PWD E-Bulletin

International Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Peoples with Disability, Eighth Session of Ad Hoc Committee, 14-25 August 2006

See below for information about PWD's involvement in this landmark event

Welcome to PWD’s e-bulletin. The e-bulletin goes out to members and interested others regularly by email. For members who do not have access to email, a printed version of the e-bulletin will be sent by post. To be added to or removed from our mailing list, or to change your email address, please contact Allyson Campbell at PWD on email pwd@pwd.org.au or on one of the numbers listed at the end of this bulletin.

Contents

New South Wales news

• Protecting the legal rights of people with disability – Submission by PWD and Blake Dawson Waldron
• Inquest into the death of Scott Ashley Simpson
• DADHC seeks comment on draft policies
• DADHC announces revised post school program for young people with disability
• Action on voter discrimination: Update
• City of Sydney - Disability Action Plan
• Parliamentary Presence - Call for representatives who use mobility aids
• Positions vacant

Other state and territory news

• Making local bus stops accessible in Northern Queensland – Public consultations

National news

• Hearing awareness week 20-26 August 2006
• Child Protection Forum – Government Responds to Inquiry
• Access for All – Disability Inclusive Development Practice
• PWD Housing Roundtable – UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing
• Peer Support Groups – Update
• Helping people with Dementia
• TV captions now on at Sydney airport

International news

• PWD at International Convention on Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disability, Eighth Session of Ad Hoc Committee, 14-25 August 2006
• PWD at Biwako Millenium Framework Meeting, Bangkok
• PWD at PNG 1st National Leadership Training Seminar for Women with Disability
• E-Accessibility to be theme for International Day of Disabled Persons 2006
• Builder turns Housing Visitability Ordinance to Market Advantage

The inside story

• PWD members contribute to Convention brief

New publications and resources

• ABS publication -- Aspects of Social Capital, Australia (cat. no. 4911.0)
• Online Graduate programs in developmental disability at the University of Sydney

Conferences and events

About PWD

Privacy statement

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NSW news

++Protecting the legal rights of people with disability – Submission by PWD and Blake Dawson Waldron

PWD and international law firm Blake Dawson Waldron have brought together their expertise in advocating for the rights of people with disability to respond to the NSW Attorney-General’s discussion paper, ‘Are the rights of people whose capacity is in question being adequately promoted and protected?’

There were three main areas discussed in the joint submission:

1. Creating a consistent approach to the assessment of legal capacity
Key points made were:

• there needs to be a single legal definition of capacity adopted which can be used in all circumstances
• a decision-specific approach to capacity should be adopted as the norm, although a functional approach should remain if that is in the person’s best interest.

The submission also recommended that a presumption of capacity be incorporated into the legislation governing the appointment of substitute decision-makers, and that guiding principles be included to maximise the autonomy of a person whose capacity is in question or has a substitute decision-maker appointed.

2. Creating resources for capacity assessors
The joint response covered the need for people with disability to be included in the design of any resources developed for capacity assessors and argued that there also needs to be consistency and cross-disciplinary cooperation in the development and conduct of training for capacity assessors. The list of assessors should be reconsidered to include others, such as the police, who are a distinct group of assessors with specific needs.

3. Promoting and protecting rights
The submission recommended that a new framework to support people who lack capacity or whose capacity is in question be developed, and it outlined features of this framework. Recommendations were that if a person’s capacity is questioned, only a Court or Tribunal should determine whether or not the person lacks capacity, with the role of the Court of Tribunal to determine whether or not the person has capacity if it is challenged, and to appoint a substitute decision-maker if required. The submission argues that it is not the role of the person whose capacity is being questioned to challenge the questioning of their capacity through a second opinion, and that the onus should remain on the person who is questioning capacity to prove their opinion.

The PWD/Blake Dawson Waldron submission the PWD website; for any enquiries please contact Alastair McEwin.

++Inquest into the death of Scott Ashley Simpson

The NSW Deputy State Coroner, Magistrate Dorelle Pinch, recently delivered her findings and recommendations in the inquest into the death of Scott Simpson, a mentally ill man who died in custody at Long Bay Correctional Centre in 2004.

The Deputy State Coroner found that Mr Simpson did not receive adequate health care and treatment from the corrections system. Mr Simpson died on 7 June 2004 when he hanged himself in his cell. At the time of his death Mr Simpson had spent the previous 26 months in solitary confinement, 22 hours per day, and was waiting to be transferred to the prison hospital at Long Bay jail.

