Comments on: How many sticks to build a footpath? http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/how-many-sticks-to-build-a-footpath/ Celebrating diversity Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:29:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Glee http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/how-many-sticks-to-build-a-footpath/#comment-165 Glee Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:44:42 +0000 http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-165 That's a bummer activevoice1. I know all about having to choose which battle to fight and appreciate what you say. I guess they think they are above the law. Sigh. cheers Glee That’s a bummer activevoice1. I know all about having to choose which battle to fight and appreciate what you say.

I guess they think they are above the law. Sigh.

cheers
Glee

]]> By: activevoice1 http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/how-many-sticks-to-build-a-footpath/#comment-164 activevoice1 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:49:42 +0000 http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-164 Thanks for comments. Glee, this council does not have a disability action plan nor an access committee - disbanded it. It is in one of the most affluent areas of Sydney. I quoted article 9 of UN Convention to them and also asked some Federal politicians to chat with them about their strange and illegal views. I know we can drag them through HREOC, just have to choose my battles/bureaucracies, and we seem to have plenty to choose from! Thanks for comments. Glee, this council does not have a disability action plan nor an access committee – disbanded it. It is in one of the most affluent areas of Sydney. I quoted article 9 of UN Convention to them and also asked some Federal politicians to chat with them about their strange and illegal views. I know we can drag them through HREOC, just have to choose my battles/bureaucracies, and we seem to have plenty to choose from!

]]> By: Glee http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/how-many-sticks-to-build-a-footpath/#comment-163 Glee Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:17:50 +0000 http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-163 Most local councils have a Disability Action Plan which maps out how they will progressively provide equity within the area including all their buildings, services and streetscape. Ask them for a copy of their Action Plan. Tell the council that if they do not provide the access then you will take them to HREOC and make a complaint under the Disability Discrimination Act. They are breaking the law in the first place and then further discriminating against you (as an associate you are covered by the DDA as well) and your son by saying you must pay for the access. Go to this site http://www.hreoc.gov.au/complaints_information/lodging.html#online and lodge an online complaint. Good luck. Often just the threat will make them move! They know the score and they will use bluff to get rid of you. Call their bluff. cheers Glee Most local councils have a Disability Action Plan which maps out how they will progressively provide equity within the area including all their buildings, services and streetscape. Ask them for a copy of their Action Plan.

Tell the council that if they do not provide the access then you will take them to HREOC and make a complaint under the Disability Discrimination Act. They are breaking the law in the first place and then further discriminating against you (as an associate you are covered by the DDA as well) and your son by saying you must pay for the access. Go to this site http://www.hreoc.gov.au/complaints_information/lodging.html#online and lodge an online complaint.

Good luck. Often just the threat will make them move! They know the score and they will use bluff to get rid of you. Call their bluff.

cheers
Glee

]]> By: Mary Lou Carter http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/how-many-sticks-to-build-a-footpath/#comment-146 Mary Lou Carter Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:45:57 +0000 http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-146 If you visit the website of any local council there will be pages of policy dealing with inclusion of people with disabilities. Apart from empty and meaningless gestures Councils have no-one on staff who have any notion of what inclusion really means. Rarely does policy reach beyond worthy words, as if the inclusion of the word inclusion in policy makes it so. We also have a federal department of social inclusion what is its brief. Our deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is the Minister for Social Inclusion. She is a very busy woman with the enormous demands of her two other portfolios of WorkPlace Relations and Education there is perhaps little time for her to devote the attention that is needed for the Social Inclusion portfolio. It perhaps should be a stand alone portfolio on which an enterprising young parliamentarian might cut their teeth and really make it something practical and inclusive. I urge all of you who have children with disabilities who need access to the physical environment to ensure there is a practical expression of what is written in policy by local councils, by state and federal governments. Write to Genia McAffrey who is the President of the Local Government Association of NSW and put to her that all local councils need to do more to include people with disabilities, more than just words. It's the deeds not the words that speak most loudly. If you visit the website of any local council there will be pages of policy dealing with inclusion of people with disabilities. Apart from empty and meaningless gestures Councils have no-one on staff who have any notion of what inclusion really means. Rarely does policy reach beyond worthy words, as if the inclusion of the word inclusion in policy makes it so.

We also have a federal department of social inclusion what is its brief. Our deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is the Minister for Social Inclusion. She is a very busy woman with the enormous demands of her two other portfolios of WorkPlace Relations and Education there is perhaps little time for her to devote the attention that is needed for the Social Inclusion portfolio. It perhaps should be a stand alone portfolio on which an enterprising young parliamentarian might cut their teeth and really make it something practical and inclusive.

I urge all of you who have children with disabilities who need access to the physical environment to ensure there is a practical expression of what is written in policy by local councils, by state and federal governments.

Write to Genia McAffrey who is the President of the Local Government Association of NSW and put to her that all local councils need to do more to include people with disabilities, more than just words. It’s the deeds not the words that speak most loudly.

]]> By: terriblepalsy http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/how-many-sticks-to-build-a-footpath/#comment-145 terriblepalsy Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:02:38 +0000 http://equalnotspecial.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-145 Geez. Just when you think that the big wigs can't come out with anything stupider . . . Geez. Just when you think that the big wigs can’t come out with anything stupider . . .

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