The Australian Government has committed $11 million in 2010-11 to an accessibility package of initiatives to support people with disability and their carers as part of the new National Disability Strategy.

These initiatives are being delivered by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) on behalf of the Government to help more people participate in community life.

What are the new initiatives under the National Disability Strategy?

• Make Local Communities Accessible for all Australians
  Accessible Communities Program
• Digital playback devices and improved access to digital content in public libraries around the country to increase the accessibility of print material
• Leaders for Tomorrow
• Ramp Up website, www.abc.net.au/rampup - $557,500 has been provided to establish a new disability website in partnership with the ABC. It is a place for discussion, news, debate, humour and general information for everyone in Australia’s disability communities. Whether you live with a disability, are a carer, work in the sector or just want to get a better picture, this is a lively community space to have your say.

The National Disability Strategy will commit all governments to a nationwide approach to improving the lives of people with disability and create a more equal society; the strategy will set out a 10-year national plan for reform, focusing on better inclusion for people with disabilities.

These new initiatives are in addition to plans to improve access for people with disability:

• The Liveable Housing Design initiative
• New audio description and captioning technology to improve cinema access for people who are deaf, blind, visually or hearing impaired for further information see the Cinema Access Implementation Plan.