Tuesday, December 16, 2014

New Year's Eve Accessibility Info



Each year, the Sydney New Year’s Eve event is viewed by more than a million people around Sydney Harbour and more than a billion people worldwide.  

picture of harbour, opera house, bridge and boats at night with fireworks coming off harbour bridge
Courtesy of City of Sydney
The City of Sydney aims to produce an experience of Sydney New Year’s Eve that is safe, inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for all.

Whether you join the 1.6 million spectators on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore, or take part from the comfort of your own home, here is some useful information to welcome in the New Year. 

Top tools to plan your night!

·     Your one-stop-shop for everything accessiblesydneynewyearseve.com/accessibility

Vantage point mobility access information and route maps for selected locations sydneynewyearseve.com/vantage-points

 The official 2014 Sydney New Year’s Eve App brought to you by Telstra –  sydneynewyearseve.com/app

   

Other ways to be part of the night

Audio Description – A live audio description will be broadcast on 2RPH from 7.45pm on 1224AM, 100.5FM, 2RPH digital and online at 2rph.org.au. Highlights including 9PM Family Fireworks, Harbour of Light Parade and Midnight Fireworks Display will be audio described live from the foreshore by professional audio describers, bringing the 2014 Sydney New Year’s Eve program to life for listeners.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

NSW Disability Inclusion Act (2014) commences



The 3 December 2014, International Day of People with Disability, appropriately marks the commencement of the NSW Disability Inclusion Act (2014), which promotes the rights of people with disability and commits the NSW Government to making communities more inclusive and accessible for people with disability.


This significant legislation, which replaces the Disability Services Act (1993), has two broad aims – one is to say how disability supports and services will be provided in NSW during the move to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The other is to make sure that even after NSW has moved to NDIS that NSW is a place where people with disability can access mainstream services and be fully included in the community. 


“We’ve come a long way in the last few decades” says Disability Council member Unis Goh, PSM “The many improvements have culminated in the new Act, which recognises that people with disability have the same rights as others.”


Unis also sees the Act as making a strong commitment to inclusion. “The legislation gives us a vision of a civilised community with inclusive neighbourhoods but also a framework for removing barriers affecting people in everyday life.”


What this will mean is better access to mainstream services and facilities and more opportunities for participation in the community. The benefits will be far-reaching.


To ensure that inclusion becomes a reality, a whole-of-government, four-year State Disability Inclusion Plan aims to improve access to mainstream services.


Consistent with this plan, NSW Government departments, local councils, and some other public authorities will develop disability inclusion action plans to provide better access to their services to people with disability. Planning must involve people with disability so that action is practical and makes a real difference.


Don’t DIS my ABILITY Ambassador Matthew Hennig looks forward to more accessible public buildings when councils develop disability inclusion action plans under the new legislation.


portrait image of Matthew in a suit and tie smiling at the camera
Don’t DIS my ABILITY Ambassador Matthew Hennig
For Matthew, it’s the simple things (for the rest of society anyway) that count, like being able to use the front door at a restaurant or club. Matthew must often use the back door because it’s the only one that is wheelchair accessible. “It sticks my disability out there when that happens” he says. Matthew holds a Building Access Appraisal Certificate and so takes a professional as well as personal interest in accessibility.


Everyone interested is urged to get involved to make sure these plans reflect what you need to live the life you want.


For further information on the Disability Inclusion Act, including what it means for people with disability, their families and carers as well as service providers, please visit www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/dia