NDS makes submissions to Victoria's State Disability Plan
I need to know this because:
- NDS recommends that the SDP should promote active citizenship through a community education campaign and continued support of independent advocacy organisations
- The SDP and Infrastructure Victoria should address infrastructural barriers, especially regarding housing and transport
- The SDP should foster economic participation by providing incentives for employers to employ people with disabilities and supporting diversity targets
- The SDP should encourage the Vic government to address the implications of pricing, interface of NDIS and mainstream services, workforce issues, block funding
NDS’s submission on Victoria’s State Disability Plan (SDP) 2017-2020 welcomes the Plan’s commitment to human rights, community inclusion and focus on increasing individual choice and control, while making a number of recommendations.
The establishment of an updated SDP underscores the critical role of the Victorian government as disability services transition to the NDIS. This is an opportunity for the Victorian government to promote active citizenship, economic participation, and rights and equality for people with disabilities, while making the most of the NDIS.
NDS’ submission recommends that a central government agency such as the Department of Premier and Cabinet oversee the implementation of the SDP in order to coordinate and drive cross-sector change across infrastructure, transportation, education, health and other areas.
Specifically, NDS recommends that the SDP promote active citizenship through a community education campaign and continued support for independent advocacy organisations. NDS also recommends that the SDP uphold rights and equality for people with disabilities by addressing infrastructural barriers.
As such, NDS urges the SDP to support development of a Disability Housing Strategy and to adopt the minimum standards for universal design. Similarly, NDS recommends that the SDP requires public transport infrastructure to be accessible and compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
NDS urges the SDP to include the continued provision of Legal Aid for people with disabilities so as to ensure equitable access to justice. To promote social capital among people with disabilities, NDS recommends that the SDP encourages community engagement, volunteering, and participation in sports, the arts, and disability support groups. Additionally, NDS maintains that the SDP should foster economic participation by providing incentives for employers to employ people with disabilities and by encouraging Victorian government departments to work towards diversity targets.
Finally, NDS recommends that the SDP maximise the potential of the NDIS in Victoria by supporting the not-for-profit disability support sector and by encouraging the Victorian government to exert its influence on the implementation of the NDIS. In particular, the SDP should focus on the implications of pricing, the interface of NDIS and mainstream services, workforce issues and current disability block funding.