The Coroner said that the practice in NSW of holding some mentally ill prisoners in solitary confinement indefinitely should cease. She recommended "the NSW Department of Corrective Services should adopt the policy that inmates diagnosed with a mental illness should be placed in segregation only in exceptional circumstances and for a limited period".

The Coroner’s findings and recommendations are extensive and potentially transforming. She made recommendations for change in policy and practice to the Minister for Health, the Minister for Corrective Services, and to the Attorney – General. For a copy of the Coroner’s findings please contact Matthew Keeley, Senior Legal Officer.

PWD wishes to pay its respects to Scott Simpson, and to his family, who through their participation in this inquest have sought to shine a light on the appalling situation that confronted Scott, and that may yet confront other Australians with mental illness.

++DADHC seeks comment on draft policies

The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) is currently seeking comments about two draft policies. The Draft Decision Making and Consent policy is open for feedback from 22 June to 31 August 2006.

The Draft Management of Clients' Personal Finances policy is open for feedback from 24 July to 30 September 2006.

Copies of the draft policies and feedback forms can be accessed at DADHC’s website: www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/Publications+and+policies/People+with+a+disability/Policies+relating+to+people+with+a+disability.htm#finances/

++DADHC announces revised post school program for young people with disability

From 2007, the number of community participation days that young people receive will increase from three days to four days per week. Young people with very high needs will receive five days per week.

Young people will also benefit from four funding bands which match their support needs. This is to ensure all young people receive the same level and quality of service, even if they have very high support needs. Under the previous program, people received a flat base rate of funding of $13,871. The funding bands will be as follows:

• moderate needs - $14,550
• high needs - $16,878
• very high needs - $20,807
• exceptional needs - $29,100.

They will also be able to choose between centre-based programs or individual packages that will include activities such as volunteering or work experience.

Family information sessions on the Community Participation Programs are being held around the State.

++Action on voter discrimination: Update

PWD has actively worked over a number of years on ensuring the civil rights of people with disability are met. Much of our work has focused on the lack of access for many people with disability to various aspects of voting. This has included participating in a forum on electoral access with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the body that conducts federal elections and by-elections and maintains the electoral rolls for all other electoral authorities.

As reported in E-Bulletin 32 PWD was invited to address the NSW Parliament Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Reform (JSCEM) Inquiry into Voter Enrolment. In our evidence PWD discussed the need for enrolment information to be made available in accessible formats, for voting booths and electoral offices to be physically accessible and for all State electoral Office (SEO) staff to have disability awareness training.

PWD also spoke of the issues relating to people living in institutional settings and the need for information to be available for people with a cognitive impairment. It was pleasing that no member of the committee questioned the right of people with a cognitive impairment to participate in the electoral process. Many members of the Committee were also aware of the problems relating to institutionalised living for residents of licensed residential centres (boarding houses). PWD will use this opportunity to address these Members of Parliament at a later occasion on our advocacy with residents of boarding houses.

For further information please contact Digby Hughes at PWD.

++City of Sydney - Disability Action Plan

The city of Sydney is in the process of developing its Disability Access Plan (DAP) for 2006-2009. WestWood Spice have been contracted to undertake an Inclusion study to assist in its development. PWD has been invited to be a member of the Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) to assist with this work.

The role of the IAG includes providing advice on the adequacy of existing arrangements of the City of Sydney to promote access and equity outcomes for people with a disability, provide feedback on the draft DAP and assist with communication and evaluation strategies to be included in the DAP.

For further information please contact Digby Hughes at PWD.

++Parliamentary Presence - Call for representatives who use mobility aids

In the lead up to the 2007 State Election the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is using question time in the NSW Parliament to raise awareness of the rights of people with physical disability and as part of the sector wide PADP Campaign. The aim of the exercise is to raise the awareness of parliamentarians of the essential nature of equipment and support for our related PADP campaign.

People who use mobility aids have had a presence during question time on the first Tuesday of each sitting week for over 12 months. For details of sitting days please contact PWD or the NSW Parliament website www.parliament.nsw.gov.au.

Prior to attending it is suggested that you contact your State MP and advise them of your attendance. Question time usually starts between 2.15pm and 2.30pm and usually lasts about an hour.

