Involved eNews – 26 November

Hello and welcome to INVOLVED eNews

 

International Day of People with Disability (I-Day) is fast approaching and we’re preparing a special

I-Day edition of Involved on I-Day, Friday 3 December.

 

We love the United Nation’s 2021 theme for I-Day, ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world”. As there have been some strong leaders emerge who have urged us to capture the innovations and learnings from the COVID-19 health emergency.

 

The Federal Government will launch the new Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 in Canberra on

I-Day. The new strategy will provide an overarching direction for the next 10 years. Over the coming year the ACT Government will develop a 10-year whole-of-government ACT Disability Strategy and we will consult and engage with people with disability, the disability sector and community to co-design this strategy. This offers the opportunity to create a post-COVID-19 world where inclusiveness, responsiveness and flexibility are standard practices, embedded in attitudes, systems and processes of government and community.

 

Given the impacts of the COVID-19 Health Emergency, the Chief Ministers Inclusion Awards is not able to be held this year. However, we are doing something different to celebrate the inclusion, support and engagement of people with disability over the last year.

To celebrate and acknowledge the individuals, organisations and businesses nominated in 2021, a series of videos will be released from 3 December, with a specific theme for each which align with Inclusion Awards categories and highlight great examples of progress make toward better inclusion in our community.

The videos will focus on celebrating the good and positive stories which have emerged since the beginning of the COVID-19 Health Emergency. Celebrating inclusion in our community rather than awarding individuals and organisations.

There will also be a series of social media posts to be released commencing next week via Involved FaceBook. The posts will highlight the outstanding achievements of people who were nominated earlier this year and their stories will be uploaded to the Involved website.

We’re really looking forward to sharing these stories with you.

 

 

Disability Provider Alert – 23 November

The Department of Health has issued its next COVID-19 vaccination – Disability provider alert 23 November 2021

 

This provider alert along with other resources and information about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is available from a dedicated web page for disability service providers on the Department of Health website. This page will be updated regularly. 

 

The Department of Health will continue to update the following webpage Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines with any new advice on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.  

 

 

 

ABC TV has partnered with I-Day

The ABC is partnering with I-Day to tell a range of stories by and about people with disability across ABC Online, Radio, TV and iView. Below are links to some of the great stories:

I'm always the only scientist in the room in a wheelchair. It shouldn't be this way

Meet Alter Boy, the Perth outfit bringing deaf, hard of hearing and trans stories to the front

On International Day of People with Disability, Oliver has a message for all Australians

 

Making a visit to the hairdresser a better experience and more accessible

 

Soprano Jordie Howell talks about performing opera as a blind person

 

Auslan Choir Master Tallula Bourne.runs a choir online

 

 

Invitation to Disability Yarning Circle

The Disability Reference Group invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability and their families to an afternoon tea, to yarn and connect.

• Hosted by Deborah Eades, Indigenous carer, mother and Disability Reference Group member who will share her story.
• Begin a conversation about your unique experiences of being an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person with disability or caring responsibilities.
• Get in touch with the different disability support agencies, who will be available to respond to any questions you may have on your role.
• Help to create a Disability Yarning Circle artwork to let people know “We are here!”

Sunday 5 December 2021, 2pm – 4pm

For any questions, access or dietary requests, contact Skye at the Office for Disability: 6207 1086 or officefordisability@act.gov.au

 

 

Building Back Better

Sally Robinson, a professor in disability and community inclusion at Flinders University, says the pandemic has offered new ways of connecting people with disability in our community and as borders reopen, those methods need to remain so "we don't go back to the old ways that stopped people being involved". Listen to the interview with Professor Robinson on ABC Radio here.

 

Survey - help shape the future of inclusive education in ACT Public Schools.

Do you have an experience or view of disability and education in ACT Public Schools? We want to hear from you! Students with disability (both current and former), carers, families, advocates, school staff and the broader community are invited to join the ‘Community Conversation’ survey and help shape how we strengthen inclusive education in ACT Public Schools.

To complete the survey visit this Inclusive Education webpage

This survey is part of work happening under the Future of Education Strategy to create a future of education underpinned by inclusion and equity.

This survey builds on extensive consultation already undertaken in the community over recent years and will inform planning for an Inclusive Education Strategy for the ACT and the modernisation of ACT specialist schools in the city’s north.

