Inclusive communities for all

Social inclusion is a priority for people living with disability as it affects all aspects of their lives. It is our aim that the contributions and rights of people living with disability are valued and understood by all South Australians and that their rights are promoted, upheld and protected. We also want to ensure that people living with disability are supported to advocate for their own rights.

Key words

Social inclusion, rights, community education and awareness, involvement in community.

‘I’ statements

• I am understood and valued
• I am included in the community
• I know my rights.

Priorities

Priority 1: Involvement in the community

Priority 2: Improving community understanding and awareness

Priority 3: Promoting the rights of people living with disability

Quotes from the consultation

Priority 1: Involvement in the community

Actions

1. Develop an event toolkit to promote accessible and inclusive practices for State authorities in community events.
2. Explore the redesign or creation of an app (or other medium) that displays existing and future services and facilities (such as toilets, eateries, sports and recreation facilities, parks and trails, arts organisations and cultural institutions, transport services, beaches that are wheelchair and disability-access friendly).
3. Develop and promote inclusive play guidelines to guide local councils and other community groups in the development of accessible and inclusive playgrounds and play spaces.
4. Collaborate with relevant organisations to run disability access and inclusion awareness training for arts organisations, cultural institutions, sporting organisations and clubs.
5. Explore opportunities to increase the involvement of children with disability in sports and cultural activities, for example:
   • expanding the Sports Voucher program for children living with disability
   • providing extra support for children living with disability to participate in VACSWIM
   • promoting the availability of arts programs for children living with disability.

Back to top

Priority 2: Improving community understanding and awareness

Actions

6. Work with relevant State authorities to improve community understanding and awareness that complements and leverages the national effort under the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 and the emerging national disability strategy for beyond 2020.
7. Work with the Commonwealth Government to develop data indicators that measure changes in community attitudes about the rights and needs of people living with disability.

Back to top

Priority 3: Promoting the rights of people living with disability

Actions

8. Review disability awareness training packages within State Government agencies, including public health settings, to establish best practice and implement for new and existing employees.
9. Ensure induction of new State authority employees includes information about working with people living with disability.

Back to top

Quotes from the consultation

• “Everyone has a responsibility to make our community inclusive”
• “Fun is underrated”
• “Attitudinal changes are key to making physical changes and removing barriers”.

Back to top