For further details please contact Digby Hughes at PWD or Bronwyn Moye on Thursdays from 10am -5pm on 9552 1606.

++Reshaping public housing

The NSW Department of Housing (DOH) has been developing an implementation plan for Reshaping Public Housing. PWD has been participating in a non-government organisation reference group to attempt to provide input into the development of the implementation plan.

At a recent meeting of the Reference Group it was announced that considerable concessions were to be made available for DOH residents with a disability who require additional water due to their disability. When this is not payable by the relevant water authority the DOH will ensure that the resident dies not have to pay this additional cost of disability.

More information is available from Digby Hughes at PWD.

++Positions vacant

Aboriginal Disability Network -- Manager

The Aboriginal Disability Network NSW Inc (ADN) is a newly established community and client based organisation that aims to provide information and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with disability and their families. We are seeking a person with experience in the Aboriginal disability sector to manage and further develop the ADN. This will be a fixed-term contract until 30 June 2007, with the possibility of extension, subject to funding. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

For information package contact: Matthew Bowden phone: 02 9370 3100; fax: 02 9318 1372; TTY: 02 9318 2138; or email: pwd@pwd.org.au

Applications close 1 September 2006.

Disability Studies and Research Institute -- Senior Research Officer

(Base salary range $52K to 62K – additional packaging arrangements based on salary sacrifice available to maximum of $58 to 68K)

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Other states and territory news

Making local bus stops accessible in Northern Queensland – Public consultations

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National news

++Hearing awareness week 20-26 August 2006

For information visit the website www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au.

++Child Protection Forum – Government Responds to Inquiry

The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA) invited PWD to participate in its Child Protection Forum held in Melbourne on 27 and 28 June 2006.

The purpose of the forum was to discuss the development of a National Child Protection Framework that would include prevention, early intervention, intensive support options and out of home care. It would also include ways of addressing cooperation across levels of government and across State and Territory borders.

The forum was held as part of the Australian Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care that was conducted in 2003/04. PWD provided a comprehensive submission to the Inquiry highlighting the systemic failures of institutional situations that give rise to abuse and neglect of children and young people with disability. PWD also provided evidence at the public hearing conducted by the Inquiry Committee in February 2004.

The forum provided a significant opportunity for PWD to advocate for the inclusion of issues for children with disability in the development of a National Child Protection Framework. In particular, we raised issues relating to the separation of the disability service system and the children services system and the consequent lack of child-focussed legislative protections, safeguards and standards that negatively impact on children and young people with disability in the disability service system. We raised these issues during working group sessions and through a presentation.

Our presentation highlighted that many children and young people with disability:

• continue to live in institutional care settings, in particular drifting in respite services
• do not have the same legislative safeguards and protections in voluntary out of home care as other children in out of home care arrangements
• are still viewed as being too difficult to be supported in family environments, particularly if they have complex and high support needs.

The presentation outlined a case study to demonstrate how an institutional environment for children with complex and high support needs can be devolved into a family based support service that allows a child with disability to grow up in a family and live an inclusive life in the community.

There was general agreement among forum participants that any national framework needed to be in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC). The UK Framework, Every Child Matters Outcomes Framework was viewed as a good basis for an Australian framework. For more information on the UK Framework go to http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims

Following the forum, a Working Group was established to begin the framework development process. PWD will continue to monitor and engage in this process.

For more information contact Therese Sands.

++Access for All – Disability Inclusive Development Practice

On 29 and 30 July, PWD participated in a forum conducted in Melbourne by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), Australian International Health Institute (AIHI) and Christian Blind Mission International (CBMI).

The forum, ‘Access for All: disability-inclusive development practice’ aimed to highlight the theoretical aspects and practical methods of ensuring that disability is addressed as a mainstream issue in development programs and aid initiatives. The forum was attended by a range of government and non-government donor organisations, development and health practitioners, disability organisations and students in the area of international development.

PWD President, Heidi Forrest, and Senior Advocate, Therese Sands, presented on both days of the forum, outlining the theoretical framework and practical methods used by PWD in its capacity building partnerships in the Pacific. Our aim was to influence the theoretical and practical approach of mainstream development organisations, which rarely include the issues and concerns of people with disability. In particular, we highlighted the importance of:

• the human rights framework, including the development of the UN convention on the rights of people with disability
• the link between poverty and disability and the relevance of this to the UN Millennium Development Goals
• the link between poverty, gender and disability and gender-based violence and disability, and the relevance of this to mainstreaming both gender and disability in development programs; and
• the importance of integrating organisations of and for people with disability into development program design and practice, including community based rehabilitation programs.