There are some great examples of inclusive education in ACT Public Schools, but we know we can do more to deliver an education system that better supports students with disability to succeed at school and get the best start to life. 

For more information about the survey and this work visit this Education Directorate webpage.

 

Have your say on the future of play spaces

Calling Canberra kids and parents! You can now have your say on the future of play spaces in the ACT.

Community consultation is now open on the draft ACT Play Space Strategy and a proposed new inner north play space via YourSay.

The draft ACT Play Space Strategy sets the direction for the future of play spaces in the ACT, ensuring an equitable, inclusive, diverse and engaging mix of play opportunities across Canberra.

Canberra has among the highest number of play spaces per capita of all Australian cities, with over 515 publicly accessible play spaces that are owned and managed by the ACT Government.

The ACT Play Space Strategy will help guide investment across the entire play space network to ensure Canberrans have equitable access to a mix of district, central and local neighbourhood playgrounds.

Feedback is invited to help refine the draft strategy, to ensure it meets the needs of the community and key stakeholders now and into the future. Feedback closes 14 December 2021.

To learn more and provide feedback visit YourSay - Play space strategy.

 

 

Imagine More - workshop about nurturing relationships

Imagine More presents their last event of 2021, an on-demand virtual workshop with Janet Klees available now and free to watch for a limited time.

The Building a Context for Relationships workshop is for people with disability, their family members and those that support them and will provide a practical approach that works so that you can plan and support a person to be a fuller member of community.

 

Access to the workshop begins on Monday, 22 November at 9:00am and access ends on

Monday, 6 December at 5:00pm.

For more information and to register visit the Imagine More website.

 

 

Consultation Paper - new disability employment support model

The Department of Social Services is designing a new disability employment support model for commencement from July 2023, following the conclusion of the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program on 30 June 2023.

The department has developed a consultation paper and is seeking input on ways to improve how disability employment support is delivered.

Responses are open now and will close 4 January 2022. The consultation paper, an Auslan version and an Easy Read Guide are now available on the DSS Engage website. Visit www.engage.dss.gov.au to make a submission.

 

NDIS Financial benchmarking survey

The NDIA commissions an independently managed and delivered annual benchmarking survey on the operational models of disability service providers.

The survey is designed to collect information on staffing numbers, costs and profits of support providers in the NDIS.

The survey is mandatory for providers who have claimed, or may claim, the Temporary Transformation Payment (TTP) before 30 June 2022. The NDIA encourage all other providers to also complete the survey. Responses are due by Friday 4 February 2022.

More information about the survey is available on the NDIS website.  

 

COVID-19 Vaccination
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a safe and effective way to protect you from becoming very sick if you catch COVID-19.

Access and Sensory Vaccination Clinic Located at Weston Creek
The Access and Sensory Vaccination Clinic is located at a dedicated space at the Weston Creek Community Health Centre, on a Monday and Tuesday from 8.00am to 3.30pm and is for anyone who would benefit from a quieter environment, additional space, longer appointment time, or those requiring carer assistance, including people with disability, people with mobility limitations and people with mental health conditions.

 

View a new Access and Sensory Clinic video which walks you through each step of the COVID-19 vaccination appointment process, from arrival to exit, providing a first-hand look 👀 at what to expect when attending the clinic for a vaccination.

To make a vaccination appointment at the Access and Sensory Clinic, call the ACT COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 5124 7700 (select option 3) between 7am to 7pm, daily. 

It’s entirely optional to use the Access and Sensory Clinic and you may wish to make an appointment at a GP or at another ACT Government COVID-19 vaccination clinic to get your COVID-19 vaccination. All ACT Government COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics have disability parking areas and accessible ramps.

 

Information about COVID-19 vaccinations in the ACT is available on the Information for people with disability page on the COVID-19 website.

 

ACT Health has developed a social story for students with disability on the COVID-19 vaccination, see COVID-19-vaccination-social-story

Vaccination Webinar for People with Intellectual Disability

The Australian Government Department of Health, supported by Inclusion Australia held a webinar to discuss the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine and answer questions from people with intellectual disability and supporters.

A recording of the webinar is now available on the Department of Health website.

In-home (in-reach) COVID-19 Vaccination

If a person with disability feels they may need to be vaccinated in their home because they have significant barriers to accessing other vaccination options, they can contact the ACT vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700 (choose option 3 for the dedicated disability line).

