We're shining a spotlight on the accessibility areas we think Australia could improve on.
Aruma is more than just a service provider. We’re also a fierce defender of human rights. So today, we’re shining a spotlight on the areas of accessibility we think Australia could improve on.
Since the introduction of the Australian Disability Discrimination Act (1992), we’ve seen some enormous steps in the right direction toward a more inclusive and accessible society for all Australians.
But progress isn’t always straightforward or fast. As of today, six out of eight Australian states and territories have introduced a ban on plastic straws, which create a new challenge for people with a disability who rely on them to eat and drink.
Did you know that one in six Australians have a disability? That’s a lot of people who could be affected by these changes.
Here are five ‘gaps’ in accessibility that still exist in Australia and some great examples of what change-makers are doing to fight these inequalities on a global stage.
The internet has been around for over 30 years, but until recently, there was no requirement for websites to provide an accessible experience for people with a disability. This inequality was highlighted during COVID-19, when businesses and organisations rushed to the internet to limit face-to-face interactions without addressing how this would impact people with a disability.
In 2020, WebAIM analysed one million home pages for accessibility issues and found that 98.1% failed at least one of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) conformance criteria. Keen to learn more about website accessibility? Check out 4 Tips for Making Your Website Accessible.
What’s happening?
The Australian Human Rights Commission is currently updating guidance based on WCAG 2.0 to treat digital accessibility issues the same way we treat physical accessibility issues – an important oversight that was addressed in the 2023 Disability Royal Commission.
Tiny bathroom facilities and cramped spaces on airplanes have long been a challenge for many people with a disability. In Australia, most planes used for domestic travel do not have accessible bathrooms, which often means that people with a disability must travel dehydrated, with a catheter or with absorbent underwear.
The US is flying high when it comes to accessible air travel! Last year the US Department of Transportation announced a new rule requiring airlines to make all airplane bathrooms fully-accessible. The bathrooms will include grab bars, accessible faucets and controls, accessible call buttons and door locks, minimum obstruction to the passage of an on-board wheelchair, toe clearance and an available visual barrier for privacy. New regulations don’t impact existing planes and will take almost a decade to fully come into effect, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Sporting, music and social events cop a lot of flak in the media for their often-tokenistic attempt at providing an inclusive and accessible experience. Failings include ‘accessible’ seating, which isn’t actually accessible or too far from the stage, or bathrooms and promises of inclusive activities, which simply fail to meet the needs of people with a disability. They’re necessities that many event organisers are still working on perfecting.
For example, Heartbreak High actor, Chloe Hayden, accused staff at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium of “ableism and discrimination” during the Harry Styles concert last year. The star highlighted countless incidents that were reported around a lack of education of staff, with many people with a disability being denied access to the sensory room, lack of signage, and when people experiencing episodes asked for assistance, staff mocked and ridiculed them during anxiety attacks and meltdowns.
Stadium spokesperson Jay Allen apologised for the “hurt and inconvenience” and confirmed he would investigate reports and make “appropriate changes to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Have we made any progress?
Chloe Hayden also recently praised event organisers and hosts of a recent Taylor Swift concert at the MCG. “I can’t express the utter joy (and I’ll be honest, surprise) at hearing nothing but wonderful, positive experiences from concert go’ers,” Chloe wrote on Instagram. She called out the use of sunflower lanyards and priority access for lanyard holders, as well as supportive staff and a fully accessible and equipped sensory room for those who required it.
“Accessing public spaces should not be a privilege, it should be a given; and it is so, so exciting to see things finally happening to ensure that happens.” Chloe posted.
A step in the right direction! Event organisers and hosts nation-wide should be taking notes.
Under the Australian Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, all tram, train and bus stops/stations were meant to be fully compliant with the relevant accessibility standards by the end of 2022. This includes the availability of lifts, access paths, toilets, ramps, handrails and grabrails, lighting, hearing augmentation and more. However, almost two years later, only half of Australia’s public transport infrastructure meets accessibility standards.
Despite slow progress, there have been several public transport changes in recent years, which have improved accessibility for people with a disability. In March 2024, transport reforms were announced, which commit to providing information in accessible formats, onboard next-stop signage and audio announcements, and safety improvements for passengers who use mobility aids or wheelchairs when onboarding and disembarking public transport. There will also be more accessible taxi rank spaces and more education for transport staff around their roles and responsibilities. Although they may seem like small changes, they can make a big difference to the lives of people with a disability.
Accessible car parking remains an issue for people with a disability, with just one carpark out of 100 required to meet Australian standards. This is despite the number of mobility parking permits increasing by 60 per cent since 2007, which equates to almost 400,000 licence holders.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s standards dictate that at least 5% of spaces for public buildings should be accessible car parks, with a minimum of one space out of 25.
In 2021, the NRMA collaborated with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia to assess the state of accessibility parking in New South Wales (NSW). Their findings were published in the Where Do I Park? report, which captures seven recommendations to improve accessibility for people with a disability. The 2021 review of the Premises Standards also identified the need to improve car parking. Here’s hoping we can rival Ireland soon.
While changes to create a more accessible Australia may not happen overnight, we can see different parts of our community are working to make things better for people with a disability.
We should all feel encouraged to speak out, agitate for change and let law-makers know where the gaps are. What we walk past is what we accept, so if you see something inaccessible like an uneven or broken path, or lack of sidewalk ramps, notify your local council.
Or, if you’re looking for something more, you are invited to join Aruma’s Human Rights Advisory Committee to support the fight for a more accessible, inclusive world. We’d love to have you.
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