People with disabilities often find they are unable to visit cafes and restaurants, shops and businesses due to a lack of accessibility. Barriers such as stepped entry, noise, small print menus not to mention limited job opportunities make it very difficult for people with disabilities to fully participate in life on our Peninsula.
We want to change this and we're offering some funding to help.
Launching today on International Day of People with Disability our Disability Advisory Committee have helped to develop a video and fact sheets to show local businesses why access is important and what they can do to make their business more accessible.
The fact sheets include a checklist of actions you can take to improve accessibility for your business.
Some of the actions include:
- Using image descriptions on pictures in social media for customers who are blind or have low vision.
- Using people with a disability in advertising to reflect diversity and make all customers feel welcome.
- Providing information about how to get to your business by public transport.
- Options to shop online and over the phone to help you reach a wider audience.
This is all in preparation for the launch our Accessible Business Grant on Monday 7 February 2022.
Local businesses can receive up to $5000 to make improvements or enhancements which increase the accessibility of their business for people with a disability. Our handy fact sheets are grouped into no-cost, low-cost and investment checklists, so businesses can look to the low-cost and investment items for ideas about what to apply for.
The types of proposals we can fund include:
- Completing an Access Appraisal of your business or organisation to help improve physical access.
- Developing communication options for people with complex needs including those whose first language is not English.
- Providing access and inclusion awareness training to staff or members.
- Providing information in different formats (e.g. large print, audio or electronic formats) to provide access for all.
To view our helpful checklists and video or to find out more about the Accessible Business Grant, visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/accessiblebusiness
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh:
"We're pleased to be preparing for the launch of the Accessible Business Grant by providing these helpful tools to make your business or organisation more accessible and inclusive for all. The Accessible Business Grant is part of our Business and Economy Recovery Grant program designed to provide funding assistance to small businesses to strengthen resilience and build capacity in the current COVID-19 economy."
Quote attributable to Disability Advisory Committee member and Seawinds Ward Councillor Kerri McCafferty:
"It's fitting we launch our business accessibility checklist and video on International Day of People with Disability. These practical guides encourage businesses to become more accessible and is another action we're taking to remove barriers for people with disabilities."
