Commission outlines priorities for action on disability rights

Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner Alastair McEwin has released the findings of the Shaping our Future: Discussions on Disability Rights national consultations.

Between October 2016 and March 2017, Commissioner McEwin and his team conducted national consultations to help guide his priorities and seek input from the disability community on how he can most effectively work to advance the rights of people with a disability.

"I strongly believe that nothing will change unless people with disability are actively involved and represented in decision-making processes that affect them," said Commissioner McEwin.

He met with over 1000 people in capital cities and regional centres across Australia and received 85 written submissions

The collection of stories, videos and infographics summarise what the team heard during his national consultations with people with disability and their representative organisations, families and communities. All of the videos are spoken and in Auslan, the language of the deaf community in Australia.

"It is important that all information is available in formats that are accessible to people with disability," Commissioner McEwin explained.

The following priorities have been identified for Mr McEwin's five-year term:

• Employment
• Education
• Housing
• The criminal justice system
• Implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
• Violence

Watch the videos and download the stories and infographics from the national consultations.

Date: 6 April 2017

Source: Australian Human Rights Commission