Brimbank council has adopted a revised Disability Action Plan designed to support people with a disability along with their families and carers.
The plan was adopted last week following release of a draft version to the community in July and August last year. It follows a similar plan, which expired last year.
The new plan will be in place until 2020.
Mayor John Hedditch said it was important to set out strong goals to ensure people living with a disability were well provided for. “Statistics tell us that one in five Victorians has a disability,” Cr Hedditch said.
“In addition, people with a disability are more likely to experience relatively poor health; lower levels of participation in education, training and employment; social exclusion; lack of access to goods, services and facilities; and ongoing discrimination.
“The council is committed to ensuring people with a disability are afforded the same rights and opportunities to live, work and socialise as everyone else.”
The Disability Action Plan outlines several goals for the next four years, including:
•Increasing promotion of people with a disability in council publications;
•Developing and supporting mentoring and work-experience opportunities for people with a disability;
•Improved safety and accessibility for people using transport infrastructure: roads, public transport, footpaths, crossings and carparks; •Advocating for increased availability of accessible, affordable and flexible housing close to services and facilities; and
•Promoting and delivering recreational, leisure and health and wellbeing services, and activities and programs accessible for people with a disability, their families and carers.
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The council will now develop an implementation plan to identify what actions are needed to address these goals, as well as what funding will be needed in the next budget to deliver them.
A disability advisory committee including residents, service providers, disability groups and council representatives is proposed to oversee implementation of the action plan.
