achieve if the ICT has accessibility limitations. These situations work against the objective of securing greater employment of people with disability across the APS. Inaccessible ICT takes many forms and extends beyond computer software. Telecommunications and other business machines such as printers, scanners and photocopiers used in Government agencies also commonly lack accessibility features and present a number of barriers for employees with disability. In light of the above challenges, the Commission expects that better employment results would be achieved if APS agencies adopted policies to ensure that ICT is accessible to people with disability from the outset of the recruitment process. Legal dimensions Promoting inclusive work environments accessible to people with disability is a legislated requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). The Australian Government has also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Article 9 of which states: should the design, development, production “States Parties … promote and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.” In 2010, the Australian Government made a commitment to fulfil its obligations under the CRPD through its endorsement of the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 (NDS). The NDS establishes a framework to guide the actions of governments as they work towards implementation of the CRPD. The NDS includes the following relevant directions for future action: Improve community awareness of the benefits of universal design. Promote universal design principles in procurement. International Experience The purchase of ICT products and services accessible to people with disability is currently mandated for Government agencies in the US, Japan and some parts of Europe. If it adopted this practice, the Australian Government could: maximise opportunities for the employment and retention of people with disability across the APS; reduce the need for the purchase of specialised equipment through the Employment Assistance Fund;
achieve if the ICT has accessibility limitations. These situations work against the objective of securing greater employment of people with disability across the APS. Inaccessible ICT takes many forms and extends beyond computer software. Telecommunications and other business machines such as printers, scanners and photocopiers used in Government agencies also commonly lack accessibility features and present a number of barriers for employees with disability. In light of the above challenges, the Commission expects that better employment results would be achieved if APS agencies adopted policies to ensure that ICT is accessible to people with disability from the outset of the recruitment process. Legal dimensions Promoting inclusive work environments accessible to people with disability is a legislated requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). The Australian Government has also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Article 9 of which states: “States Parties should … promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.” In 2010, the Australian Government made a commitment to fulfil its obligations under the CRPD through its endorsement of the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 (NDS). The NDS establishes a framework to guide the actions of governments as they work towards implementation of the CRPD. The NDS includes the following relevant directions for future action: Improve community awareness of the benefits of universal design. Promote universal design principles in procurement. International Experience The purchase of ICT products and services accessible to people with disability is currently mandated for Government agencies in the US, Japan and some parts of Europe. If it adopted this practice, the Australian Government could: maximise opportunities for the employment and retention of people with disability across the APS; reduce the need for the purchase of specialised equipment through the Employment Assistance Fund;
Accessible%20ICT_Paper2015_AHRC.docx