❓ Mr. Redman questions the exclusion of blind people from ACROD parking permits in WA. The Minister acknowledges the issue, mentions a review is underway to address eligibility and improve access for people with disabilities.
AnsweredQoN 5784Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 November 2019
Member
Portfolio
Environment; Disability Services; Electoral Affairs
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the eligibility criteria for an
ACROD parking permit, which sees blind
people in Western Australia being excluded from an ACROD parking permit as
their blindness is firstly not recognised as a disability and secondly is not considered
to cause a ‘mobility impairment’, and I ask: (a) Can the Minister outline why blind people are
not assessed as having a disability, under the ACROD guidelines, when other
government agencies consider it a disability; (b) Why does the state government believe those
people who are blind are fully mobile; (c) As the Australian Council for the Rehabilitation
of the Disabled Parking Program’s stated aim is “to support Western Australians
with a significant mobility restriction to access the community’, is the
state government's policy supportive of blind West Australians who are trying to engage with
the community and maintain their independence; (d) Can the Minister confidently state that it is
safe for blind people with guide dogs to navigate getting in and out of their
vehicle at busy car parks and roadways, where they may be some
distance from shopping centre and medical service entrances; (e) Will the Minister approve parking permits for
some of or all guide dog users, considering that there are only approximately 57 guide dog users in the state, which would result in an increase of ACROD parking permits by 0.066%; and (f) Will the Minister consider a review of the ACROD
parking permit eligibility to be consistent with New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and
Victoria, and include those with severe visual impairment which affects their
mobility, and if not why not?
ACROD parking permit, which sees blind
people in Western Australia being excluded from an ACROD parking permit as
their blindness is firstly not recognised as a disability and secondly is not considered
to cause a ‘mobility impairment’, and I ask: (a) Can the Minister outline why blind people are
not assessed as having a disability, under the ACROD guidelines, when other
government agencies consider it a disability; (b) Why does the state government believe those
people who are blind are fully mobile; (c) As the Australian Council for the Rehabilitation
of the Disabled Parking Program’s stated aim is “to support Western Australians
with a significant mobility restriction to access the community’, is the
state government's policy supportive of blind West Australians who are trying to engage with
the community and maintain their independence; (d) Can the Minister confidently state that it is
safe for blind people with guide dogs to navigate getting in and out of their
vehicle at busy car parks and roadways, where they may be some
distance from shopping centre and medical service entrances; (e) Will the Minister approve parking permits for
some of or all guide dog users, considering that there are only approximately 57 guide dog users in the state, which would result in an increase of ACROD parking permits by 0.066%; and (f) Will the Minister consider a review of the ACROD
parking permit eligibility to be consistent with New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and
Victoria, and include those with severe visual impairment which affects their
mobility, and if not why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 February 2020
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Environment; Disability Services; Electoral Affairs
Response time
6 days
(a-f) Funded by Communities, National Disability Services WA (NDS WA) issues free ACROD permits to over 90,000 West Australians, with around 3,000 new permits issued each year. The ACROD program is specifically designed for people with difficulty walking, with specially marked and designed accessible bays to cater for mobility aids.
The State Government is a party to the Australian Disability Parking Scheme (ADPS) which informs Western Australia’s current eligibility. I am aware that the Queensland Government recently extended disability parking permits to people with a vision impairment and I acknowledge the growing community expectation for a similar change to be made to the ACROD program in Western Australia.
A review is currently underway by the Department of Communities to undertake a broader investigation into the ACROD Parking Program and the future of accessible parking options in WA. The project is designed to complement concurrent work by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) and National Disability Services WA (NDS) which will focus on improving availability by deterring misuse of ACROD bays.
This Review aims to address broader supply and demand issues and assess the impact on bay availability to those with no alternative options, should eligibility be broadened.
The Review is investigating strategies to improve access and engagement for all people with disability in the community and these strategies may include an extension of ACROD eligibility.
The outcome of the Review is expected mid 2020.
The State Government is a party to the Australian Disability Parking Scheme (ADPS) which informs Western Australia’s current eligibility. I am aware that the Queensland Government recently extended disability parking permits to people with a vision impairment and I acknowledge the growing community expectation for a similar change to be made to the ACROD program in Western Australia.
A review is currently underway by the Department of Communities to undertake a broader investigation into the ACROD Parking Program and the future of accessible parking options in WA. The project is designed to complement concurrent work by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) and National Disability Services WA (NDS) which will focus on improving availability by deterring misuse of ACROD bays.
This Review aims to address broader supply and demand issues and assess the impact on bay availability to those with no alternative options, should eligibility be broadened.
The Review is investigating strategies to improve access and engagement for all people with disability in the community and these strategies may include an extension of ACROD eligibility.
The outcome of the Review is expected mid 2020.
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