Australian Blindness Forum Summit

Australian Blindness Forum Summit

The Australian Blindness Forum (ABF) is the peak body representing blindness, low vision and rehabilitation in the blindness sector. ABF comprises of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT along with 15 other blindness sector organisations, including consumer agencies and service providers.

Membership of ABF is open to any organisation that has as its primary objects the provision of services to people who are blind or vision impaired, or whose activities are substantially connected with the welfare of people who are blind or vision impaired. ABF is represented in every state and territory of Australia and is Australia’s representative to the World Blind Union.

ABF’s mission is to promote the effective functioning of blindness agencies by exchanging ideas and information and by influencing the policy agenda of governments. Every six months the ABF holds a summit attended by member and associate member organisations.

The most recent summit was held on the 5th and 6th of April in Melbourne. There was a packed agenda with speakers discussing various topics including the NDIS, Aged Care Reform, Audio Description, Accessible Banking, Disability Employment, emerging technologies and the future of the Disability Sector. A summary of summit proceedings and outcomes are described below.

Summit proceedings and outcomes

Communication

·  The report on ABC’s trial of Audio Description has been released and is available at Department of Communications website

·  Minister Fifield announced (with Assistant minister Jane Prentice) the formation of an Audio Description Working Group to examine options for increasing the availability of audio description services in Australia. The Working Group terms of reference are available here: Department of Communications website

·  ABF to be one of the blindness sector representatives on the Audio Description Working Group once established.

·  Changes to the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill 2016 have passed the House of Representative and are expected to be passed by the senate mid-year. This will allow greater access to copyrighted material for people with disability.

·  The Marrakesh Treaty, formally referred to as the “Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled” was instigated by the World Blind Union (WBU), an International body of which the Australian Blindness Forum is Australia’s representative organisation. The WBU provides a summary of the Treaty and the historical background at World Blind Union website.

·  Australia is a signatory to the Marrakesh Treaty that came into force on 30 September 2016 and has already been involved in cross-border sharing of books between Canada and Vision Australia. Once the Copyright Amendment Bill (see above) is passed, the Government will continue to work with the blindness sector to improve access to copyright material for people who are blind or vision impaired.

Banking

·  Lena Rizk from the Australian Banking Association (ABA) noted the ABA is committed to accessibility and promoting best practice. The Australian Banking Association (ABA) are currently reviewing their Guiding Principles for accessibility of banking products.

·  An earlier draft of the principles submitted to the Australian Blindness Forum were found to require significant review however the ABA has committed to engage in ongoing consultation with ABF and other stakeholders , as part of their review.

·  ABA are looking at incorporating accessibility into the Code of Banking Practice, this will give increased capability to enforce the guiding principals

·  Once implemented the reforms will set up a complaint system to deal with issues relating to the accessibility of banking products, this will provide an avenue to resolve issues without the need to go direct to the Human Rights Commission

NDIS

·  The NDIA is working to ensure forms and information are in an accessible format for the widest possible audience.

·  Large text versions of core NDIS communication products, My NDIS pathway and Early Childhood Early Intervention, are available to NDIA staff and Community Partners to share with participants on request.

·  From December 2016 the NDIS Access Request Form:

o  has been available in braille, and

o  is electronically accessible allowing completion using screen reading assistive technology used by people who are vision impaired

·  Most first plans will be developed by phone-based planning conversations; however, you can request a Face-to-Face meeting

·  The NDIA has established a Technical Advisory Team (TAT) which assists planners and NDIS Partners with the application of the NDIS Act, guidelines and reasonable and necessary decision making

·  If a participant thinks a decision made by the NDIA about them is wrong, they can submit an application for internal review within three months of receiving notification.

o  This includes review of the decision to approve a statement of participant supports

o  A request for review of a decision can be made in writing to the NDIA, by calling 1800 800 110 or talking to someone at an NDIA office.

o  Following an internal review, if a person still thinks the decision is wrong, they can seek an external review to the Administrative Appeal Tribunal

·  Participants not receiving adequate plan support coordination should provide feedback to the NDIA.

·  A participant can also request a plan review at any time. They do this by completing a change of circumstances form.

o  The NDIA has 14 days in which to decide if we conduct a review of the plan.

National Disability Service

·  Reference was made to the 2016 National Disability Service (NDS) State of the Sector Report. A copy of the report can be found at NDS website .

·  The NDS have drafted a paper, 'How to get the NDIS on track', which proposes practical measures to reduce the avoidable pressure and risk and to help secure the future of the NDIS.

Disability Employment Service (DES)

·  The DES finds work for people who are currently unemployed and looking for work.

·  A person with a Disability can elect to receive Disability Employment Services; you do not have to be referred by Centrelink.

·  In early 2015, the Government established the Disability Employment Taskforce to consult with the disability community on the strengths and weaknesses of the current approach to disability employment.

·  Based on the general principles identified by the Taskforce, the five primary areas for improving DES are:

o  Increasing participant choice and control in the services they need;

o  Driving greater competition and contestability in DES;

o  Aligning incentives to support better outcomes;

o  Improving the gateway and assessment process for DES participants; and

o  Assistance in the workplace.

·  The consultation process has now closed, however the DES Reform Discussion paper is still able to be reviewed at DES website.

Macular Disease Foundation

·  The Macular Disease Foundation presented their paper Low vision, quality of life and independence. A review of the evidence on aids and technologies. A copy of the report can be found at MD Foundation website

Aged Care Reform Policy

·  The Policy Manager within the Aged Care Reform Secretariat at the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) led a discussion on improving the interface between the aged care and disability sectors’. A link to the NACA discussion paper can be found at: NACA website

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT clients are encouraged to make comments on these or any other issues that affect blind or vision impaired consumers to Blind Citizen’s Australia, email , phone toll free 1800 033 660. Alternatively please contact the Client Feedback Officer on 0466 306 827 or

The next ABF Summit is scheduled for October 2017. For more information on ABF, please visit ABF website.