Title

Consultation with Australians with disabilities as a means of evaluating accessible public transport

Authors

Margo Hodge

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Infrastructure - Signage, Mobility - Disability Discrimination Act, Mobility - Disabled

Abstract

In Australia, accessible public transport has been mandated under national human rights legislation of the Disability Discrimination Act (2002) that applies in all states and territories .Implementation of accessible public transport is guidedby subordinate legislation called Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002). By December 2007, in accordance with this legislation, the first five yearly review of the implementation of these Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002) must take place. As a representative of people with disabilities, I was asked to recommend to the Accessible Public Transport National Advisory Committee (APTNAC) the most appropriate form of consultation for this review. This paper provides a perspective of a person with a disability who has been directly involved since 1992 in the process of the development, evaluation, implementation and now the review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002) in Australia. This paper presents my major recommendations to APTNAC : (1) there should be a representative of people with a disability on the review steering committee (2) the roadshow model of consultation and supplementary consultations in remote areas should be used. My recommendations are based on consultations with people with disabilities during the development and implementation of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002) in Australia, reference to experience in other countries, and discussions with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO). Throughout this paper I will highlight the importance of features needed for consultation with people with disabilities of feedback, accessibility of venues, provision of signage facilities or hearing loops, alternative formats of information, anecdotal evidence and collaborative discussion, negotiation and problem solving. I will also outline the review mechanisms of detailed audit, surveys, complaints resolution, action plans, workshops, submissions and steering committees that have been used for the different stages of development and implementation the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002).