To mark International Day of People with Disability, Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg was joined by two long-standing members of Lismore City Council's Disability Inclusion Advisory Group (DIAG) to call on the community to help formulate a plan for greater inclusion of those living with a disability.
"According to a recent study, more than 3000 people are living with a disability in the Lismore community, making up 7.1% of our population, which is higher than the State average of 5.8%," Mayor Krieg said.
"That makes getting Council's next Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) right so important, and we need community input to achieve that.
"This year's theme for International Day of People with Disability is 'Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress', and that's exactly what we want our DIAP to do".
Council is seeking community feedback to support the third iteration of our DIAP 2026-2030.
The new DIAP will outline the key actions to be delivered by Council in its continued commitment to break down barriers to inclusive participation and protect the rights of people with disability in our communities.
Council is engaging people living with a disability and their family, friends and carers, along with support services and advocacy groups, to inform the development of our new DIAP by providing feedback during the consultation period.
Jenny London, who has been a member of the DIAG for over 15 years, said Lismore City Council was one of the few councils in the area to have a dedicated advisory group.
"I'm incredibly proud of the role the DIAG has played in promoting a culture of access and advocating on behalf of the people with disability in our community to continue to deliver progress across Lismore.
Our achievements are many and include initiatives like installing two mobile lifts at the Lismore Memorial Baths to allow people with impaired mobility to get in the water with dignity," she said.
Mayor Krieg said Council is committed to delivering the actions outlined in the existing DIAP.
Over the past four years Council's achievements include:
- Lismore Regional Gallery staff undertaking regular accessibility training through Accessible Arts.
- Seeking feedback from the Disability Inclusion Advisory Group to identify key spaces for accessibility upgrades around the Lismore CBD.
- Organising major community events that were accessible to all members of the community. These events included Legends of Cricket, the Lismore Lantern Parade and the Jets versus Roar Soccer game.
- Consulting the Disability Inclusion Advisory Group before publishing the updated Lismore City Council website.
- Improving accessibility and connectivity through Heritage Park.
- Updating the recruitment process to include unconscious bias training for all panel members.
- Recruiting staff for attitudes towards diversity and inclusion.
- Supporting staff with assessment and provision of accessible workplace equipment/modifications for each employee at induction.
- Providing accessible destination and tourism resources to ensure residents and visitors can easily plan region-wide accessible experiences.
- Consulting the Disability Inclusion Advisory Group for feedback on the Nimbin Rainbow Walk.
- Transitioning from text-heavy signage to iconography-based signage on public facilities across the LGA.
- Lismore Regional Gallery receiving the IMAGinE Award for Innovation and Resilience 2022 for Collage Club.
- Lismore Regional Gallery receiving Highly Commended for The Future of Toys Youth Program in 2024.
To provide feedback and support the development of our next DIAP, go to Your Say Lismore. Submissions close on Wednesday, 10 December.
Photo: Long-time members of Council's Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Group, Jenny London and Brad Lancaster, with Councillor Electra Jensen and Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg in front of accessible equipment at Lismore Memorial Baths.
