Lithgow City Council is mandated to develop a Disability Inclusion Action Plan under the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014 (DIA). This document aims to drive the principles of inclusion while engaging with community and holding our local government accountable for making real improvements in its service delivery.
The experience of living with disabilities is often one of facing barriers that stop people accessing information, services, transport, housing, education, training, employment, and social opportunities.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasises “that disability is an evolving concept, and it results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.
The Disability Inclusion Act 2014 defines disability as: ‘The long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder the full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.’
Lithgow City Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan is informed by the social model of disability, where inclusion is defined as all citizens having the same opportunities to access enjoyable experiences and to be part of their community in a way that is meaningful to them. People with disabilities form a diverse population, with a range of requirements for support and through their multiple intersecting identities based on their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, religion, migration status, and socioeconomic background.
Consequently, the purpose of the Lithgow City Council Disability Inclusion Action Plan2023 – 2027 is to set out strategies and actions to guarantee that people with disability can fully take part in the day-to-day community activities with out restrictions.
