Channel Selection: Alternate formats
Commonwealth Disability Strategy - Better Information and Communication Practices
Agency: Department of Family and Community Services (Office of Disability)
Reference:
http://www.facsia.gov.au/disability/cds/default.htm [
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http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/disability/cds/bicp/ []
About: The Commonwealth Disability Strategy provides Commonwealth organisations with a framework to assist them to develop and deliver policies, programs and services which are accessible for people with disabilities.
In addition to meeting general accessibility requirements (eg W3C guidelines), agencies should be able to provide information in alternate formats when requested or required. To support this requirement, the Office of Disability has put together a register that provides details of individuals and organisations who can prepare information in a range of formats that are accessible to people with disabilities (eg audio cassette, large print, braille, easy english, illustrations).
Status: Agencies are required to report progress against the Strategy in their annual reports. The Strategy operates within a framework of legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The Strategy complements a number of other current initiatives (including those of NOIE and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission) to make information, particularly electronic information, accessible to people with disabilities.
The Register of Providers of Information in Accessible Formats provides guidance to agencies (the use of these providers is not mandatory)
Contact for information on this page: webpublishing@finance.gov.au