasing funding for and availability of advocacy support services.
GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER
  • Commitment and action to increase the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector.
  • Better co-operation between governments and government departments so that people with disabilities, especially those leaving school and those who are ageing, can get the mix of supports which suits their individual circumstances and needs.
  • Support for initiatives which model best practice in co-operation between disability services, aged care services, general community and health services.