This is the third ‘Access For All’ Forum that PWD has been involved in. The forums are conducted on behalf of the ACFID Disability and Development Working Group, of which PWD is a member.

For more information contact Therese Sands.

++PWD Housing Roundtable – UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

On 2 August 2006, PWD hosted a housing roundtable for the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Mr Miloon Kothari. Mr Kothari visited Australia from 31 July to 15 August 2006 to examine and report on the Australian Government’s progress in ensuring housing rights and to identify practical solutions and good practices.

The UN Special Rapporteur’s mandate is very broad and includes such issues as access to water and electricity, sanitation, land rights, forced evictions, women’s rights to housing, property and inheritance. This mandate is based on a human rights perspective, building on the recognition of the right to adequate housing in numerous international human rights instruments.

In Australia, Mr Kothari was especially interested in gathering information about the situations of specific groups of people including people with disability. PWD’s roundtable enabled a broad range of significant housing rights issues to be discussed. These issues included:

• housing issues for Aboriginal people with disability
• gender, disability and housing issues
• housing for refugees with disability
• deinstitutionalisation and rights to community living
• young people in nursing homes
• boarding houses and human rights
• people with disability in criminal and juvenile justice
• discrimination, tenancy laws and social housing, and
• universal housing design.

Mr Kothari attended the roundtable with his Assistant, Mr Bahram Ghazi and a representative from the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA), Ms Helen Fletcher. PWD thanks them for their interest in these issues.

PWD would also like to thank the roundtable participants for presenting such compelling information on housing rights. Participants represented a number of organisations including PWD, the Aboriginal Disability Network (ADN), Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA), Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD) and OXFAM.

Mr Kothari attended forums and meetings in other states and territories that addressed a broad range of issues for urban and rural and remote Indigenous communities, refugees and people on temporary protection visas, women in situations of domestic violence and people who are homeless. Mr Kothari also conducted a number of site visits to communities and locations, such as the Lightning Ridge women’s safe houses and various Aboriginal communities in QLD and NT. For information on the UN Special Rapporteur’s agenda go to www.afho.org.au/.

The UN Special Rapporteur concluded his visit on 15 August with a meeting with the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Mal Brough MP. Preliminary findings from the UN Special Rapporteur’s visit were to be discussed at this meeting, followed by a press conference. The UN Special Rapporteur will develop a report from his visit, which will be presented Human Rights Council in March 2007.

For more information contact Therese Sands.

++Peer Support Groups – Update

The most recent federal Budget allocated 9 million dollars over four years for peer support groups for parents of young children with disability. This program will benefit over 2,500 families in 300 groups nationally.

ACROD has gathered further information about the details of this Federal initiative since the funding announcement; some of the key points are:

• the aim of the groups is to provide parents the opportunity to socialise with people with similar family situations, build skills and encourage shared responsibility whilst developing a ‘whole community’ approach to supporting parents with young children with disability
• the groups will be run during school terms and consist of parents with children under school age
• the program will be provided by a national service provider outside of government, funding is available from 1st July 2006
• the tendering process will be finalised by August - September 2006 with some of the 300 groups operational by February 2007.

For more information on the tendering process for the program go to: www.facs.gov.au.

++Helping people with Dementia

A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that a series of pilot programs designed to assist people with dementia stay in their homes and communities longer have been successful.

The report considered responses from care recipients and family carers across several national projects. Some of the key findings are:

• both specialist and dementia specific services are required in the delivery of effective care.
• specialist services for people with dementia in regional and rural areas are lacking.
• diagnosis, medication review and behaviour management by specialist psycho-geriatric clinicians are crucial elements of multidisciplinary dementia care
• family strain is a serious concern which was somewhat alleviated by pilot projects delivering respite as well as better carer support.

In response to the report, Minister for Ageing the Honorable Senator Santo Santoro has announced $225.1 million over four years for the Extended Aged care at Home Dementia (EACHD) program. This is in addition to current spending and will fund approximately 660 packages per year.

More information: Ministers website – www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/Senator+the+Hon+Santo+Santoro+-+Minister+for+Ageing-1

AIHW report - www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10288.

