The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Australians with disabilities will soon find it easier to access government information online.

Minister for Finance and Deregulation Lindsay Tanner and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten said the Rudd Government had endorsed new website accessibility standards, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

“This is an important step in making democracy more open, accessible and accountable for all Australians,” Lindsay Tanner said.

“It will encourage and enable people living with disabilities to more fully interact with, and get services from government online.”

The new standard replaces WCAG 1.0, a mandated requirement for agencies since 2000.

More information can be found here.

“Free opening weekend Spectacular”

A Little More Light is a free Adelaide Festival pyrotechnic show held in Victoria Park that will be audio described and include an accessible viewing area hosted by the Disability Transition and Arts Team with electric wheelchair charging points, water for guide dogs and some seating.

The Audio Description will enhance the experience giving the visual details of the performance by Groupe F; the people who lit up the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 1998 French World Cup. All you need is a small radio receiver to listen to the description which will also be broadcast live on Radio Adelaide 101.5FM from 8.45pm. It’s recommended that you bring your own radio as only a limited number will be available on the night.

Designated parking and drop-off zones will also be available on Beaumont Road.

Large crowds are anticipated. A free shuttle bus will be available from Adelaide Train Station as well as public transport, parking and bike friendly services.

So take a blanket, take the radio, and take your places to celebrate the Adelaide Festival’s 50th anniversary with a bang!

A Little More Light – GROUPE F

WHERE: Victoria Park Racecourse (Southern End)

WHEN: 27 February at 8.45pm

DURATION: 45mins

You can view an accessibility map of the event here.

For more information about accessibility services at the Adelaide Festival visit:

http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/servlet/Web?s=2290869&p=AF_Access_Information

For other enquiries please contact Gaelle Mellis on 0412098727 or gmellis@cansa.net.au.

Recently, Village Roadshow, Greater Union, Hoyts and Reading Cinemas applied for exemption from the Disability Discrimination Act for two and a half years.

If the exemption is granted, cinemas will only have to provide a minimal amount of captioning and audio description in only 105 out of 41,370 screenings per week.

If you wish to protest about this please see this template. Feel free to fill it out or modify it as you feel is appropriate.

Dignity for Disability will shortly be holding a protest rally to object to the lack of accessibility provisions for people with vision and hearing impairments in Australian cinemas.

When

11am Saturday 13th February

Where

The Piccadilly Cinema
181 O’Connell St
Nth Adelaide

More Information

Please view the flyer.

Email Dignity for Disability at d4d@d4d.com.au.

Dignity for Disability on Facebook www.facebook.com/DignityforDisability.