Under the DIAP, there’ll be special consideration about what people with disability need when planning new buildings and projects.
It will also mean better footpaths, parking and access into parks/playgrounds, including essential wheelchair accessibility; community and individual work places will be better educated about disability; the creation of special library programs for people with disability, extra support to help disabled people speak up; and proposals to ensure everyone can easily use public swimming pools.
The four-year plan also sets out a need for the council to hire more staff with disability, as well as ways to make sure more disabled people can work in the community.
Bankstown resident Julie Magill who lives with cerebral palsy, appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the plan.
She serves on the council’s Universal Access Committee and attended focus groups and gave feedback before the plan was adopted.
“To have been part of the process is a big step, not just for me, but for other disabled people. To be involved in the conversation and decisions on what is important for the next four years shows that disabled people are front and centre of the plan,” Julie said.
“The plan means that people with disability will have better access to the community and it lifts barriers to employment and makes information more accessible.”
Fellow committee member and Yagoona resident, Dr Abdul Zaitoun, emphasises the importance of the plan in combating isolation for people with disability.
“Isolation can be a big issue. We need to have respect for people with disability and help them be integrated into the community,” he said.
Read the full plan at https://webdocs.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/api/publish?documentPath=aHR0cDovL2lzaGFyZS9zaXRlcy9TZXJ2aWNlcy9jcy9DUEQvRGlzYWJpbGl0eS9ESUFQIDIwMjItMjYvRklOQUwgRGlzYWJpbGl0eSBJbmNsdXNpb24gQWN0aW9uIFBsYW4gMjAyMi0yNi5wZGY=&title=FINAL%20Disability%20Inclusion%20Action%20Plan%202022-26.pdf