++TV captions now on at Sydney airport

TVs in Terminals 1 and 2 at Sydney Airport now have captioning, in response to issues raised with the Sydney Airport Corporation by Media Access Australia.

“There are thousands of passengers a day who are Deaf or who have a hearing impairment passing through out airports and this initiative by the Sydney Airport Corporation will ensure access to television programs in waiting areas,” said Graham Innes, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

PWD is pleased about this new accessibility initiative.

++2006 Census

For the first time in many years the Census contains questions aimed at determining the level of disability in the community, as well as type of disability. In a previous Census questions where asked about disability, but the data produced was inaccurate and never publicly released.

The Disability Council of Queensland has welcomed the questions being raised in the Census. "An accurate record of the Australian population will assist governments to forecast our future requirements including basics such as access to premises, transport, housing and education. When you're filling out your Census form, think about the difference it will make to have a true and accurate picture of our needs."

There are a series of questions related to need for assistance in the areas of self care, movement and communication. The reason for need for assistance or supervision will also be asked.

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International news

++PWD at International Convention on Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disability, Eighth Session of Ad Hoc Committee, 14-25 August 2006

The International Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities is a landmark achievement that will document the human rights of people with disability across all UN member states.

The Ad Hoc Committee is meeting for an Eighth Session in New York at present to discuss and debate remaining issues including international monitoring of the Convention, with large delegations from governments and civil society in attendance.

Articles of the draft Convention text that will be addressed specifically during this session are:

• Articles with difficult issues remaining: Article 12 – Equal recognition before the law; Article 17 – Integrity of the person; Article 25 – Health; and Article 34 – International monitoring
• Articles with some issues remaining: Article 2 – Definition of disability; Article 4 – General obligations; Article 6 – Women with disabilities; Article 7 – Children with disabilities; Article 11 – Situations of risk; Article 21 – Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information; Article 23 – Respect for home and the family; Article 24 – Education; Article 26 – Habilitation and rehabilitation; Article 28 – Adequate standard of living and social [protection]; and Article 32 – International co-operation.

Information and relevant documents can be obtained from www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8.htm.

Daily summaries of progress of the Eighth Session are being compiled by Disabled Peoples’ Internatiional (DPI) and can be accessed through the DPI website, www.dpi.org/.

PWD President Heidi Forrest and CEO Alastair McEwin are attending this important meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to represent the views of PWD members and all Australians with disability.

PWD has prepared a Briefing Paper on issues under discussion, based on consultations with members and interested stakeholders, for distribution at the Convention meeting.

President Heidi Forrest will be providing comments and information about her activities through her President's Convention Diary on the PWD website.

PWD has played an ongoing important role in the development of this Convention, by:

• organising national consultations and consultations with members
• preparing submissions
• hosting expert seminars, and
• supporting delegates to attend sessions of the UN Ad Hoc Committee.

++PWD at Biwako Millenium Framework Meeting, Bangkok

PWD attended the First Session of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) Stakeholders' Coordination Meeting at the United Nations Economic and Social Council of Asia Pacific (UNESCAP), held in Bangkok in July 2006. BMF provides a framework for the development of disability inclusive policies and practices by government throughout the Asia Pacific region.

UNESCAP is mandated to convene biennial meetings to review achievements and to identify action that may be required to implement the BMF. The workshop was a participatory process that involved key stakeholders from civil society and government. The main objective of this particular Workshop was to formulate a revised working draft of the Biwako Plus Five-forward looking strategies for the second half of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2008-2012). Working groups designed to formulate recommendations for Biwako + 5 included mainstreaming disability into development policy and practice; facilitating access to the built environments, community living, transport, information and communication; Empowering agents for change; International convention, rights-based law, policy and institutional framework, disability statistics and data and sectoral issues.

++PWD at PNG 1st National Leadership Training Seminar for Women with Disability

From 17 – 19 July 2006 in Lae, Morobe, Ms Cathy Ketepa, Women’s Coordinator of Morobe Disabled Agency (MDA) and Chairperson of Disabled People’s International – Papua New Guinea (DPI – PNG) facilitated the First National Leadership Training Seminar for Women with Disability.

Women with disability are one of the most marginalised groups in PNG. They are over-represented among people living in poverty, and among women who are subject to sexual, domestic and other forms of violence. The Seminar aimed at developing the skills, knowledge and capacity of PNG women with disability to undertake and participate in advocacy initiatives at the community and national levels. A key outcome of the seminar was the formation of the PNG National Network of Women with Disabilities, which aims to develop a strong voice of PNG women with disability.

