Access to Premises
Everybody has a right to access and use public places, such as shops, restaurants, office blocks, educational institutions, sporting venues, libraries and cinemas.
It is against the law for public places to be inaccessible to people with disabilities. This applies to existing places, as well as places under construction.
The Disability Discrimination Act requires organisations to make adjustments to their premises so that they are accessible to people with disabilities.
When thinking about accessibility, organisations should consider the many different types of disabilities that people may have, such as mobility impairments, vision impairments and hearing impairments.
Example: It could be unlawful discrimination if a person with a mobility impairment who uses a wheelchair could not enter a cinema because access to the cinema was only available by stairs.
In some circumstances it may be unreasonable to provide complete accessibility to a public building, particularly for existing buildings. The Disability Discrimination Act provides an exception if the cost or difficulties of providing access will place an ‘unjustifiable hardship’ on a person or organisation.
The Federal Government can provide financial assistance to modify workplaces so they are accessible to employees with disabilities. See http://jobaccess.gov.au