More information is available on the Advice for People with Disability page of the COVID-19 website.

 

Priority COVID-19 vaccinations for all disability care workers

The ACT Government is continuing to offer priority COVID-19 vaccinations for all health, aged and disability care workers. This includes, but is not limited to, clinical and non-clinical workers of hospitals, health, age and disability care facilities. Find more information on the ACT COVID-19 vaccination web page.

 

People with disability can ask for the vaccination status of workers that come to their home or provide support. Workers can disclose their own personal health information and people with disability are able to ask workers for this information before engaging them in service delivery.

If a worker refuses to provide this information, people with disability can choose not to receive their service.

However, a disability service provider cannot reveal the vaccination status of their workers. The COVID-19 vaccination status of a worker is personal health information and must be protected by an employer. That means it can only be shared with the consent of the worker, or under legislation.

Information for employees that require vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination has become a mandatory condition of employment for some workforces and situations in the ACT. In these situations and under public health directions, people will be required to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status, or of an authorised exemption to vaccination.

Disability support, in-home and community aged care workers will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they deliver services in the ACT that are funded by the:

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• Commonwealth in-home and community age care program, or
• Territory and state governments.

If you work for or deliver one of these services, you are required to have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination by 15 November 2021 and a second dose by 13 December 2021.

Further information is available on the ACT COVID-19 website.

 

Vaccinations for staff in certain education settings

The ACT Government is moving to require full vaccination against COVID-19 for certain staff working across early childhood settings, ACT primary schools, out of school hours care and specialist and flexible education settings for the remainder of 2021.

 

Under the Chief Health Officer direction, first-dose vaccination will be required by no later than 1 November 2021 and second dose by no later than 29 November 2021.

Further information can be found on the ACT Education Directorate website.

 

COVID-19 vaccines: third doses and booster doses

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) now recommend a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster dose for individuals who meet certain criteria.

It’s important to know that third doses and boosters are different, and the eligibility criteria for each also differ.

For information about a third dose and a booster dose please see the ACT COVID-19 website.

 

Transport options for vaccination appointments

There is a list of community transport providers on the Community Services Directorate website. These organisations can provide transport to COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

The ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) provides financial assistance to ACT residents with disability or significant mobility restriction that prevent them from using public and community transport. People with disability can access extra trips if COVID-19 restrictions have impacted their ability to renew their TSS applications. Additional trips can be requested by phoning the ACT Revenues Office on 6207 0028 (Select Option 5, Sub Option 1 - Taxi Subsidy Scheme).

Transport options for NDIS Participants

NDIS participants may use their transport funding to attend vaccination appointments.

 

NDIS participants living in a residential setting of two or more people with disability can be vaccinated at their residence by a vaccination provider, arranged by the Department of Health.

 

Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers are being supported by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for their clients, including provision of transport to and from a vaccination clinic, through a fixed price $150 payment.

 

COVID-19 Testing Sites

You should get tested if you have been notified by ACT Health, if you are a close or casual contact or you have even the most mildest of COVID-19 symptoms.

ACT Health has established a dedicated Access and Sensory testing site at the Garran Surge Centre for people with disability, children and young people with sensory or additional needs, and those who need additional support to undertake a test. Daily hours are 7.30am – 9.00pm.

You can go on a virtual tour of the Garran Access and Sensory testing site so you know what to expect if you need to get tested.

The Garran Surge Centre, 123 Kitchener Street, Garran also provides a walk-in testing service for the general public.

If you have difficulty accessing a testing site, please call the COVID-19 Helpline. The Helpline operates on 02 6207 7244 between 8am and 8pm daily.

Information about the location of testing sites can be found on the Where to get tested page on the COVID-19 website.

In-home (in-reach) COVID-19 Testing

In addition, people with disability who are unable to attend a testing site can call ACT Health on

5124 6500. ACT Health will talk to the person about their needs and COVID-19 contact status and assess whether they are suitable for in-reach testing. The request is passed on to a team who will schedule the in-reach testing. Depending on demand for this service, a request may not guarantee a test.

 

Resources and supports for families and students with disability 

Information and resources are available to support families and students with disability in ACT public schools during the COVID-19 Health Emergency.

Since the start of week 1, Term 4, there has been a phased return to on campus learning in ACT Public Schools.