PWD worked in partnership with MDA to ensure this historic event could take place. We played a key role in securing funding to conduct and participate in the event, and to ensure that women with disability from all 19 provinces could participate despite the geographical challenges that make it extremely difficult to travel within PNG.

The Governor of Morobe province officially opened the seminar, which included presentations from prominent government officials with responsibility for Community Development, representatives from the PNG Government’s National Board of Disabled Persons, representatives from the Asia Pacific Centre on Disability (APCD), representatives from MDA and advocates in the PNG women’s sector. PWD assisted with facilitation, presented on disability rights and women’s rights issues, conducted newspaper and radio interviews, and assisted with developing the outcomes statement based on the issues raised by women with disability during group work.

Following the event, Ms Cathy Ketepa travelled to Port Moresby to personally present the outcomes statement to the Minister for Community Development, Dame Carol Kidu, who invited her to present it to Parliament. This presentation generated national media interest and resulted in the outcomes statement being distributed to the Secretaries of all national Government departments. Ms Ketepa is now working on a structure and constitution for the ongoing work of the PNG National Network of Women with Disabilities. PWD will continue to provide capacity building assistance in partnership with the Network and MDA.

PWD would like to thank Mama Cash, an international women’s funding organisation for providing the substantive funds for the seminar. We also thank Christian Blind Mission International (Australia) for providing additional funding to conduct the seminar.

The outcomes statement is available on the PWD website.

For more information contact Therese Sands.

++E-Accessibility to be theme for International Day of Disabled Persons 2006

Improving access to new information technology for persons with disabilities will be the focus of this year's International Day of Disabled Persons, the United Nations announced today. The Day, which is marked on 3 December, seeks to promote the integration of people with disabilities into society.

Although access to information and communication technology (ICT) has created opportunities for everyone, these advances have been particularly meaningful for persons with disabilities, allowing them to overcome the societal barriers of prejudice, infrastructure and inaccessible formats that stand in the way of participation.

But, many persons with disabilities remain unable to take full advantage of the Internet, because most websites are inaccessible to the blind and visually impaired, heavily dependent on using the mouse, and because training is often conducted in inaccessible formats and venues. Most persons with disabilities do not have access to new information technology at all.

++Builder turns Housing Visitability Ordinance to Market Advantage

A home building company in the USA has turned the requirements of a visitability ordinance into a marketing strategy. Be Homes, a local branch of the Bejar Group company, announced that their new subdivisions will offer "barrier-free housing” for persons throughout their life, thus ensuring that a home can continue to serve the physical needs of family members and visitors from childhood to senior years.

"This is the type of service Be Homes wants to offer our buyers," said Baron Houser, Division President of Be Homes. "The cost to us is minimal, but the value to our buyers is priceless! Since most families are making one of their largest financial investments, we want to make sure they can purchase a home at an affordable price that can meet their needs not just for the next few years, but for the rest of their lives."

The 79 new homes in the subdivision advertised above will add to the 7,000-plus already constructed under the San Antonio ordinance (text of ordinance available at http://concretechange.org/antonio.pdf). ).

This is one of the first examples of a builder trumpeting the advantages of access features (and acknowledging the low cost) when required to incorporate the features by law. It is hoped that other builders will follow suit in clearly proclaiming universal housing an amenity for all.

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The inside story

PWD members contribute to Convention brief

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Publications and resources

++ABS publication -- Aspects of Social Capital, Australia (cat. no. 4911.0)

This publication brings together in a set of articles information relevant to social capital that has been collected in a variety of ABS surveys for other purposes. It therefore provides both data and a guide to sources. The data relate to select areas of the ABS social capital framework. More comprehensive data await the release of information from the 2006 General Social Survey (GSS).

For further information please contact Elisabeth Davis, Assistant Director, Family and Community Statistics Section, ABS, Ph: 02 6252 7880 or email: elisabeth.davis@abs.gov.au.

++Online Graduate programs in developmental disability at the University of Sydney

• Graduate Certificate of Health Science
• Master of Health Science
• Master of Health Science with Honours

For further details check the Faculty Handbook at www.usyd.edu.au/handbooks/health_sci/Health_Sciences_2006_Final.pdf. .

