Our Access and Inclusion Consulting service aims to bridge the gap between consumers with a disability and businesses. We offer a discreet, solutions-focused service that aims to support businesses, community organisations, State and Local Governments to comply with legislation and provide outcomes that are functional for the entire community. We can work with you at any stage of business and/or facility development, to assist you in maximizing ‘access for all’ to your business, product, or service.
How we can help?
Desktop Access Audits – New Builds/Renovations
Detailed analysis of building plans, drawn to scale and provided in electronic form by the client. Desktop Access Audits identify and clearly report on all specific non-compliances when it comes to access. We provide explanations of assessment and reference all relevant regulations / standards and provide “marked-up” plans to the client.
On-site Access Audits – New Builds/Renovations
We provide detailed on-site measurement and assessment of physical builds. On-site Access Audits are usually conducted during construction and then upon completion to ensure the highest level of access and compliance. Our on-site Access Audits clearly identify and report on all specific non-compliances. We provide detailed explanations and reference all relevant regulations / standards, providing relevant photographic material.
On-site Access Audits – Existing Facilities
We provide on-site detailed Access Audits for existing facilities. These are commonly conducted to identify areas of non-compliance which is often used to inform future renovation works. We provide detailed explanations and reference all relevant regulations / standards, providing relevant photographic material.
Access Appraisals – New Builds/Renovations and Existing Facilities
Access Appraisals are a generalized access analysis of existing facilities, new builds or renovations. Access Appraisals are often conducted to inform building owners/managers of general areas of non-compliance and areas of concern, without going to specific detail (unless requested by client). Examples of identified non-compliances are reported back to the client, supported by annotated plans and/or relevant photographic material.
Disability Action Plan Development
A Disability Action Plan (DAP) is a public document created to shape and describe an organisation’s commitment to diversity and inclusion for people with disability. A DAP informs the public of how an organisation is making its workplace, products and services accessible to people with disability. Creating and implementing a DAP will help you increase your market share and enhance the image of your business. It can also assist your business in minimising the likelihood of costly litigation, resulting from a complaint lodged under the Disability Discrimination Act. Spinal Life Australia can develop and/or work alongside your staff to help develop a comprehensive DAP that will assist your company/organisation to set its new vision of inclusion and access.
Advisory Services
Our professional staff can be hired to provide expert advice/ input to Planning and Development, including Government and Community Master Plans and Advisory Panels. Many of our staff currently sit on Government Advisory Panels, contributing valued input to social planning and inclusive outcomes for people with disability. Contact us today to request our expert contribution to your project(s).
Co-design – Products/Goods/Services
Co-design is the practice of involving your target end-users when designing products or services, and this includes people with a disability. Our staff have decades of experience living with disability and practicing in the space of inclusion. Coming from a lived-experience perspective, our unique, practical approach to product design helps to provide relevant feedback and input to the design process. If you want to be sure that your product or service truly caters to your end-user/customer, engage our staff today to help inform your design before it’s too late!
Disability Awareness Presentations and Training
Disability awareness presentations provided by Spinal Life Australia provide your business, school or community organisation with a unique insight into the challenges and triumphs of people with disability. Our presenters speak from first-hand experience of living with disability. We draw upon local and global experiences of work, travel and family. As well as our experience in accessing business and community services. Our presentations can be tailored to suit your organisation’s need, with topics including;
- Preferred use of language and terminology
- Interacting with a person/customer with disability
- The benefits of an accessible society
- Personal experiences
- Daily living challenges and,
- Stories on inspiring personal achievements.
Spinal Life Australia’s disability awareness presentations are perfect for staff training exercises, conferences, school groups, university lectures, and more.
See where you currently sit on the accessibility scale
A bit about our Access and Inclusion Consultant
Our Access and Inclusion Consulting service is primarily delivered by Dane Cross, who brings over 20 years of experience in the disability field.
His lived experience as a person with spinal cord damage (quadriplegia), combined with his qualifications as an Access Consultant, has given Dane a unique insight into what it means to provide ‘Good Access’. Dane is currently sitting on several committees, including the Queensland Rail Accessibility Focus Group and the Accessibility Advisory Panel for the Alternative Transport Procurement project. He is also a member of The Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA). His unique experience and insight mean Dane can be part of large projects that require in-depth knowledge and understanding of access requirements for all, right down to small projects for small businesses.
Whether you are a large or small business our Access Consultants will work with you to come up with individualised plans that will suit all budgets and requirements.
Why good access = good business
Good access isn’t just good for the wider community, it makes fiscal sense. The introduction of the NDIS was not only one of the most important social reforms for the country, but it also represented a $22 billion[1] opportunity for business, as the money going into the NDIS flows straight back to our communities. The average NDIS plan allocates $8,600[2] per year to fund ‘Social and Community Participation’, this equates to around $3.5 billion per year being invested to enable people with a disability to access and participate in their communities. Presenting significant opportunity for local business to engage with this high value market.
- Average NDIS plan: 150K
- Average community access allocation per year: $3.5B
- Accessible venues see 20-25% more revenue than non-accessible business [3]
- For every $1 invested in accessibility, $13 is generated in revenue
Get in touch to book your access and inclusion consultation today
