From: Jill [jill@disabilityaction.in-sa.com.au] Sent: Tuesday, 29 February 2000 14:16 To: disabdis@humanrights.gov.au Subject: Submission I am pleased to make this brief submission from a personal and not from my professional position as Systems Advocate at Disability Action Inc. owing to the fact that the agency has not developed a position on this issue specifically. 1. It is a right of every Citizen of Australia, over the age of 18, to participate in the electoral process at all Local, State and Federal elections. This implies we are all entitled to recieve information about the process in a format that most suits our communication needs. As citizens of Australia, people with a disability are also expected to participate. 2. All polling booths need to be audited for their accessibility by both voters and people employed and volunteering. This includes the ballot box, which is usually not accessible because it is intended to be used in a standing position and does not accommodate those who may require assistance to fill out the ballot paper. As a volunteer at polling booths in the past I have found premises and toilets on site to be inaccessible to those using mobility aids (such as wheelchairs and wheeled-walking frames). 3. It is also important to have one of the workers (employed by the electoral commission) trained in disability awareness to enable appropriate and skilled assistance to people with a range of functional and age related disabilities, to complete the voting process (eg lack of literacy skill, sight impairment and cognitive function, including memory loss and thought disorder) . This may also necessitate the availability of a table/bench/desk at approximately 750 - 850mm in height, with 650mm clear space under the table top. All information should be in plain language, print size should be no smaller than font size 12 and clearly set out. Large print and braille should be available. 4. Information sent by post needs to be in appropriate formats and easy to read/hear with plain language and clear instructions as to how to complete postal voting. Australia Post post boxes are not accessible to many people with a disability using wheelchairs, who may be voting by postal ballot, particularly those with difficulty reaching above shoulder height, who have muscle weakness, can use only one hand and/or have involuntary movement. Thank you for this opportunity to have input. Regards Jill Fowler Welland SA