Conferences and events

++21 August 2006

ACROD NSW Professional Development Seminar Series 2006 -- Seminar 2: Behavioural Support: Environment and Communication, 21 August 2006, Sydney Masonic Centre, 279 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Contact Genevieve Bartlett, Phone 9503 1604 email genevieve@acrodnsw.net; website www.acrodnsw.net.

++29 August-1 September 2006

The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) 16th Annual Conference, ‘Reach Out, Connect’, Townsville Convention Centre, North Queensland,

TheMHS Conference is an international mental health and psychiatric, educational forum, attracting over 1000 mental health clinicians, managers, consumers, carers, researchers, educators and policy makers annually. For further information, email: info@themhs.org, or visit the website: www.themhs.org.

++18 September 2006

‘Pathways to Employment', a one day summit organised by NSW Council for Intellectual Disability and the Council for Social Services NSW (NCOSS), aims to identify barriers and problems associated with employment for people with intellectual disability, and come up with future directives.

Keynote speaker will be Graham Innes, AM – Disability Discrimination Commissioner, HREOC.

Contact CID on info@nswcid.org.au.

++25 September 2006

A Fairer NSW: Bold solutions and real results will provide a forum for significant discussion and debate on the current social policy challenges in NSW. The Conference will also look at how to build a strong and vibrant NGO sector to better meet the needs of communities. To be held at Australian Technology Park, Redfern. Visit www.ncoss.org.au/conferences to see the conference program and registration form.

++27-28 October 2006

Inter/national Muscular Dystrophy conference, Brisbane. Parent Project Australia (PPA) is holding its second biennial conference inOctober, this time in partnership with Montrose Access, the clinical centre of excellence in Queensland for neuromuscular and other childhood disorders.

Allied Health and educational stakeholders will gain equally from this educational event. Earlybird registration closes on 15 September. Visit the webpage: www.tinyurl.com/gct6a.

++8 November 2006

The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD)’s Inaugural National Forum on Universal Housing: Unlimited by design will be held at the Avillion Hotel, 389 Pitt Street, Sydney.

This event is supported by PWD and the Disability Council of NSW.

Presentations by leading national speakers on housing research, planning, design and construction will present various perspective on key issues.

For more information contact Amelia Starr at Amelia.Starr@dadhc.nsw.gov.au, or Digby Hughes at PWD.

++February 2007

Enablement is pleased to announce a 4-week International Course in Management of Disability and Rehabilitation for rehabilitation professionals and disability and development workers and activists. Serious candidates should apply well in advance and if you intend to attend this course or intend to send someone to this course please fill out the online application form at www.enablement.nl. Participants who attended the 2006 course came from a number of interesting projects in the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, DR Congo, India, The Netherlands and Zambia. The courses are conducted under the leadership of Huib Cornielje and Roelie Wolting.

++ March 2007 – Call for papers

Carers NSW is organising its biennial conference for health and community service providers, titled: ‘Partnerships for Better Health Outcomes: Carers and Professionals working together’. For further information contact conference@carersnsw.asn.au or phone 02 9280 4744.

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++About PWD

People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWD) is a national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Its primary membership is people with disability and organisations primarily made up of people with disability. PWD also has a large associate membership of other individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement. PWD was founded in 1981, the International Year of Disabled People, to provide people with disability with a voice of our own. We have a cross-disability focus; we represent the interests of people with all kinds of disability. PWD is a non-profit, non-government organisation.

For information about membership of PWD, contact Allyson Campbell at PWD.
or on one of numbers below.

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++Privacy statement

We are committed to protecting your privacy. In doing so, we commit ourselves to conforming to the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Bill 2000, which came into effect in December 2001 and the National Privacy Principles issued by the Australian Privacy Commissioner.

This newsletter is distributed by email. You have provided us with an email address. This email address will be used only for the purpose for which you have provided it and you will not be added to any other mailing lists unless you specifically request that this be done.

Your email address will not be disclosed without your consent. You can have your email address removed from the mailing list for this newsletter by sending an email to Allyson Campbell at PWD.

This newsletter contains links to websites. We cannot be held responsible for the privacy practices (or lack thereof) or the content of such websites.

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People with Disability Australia Incorporated
PO Box 666 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Phone 02 9370 3100, toll-free 1800 422 015
TTY 02 9318 2138, toll-free 1800 422 016

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