$1.4 million to help deliver print material to people with disability 

This program supports organisations to produce print material in alternative formats for people with disability who are unable to read, hold or manipulate standard printed material.

The five organisations funded are: Vision Australia, Association for the Blind Western Australia, Royal Society for the Blind of South Australia, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, and People Learn Productions.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, said the Government was delivering a more streamlined program which would ensure providers worked together to meet the needs of all consumers.

“Access to print material is an important part of equality for people with disability, and there is still too much of this material that is denied to people with a vision-impairment or other disability,” Mr Shorten said.

“This funding will continue to make knowledge accessible for people with disability and improve their quality of life.

“The new program will provide more information, in more formats, to more people.

“New technology lets people access digital material regardless of where they live, meaning organisations should not service clients only in a particular part of Australia.

“There is now a significant focus on collaboration, sharing of resources and reducing duplication.”

The Australian Government held a competitive selection process for print disability service providers with an emphasis on delivering a nationally-focused program.

This followed a review of the program in 2009, as part of an election commitment to modernise print disability services to support new digital technology.

The review found that internet delivery of digital material provides major benefits for people with print disability, including immediate access to higher quality material.