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Home Publications |
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Disability and Arts Victoria |
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September 2001
Contents
Disability and Arts Victoria
Why disability?
What does it mean?
What are we doing?
How are we responding?
Want to know more?
Do you have comments?
Disability and Arts Victoria
Arts Victoria is responsible for the implementation of the State Government's
arts policy which seeks to develop a vibrant and dynamic arts industry.
Why disability?
Arts Victoria's objective is:
To enhance the contribution of creative industries to Victoria and enrich
community wellbeing by expanding access to and participation in the arts
by all Victorians.
To this end, all Arts Victoria policies, programs and services will be
accessible and responsive to the needs of people with disabilities and
people with disabilities will be involved in our consultative processes.
What Does it Mean?
Disability Discrimination Act
The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act came into effect in July
1992. Under this Act discrimination on the basis of disability is unlawful.
The Act recognises that people with a disability have the same fundamental
rights as other people and should have equal opportunity to have access
to, and participate in, community life.
Disability
Disability is a broad term that is applied to a diverse range of people.
Each individual's experience of disability is unique and can be influenced
by age, cause, attitude, family or cultural background, opportunity, adjustment
of physical, sensory and other factors.
Disability is defined in the Disability Discrimination Act. A disability
includes:
- total or partial loss of a bodily or mental function, e.g. quadriplegia,
epilepsy, acquired brain injury, polio, spina bifida, Parkinson's disease,
multiple sclerosis
- total or partial loss of a part of the body
- presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness, e.g. HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis, cancer
- presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness,
e.g. asthma, allergies
- a condition which results in a person learning differently, e.g. intellectual
disability, dyslexia
- a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes
or which results in disturbed behaviour, e.g. psychiatric disability.
It includes a disability that the person:
- has now
- had in the past
- may have in the future, or
- is believed to have.
Discrimination
Discrimination is less than favourable treatment of somebody
because of his or her disability.
What Are We Doing?
A Disability Action Plan
Arts Victoria has developed a Disability Action Plan which has four objectives:
- Leadership - to play a leadership role in increasing awareness of disability issues
within the arts community and the arts portfolio
- Workplace culture - to achieve a responsive anti-discriminatory culture within Arts Victoria
- Communication - to improve accessibility to information about Arts Victoria services
and to ensure that all information is user-friendly for everyone
- Physical environment - to create a physical environment which is barrier free for people with
disabilities
How Are We Responding?
Service Delivery and Program Administration
- We are providing all Arts Victoria's public information in a variety
of formats including hard copy, electronic, large print and braille. Services
such as TTY and Translating and Interpreting Services will be available.
- We will ensure that forums and events organised by Arts Victoria are
held at venues that are, or can be made, accessible for people with disabilities.
Knowledge and Attitudes
- Arts Victoria staff will participate in a training session covering
the Disability Discrimination Act, our Disability Action Plan and an awareness
of additional resources.
- Staff training will ensure that appropriate language is used and prompt
responses are made in addressing disability issues that emerge.
- We are promoting a greater awareness of disability issues within the
Victorian arts industry forums and promoting our Disability Action Plan
as a reference model.
Physical Environment
- We are identifying and addressing existing physical barriers that may
be restricting access to Arts Victoria workplace at 2 Kavanagh St, South
Melbourne.
- We will ensure that the workplace environment meets any specialised
needs of employees with disabilities.
- We are developing emergency evacuation procedures appropriate for people
with disabilities.
Want to Know More?
Other resources
You can download a full copy of the Arts Victoria Disability Action Plan (62KB) in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF).
Arts Access is the statewide peak body promoting access in the arts for
people with disabilities and those who are socially disadvantaged. Programs
include advocacy, advice and referral, as well as artistic programs, international
exchanges, disability awareness training, venue accreditation and ticketing
programs. Arts Access has copies of the Disability Fact Pack for Arts
and Cultural Organisations.
Arts Access
24 Eastern Road
South Melbourne Victoria 3205
Telephone 03 9699 8299
Facsimile 03 9699 8868
TTY 03 9699 7636
Email info@artsaccess.com.au
Internet www.artsaccess.com.au
For other information including:
- other organisations' Disability Action Plans
- assistance with writing your own Plan
- information on the Disability Discrimination Act
go to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website at www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 1042
Telephone 02 9284 9600
Facsimile 02 9284 9611
TTY 1800 620 241
General enquiries and publications 1300 369 711
Do You Have Comments?
We welcome your feedback and comments.
Arts Victoria
Level 6
2 Kavanagh Street
Southbank VIC 3006
Telephone 03 9954 5000
Facsimile 03 9686 6186
TTY 03 9682 4864
Toll Free 1800 134 894
Email Arts Victoria
Internet www.arts.vic.gov.au
This publication is also available in audio and large print formats. Please
contact Karen Raabe on (03) 9954 5058, toll free 1800 134 894 or email Arts Victoria for other formats. |
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