Access Resource Kit (ARK) - Disability Services Commission

AIMS
♦ To identify the barriers that people with disabilities experience when accessing public
information.
♦ To determine ways of improving the accessibility of public information for people with
disabilities.
EXAMPLES
Examples of the types of information provided by public authorities which all members of
the community, including people with disabilities, may need to access include:
♦ timetables
♦ programs
♦ council minutes
♦ annual reports
♦ signs
♦ maps
♦ directories
♦ library books
♦ brochures
♦ accounts
♦ web sites.
This checklist has been developed to assist State Government agencies and Local
Governments gauge how accessible their information is to people with disabilities.
REASONS FOR INFORMATION CHECKLISTS
People with disabilities frequently experience difficulty in accessing public information.
The types of disability that impact on an individual’s ability to access information include
hearing loss or deafness, impaired vision or blindness or disabilities that affect the ability to
learn or think (such as intellectual disability or psychiatric illness). Many communication
difficulties can be avoided. It is recommended that a range of communication options are
provided so that individuals can use the communication method that best suits their needs.
Many communication difficulties can be overcome if written information is provided using
clear and concise language in a font style and size that is easy to read. For people who
have low vision or who are blind, it is also important to have information freely available on
request in alternative formats such as audio cassette, large print, computer disc and
Braille.
There are a variety of communication techniques that can be used to assist people who
have a hearing impairment or who are deaf. Better Hearing Kits on public counters are
valuable for informing visitors that staff know how to speak to someone who experiences
difficulty hearing. The provision of audio loops at public meetings will enable people who
Information Checklist (Aust Standards updated February 2011) 3.61