Australian Federation of Deaf Societies Inc.
Secretariat address:
37 Pearl Street
Newtown  NSW  2042
Phone:	02 9550 2029
Mob:	0439 376 465
Email: executiveofficerafds@bigpond.com

Employment Inquiry
Disability Rights Unit
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
GPO Box 5218
Sydney  NSW  2001

Dear Sir/Madam

Interim Report of the National Inquiry into Employment and Disability

The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies (AFDS) writes to support the interim recommendations arising from the inquiry into employment and disability as noted in the Interim Report.

AFDS members provide a range of services to the Australian Deaf community, including employment services.  Our members are therefore acutely aware of the barriers and issues facing people with a disability and strongly support the proposed recommendations.  Strategies that AFDS particular wishes to see implemented include:

•	the establishment by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations of a one-stop-information-shop for all parties involved in the employment of people with a disability; and 

•	the review of features of the Workplace Modifications Scheme, including eligibility, the types of modifications covered by the Scheme and the amounts available for modifications.

AFDS also supports the development other pilot projects and models as outlined in the ‘Next Steps for the Inquiry’ and would be pleased to provide further information or to participate in these activities as required.

Yours sincerely

Joe Sabolcec
Executive Officer
     September 2005