Disability Action Plan

Willoughby City Council is currently reviewing its Disability Action Plan. It is anticipated that a Draft Plan will be completed by July 2012. People with disabilities constitute a significant proportion of the Willoughby community and they have a right to participate as fully as possible in community life. Council welcomes input from the community on the development of the new Disability Action Plan. If you would like to contribute to the consultation process for the development of Council’s next Disability Action Plan contact Council’s Policy and Projects Officer on 9777 7970 or email meredith.harrison@willoughby.nsw.gov.au.

What is a Disability Action Plan?

The implementation of a Disability Action Plan is a requirement of all Councils and other service providers under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).  A Disability Action Plan outlines strategies for changing and improving an organisation’s operational practices and procedures that may otherwise result in discrimination against a person/people with a disability.The development of a Disability Action Plan helps an organisation to identify potentially discriminatory practices and provides a blue-print for eliminating these practices. It also assists an organisation to identify practices which support and facilitate the provision of services to people with disabilities and the equitable inclusion of all people in the life of a local community.

What does the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 aim to achieve?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) makes it unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods, services or facilities, against people on the basis that they have, or may have, a disability.  It also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis that one of their associates has or may have a disability. The DDA requires that appropriate anti-discrimination standards be met where possible and reasonable, regardless of the number of people involved. The DDA applies to all local governments throughout Australia and reinforces Councils’ general obligation to not treat a person with a disability less favourably than it would treat a person without a disability in similar circumstances.