ACCAN recently submitted to the Australia Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (the Strategy) Guiding Principles consultation. The Strategy provides a 10-year plan for improving the lives of Australians with disability. The guiding principles inform the policies/programs/services introduced by governments and businesses to implement the Strategy. This submission was informed by ACCAN’s consultation with our members and was endorsed by Vision Australia, Blind Citizens Australia and Deaf Australia.

ACCAN submitted the following:

•  Access to digital communications technology is a basic human right, that enables the enjoyment of other human rights for people with disability, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
• The guiding principles of the Strategy have positive intentions to increase the participation of people with disability in the community, but they overlook and neglect the role that digital communications technology plays in shaping the opportunities afforded to people with disability.
• The overall success of the Strategy is contingent on the availability of affordable and accessible digital communications technologies and services for people with disability.

Download:  Australia's 2021-2031 Disability Strategy5.15 MB

Download:  Australia's 2021-2031 Disability Strategy385.38 KB