Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIPs) and State Govt Contracts

1. Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIPs) and State Govt Contracts Disability Services Commission

2. Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) • As required by the Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004) a DAIP outlines how public authorities will make their services, buildings and information accessible for people with disabilities. • Since 1996 public authorities have implemented Disability Services Plans and DAIPs now build on these original plans. Disability Services Commission

3. DAIP support The Disability Services Commission has provided: • 14 training sessions throughout the State; • DAIP resource manual and a model DAIP to assist agencies develop their DAIP; and • Ongoing support from Principal Officers to agencies. Disability Services Commission

4. Legislation supporting access • Disability Services Act (1993) Amended 1999 and 2004 • WA Equal Opportunity Act (1984) Amended 1988 • Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992) Disability Services Commission

5. DAIP desired outcomes DAIPs progress six outcomes, that people with disabilities have access to a public authority’s: • services and events; • buildings and other facilities; • information; • same level and quality of service (through appropriately aware staff); • complaint mechanisms; and • consultations. Disability Services Commission

6. DAIP access activities undertaken by public authorities Outcome 1 - Access services and events. Disability Services Commission

7. Ballajura Community College Disability Services Commission

8. WA Police Service Disability Services Commission

9. DAIP access activities undertaken by public authorities Outcome 2 - Access buildings and other facilities. Disability Services Commission

10. City of Gosnells Disability Services Commission

11. DAIP access activities undertaken by public authorities 3. Access information. Disability Services Commission

12. Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly CALM) Disability Services Commission

13. DAIP access activities undertaken by public authorities 4. Same level and quality of service through appropriately aware staff. Disability Services Commission

14. Subiaco Primary School Disability Services Commission

15. Desired outcomes for DAIPs 5. Access complaints processes. Disability Services Commission

16. Complaints Examples include: Disability Services Commission

17. Desired outcomes for DAIPs 6. Access public consultations. Disability Services Commission

18. Consultation Examples include: Disability Services Commission

19. Lodgement of DAIPs Public authorities are currently developing DAIPs and will lodge them with the Disability Services Commission by 31 July 2007. Disability Services Commission

20. DAIP requirements for State Government agencies “Take all practicable measures to implement the DAIP by its officers, employees, agents or contractors”; and Report to the Disability Services Commission each year on DAIP implementation progress, including progress by agents and contractors, and strategies used to inform agents and contractors about the DAIP. Disability Services Commission

21. DAIP requirements and contractors When a public authority uses agents and contractors to provide a service to the public, those activities must be undertaken in an accessible manner. Contractors will undertake their service consistent with DAIP outcomes relevant to their service. Disability Services Commission

22. The Special Condition The State Solicitor’s Office has developed a special condition of contract to be inserted into tender documents to clarify DAIP requirements. Through the special condition contractors will: • implement the public authority’s DAIP; and • provide a report to the public authority each year on the extent to which they have progressed the DAIP’s implementation. Disability Services Commission

23. The Special Condition SPECIAL CONDITION – DISABILITY ACCESS AND INCLUSION PLAN [Note: This clause should only be used if the Customer is required to have a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan under the Disability Services Act 1993.] (j) DISABILITY ACCESS AND INCLUSION PLAN If the Contract involves the supply of Services to the public, then the successful Respondent will: (i) to the extent practicable, implement the Customer's "Disability Access and Inclusion Plan" prepared under the Disability Services Act 1993; and (ii) provide a report to the Customer by [ ] in each year of the Contract Term reporting on the extent to which the successful Respondent has implemented the Customer's Disability Access And Inclusion Plan. Disability Services Commission

24. The Special Condition applies to: • New contracts or contract variations (including reassessment of ‘preferred provider’ status); and • Contracts for the provision of services to the public operating under the Department of Treasury and Finance framework and the State Supply Commission’s funding and purchasing human services policy. Disability Services Commission

25. The Special Condition does not apply to: Contracts where the agency is the only recipient of the services e.g. cleaning services, rewiring of office telephones etc. Disability Services Commission

26. DAIP requirements and contractors Agents and contractors do not have to develop a DAIP but are to: • conduct their business in a manner consistent with the public authority’s DAIP. Public authorities are to: • promote their DAIP to contractors; and • report once a year on the DAIP implementation, including progress by contractors. Disability Services Commission

27. Examples of access activities by contractors • Choosing an accessible venue for events; • Providing clear access in corridors and doorways free of boxes and other obstructions; • Using printed text in a dark colour to significantly contrast with the background; • Providing disability awareness training for staff Accepting complaints in a variety of formats; and • Using different consultation strategies when dealing with the public. Disability Services Commission

28. DAIP reporting by agencies to the Commission • Strategies to inform agents and contractors of the DAIP; • Total number of contractors providing a service to the public; • Total number of contractors that are progressing the DAIP (whether this is the progression of one DAIP outcome or many); and • For each outcome area, the number of contractors progressing that outcome. Disability Services Commission

29. Contractors submit a report about DAIP outcomes supported Disability Services Commission

30. Stages of DAIP Reporting Contractor – once a year, provides State Govt agency Contract Manager with a brief list of access activities undertaken to support the agency’s DAIP. Contract Managers (under both the DTF and SSC framework) – once a year, provide the State Govt agency’s DAIP contact officer with the number of contractors that are undertaking access activities for each DAIP outcome area. Agency’s DAIP contact officer – once a year, drafts the agency’s DAIP Progress Report for the Disability Services Commission, including contracting information. Disability Services Commission - aggregates the DAIP Progress Reports of all State Government agencies and provides a statewide report to the Minister for Disability Services. Minister then tables report in Parliament. Disability Services Commission

31. Resources available In addition to the written resources, $750,000 will be available later in the year for NGOs to analyse what they must do to bring their current service provision into alignment with their principal’s DAIP. For example, funding could be used to develop organisational processes and broadly address elements of the desired DAIP outcomes. Disability Services Commission

32. Resources available Principal Officers in the Commission’s Community Access and Information Branch can assist you with DAIP queries. DAIP specific information, including electronic copies of the DAIP resource manual and agents and contractors information, is available at www.dsc.wa.gov.au Disability Services Commission