The ACT Education Directorate have heard lots of questions from the community about arrangements at ACT public schools to keep students and staff safe.

In these videos, Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry answers your questions and talks to the ACT Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Vanessa Johnston, the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner Jodie Griffiths-Cook, and some of our very own ACT public school students.

They cover a range of topics with some great advice on safety measures, and information about what kids can expect going back to on campus learning.

Visit Why it’s safe to return to school.

The ACT Education Directorate has also provided links to the following resources:

• ACT Education - Resources to support home learning - Disability Support (google.com)

• COVID-19, physical distancing and children with disability, autism and other conditions
• Supporting children with autism spectrum disorder in the COVID-19 environment
• Parenting children with a disability during COVID-19
• COVID-19 Parenting – Tips for children with disabilities
• Routines and children with disability (0-8 years)
• Podcast – Parenting in a pandemic – Episode 12: Supporting children with diverse needs
• My Coronavirus Story – ASPECT – social story

Autism Spectrum Australia has created a social story on returning to school and returning to “normal” activities

The Raising Children Network has some useful resources on how to look after yourself and help everyone in the family including for children returning to school after a lockdown and Teenagers returning to school after lockdown and tips and links to navigate the challenges for families in quarantine.

 

COVID-19 Accessible Information & Social Stories

Easy English documents and videos about COVID-19 have been developed for the ACT by Advocacy for Inclusion and are available on their resources page, including an updated COVID-19 words in Easy English.

 

Scope Australia have developed some great communication resources for understanding and staying safe from COVID-19.

 

Scope Australia also provide communication resources to help you understand, explain, and discuss COVID-19 vaccinations. These resources include Easy English documents and Social Stories. Social Stories are used to help someone better understand a specific social situation or idea.

 

Autism Spectrum Australia has created a Social Story on returning to school.

 

ACT Health has also developed a Social Story for students with disability which is available on the COVID-19-vaccination-social-story webpage.

 

The Australian Government Department of Health has published a range of Easy Read COVID-19 resources on the Department of Health website.

 

 

 

 

Useful links and websites

Media Diversity Australia has developed a Disability Reporting Handbook which provides a guide to better media and newsroom reporting of people with disability.

 

Both Advocacy for Inclusion and ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS) provide individual advocacy for people who need assistance.

Advocacy for Inclusion Phone 6257 4005 or email info@advocacyforinclusion.org

ADACAS Phone 6242 5060 or email adacas@adacas.org.au

 

A Check In CBR card is available for those people who don’t own a smartphone or are unable to download or use the Check In CBR app. For more information visit the ACT Government COVID-19 website

 

Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) and ACT Health have created a video talking about the importance of getting vaccinated which is available on either the WWDACT Facebook page or on YouTube.

Down Syndrome Australia has developed a video on the COVID-19 vaccination, in partnership with the Department of Health. It is available on the Down Syndrome Australia website, Facebook page and on YouTube.

 

Advice from OzSAGE on protecting people with disability from COVID 19

 

If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic and family violence call the Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 6280 0900 or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

 

The National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 020 080. Contact details are also found here: National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline

 

To connect to disability information and a huge range of services call the National Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787 or visit the website at National Disability Gateway

 

For emergency respite, you can call your local Carer Gateway Service Provider 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 422 737.  Contact details are also found here: Contact Carers ACT

 

Resources are available regarding face masks including how to put on, wear and dispose of a face mask, and a task schedule to help break down the task of putting on a face mask into smaller steps plus a Social Story from Scope Australia called I must wear a mask

 

Financial support to isolate while waiting for a test result is available through the ACT Government COVID-19 Test Hardship Isolation Payment.

 

People unable to earn an income because they must isolate, quarantine or care for someone with COVID-19, may be able to access the $1,500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment from the Australian Government.

Advice and resources Information for people with disability are available on the ACT COVID-19 website the CSD Support for people with disability.  

 

ACT Health has a webpage dedicated to Supporting others and their mental health and wellbeing. 

 

The Australian Red Cross has some tips for staying happy and hopeful.

 

Queensland Government’s activities for a stronger mental wellbeing resource has many ideas for goals and activities.

 

Carers ACT – Self-care tips and ideas for carers

 

If you have any further questions that have not been addressed after reading the ACT Health information, please contact the Office for Disability at officefordisability@act.gov.au or 6207 1086.

 

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