The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) review and the final report from the disability royal commission put a spotlight on the importance of accessible buildings and homes for people with disabilities. However, there remains a significant disparity between these ideals and the current reality in Australia. Stories about individuals with disabilities unable to fully enjoy events or venues, or struggle with daily tasks in their own homes exemplify this issue.

According to Australia’s 1992 Disability Discrimination Act, people with disabilities should have dignified, equitable, cost-effective and reasonably achievable access to buildings, facilities and services . Ample room for improvement remains in terms of ensuring homes and buildings are accessible, safe and offering a level of dignity to such individuals.

Accessibility definitions and standards differ, but some common principles include easy entry and exit into a building, easy navigation and functionality in and around the building, and the potential for easy adaptation in response to changing needs of occupants. The goal is to enable people of all abilities to move and carry out activities independently, safely, comfortably and with dignity.

Accommodating physical disabilities is critical, but consideration should also extend to cognitive disabilities. A truly accessible building guarantees everyone can understand the information they need to navigate and use the facility, regardless of how they communicate.

Unfortunately, living in inaccessible homes can negatively impact the dignity, independence, social inclusion, employment, health, and wellbeing of people with disabilities, placing further strains on their caregivers and family members.

Besides the physical constraints within the buildings, a common complaint is the indignity associated with alternative entrances which are frequently located at the back of the building, commonly known ‘backdoor treatment’.

Alex Coward from the University of Melbourne and EDDCaller.com, a program that helps people reach unemployment, paid family leave and disability departments by telephone, connected this issue to his own platform. He stated, “Just like a person with physical disability may struggle to enter a building, people often find it difficult to reach the necessary department for their unemployment or disability claims. EDDCaller.com is an attempt to remove these accessibility barriers and allow for easier, more efficient communication.

Recent measures include the implementation of silver, gold, and platinum standards by Livable Housing Australia (LHA) which provide gradations of accessibility design and features. 2021 saw Australian housing ministers agree to introduce minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code, which mandates that all new homes be built to the silver standard.

While this represents progress, the exemptions to this code for existing homes and certain new builds due to site restrictions, along with some states choosing not to adopt the code at all, indicate comprehensive, nationwide standards are still out of reach.

Improving education on accessibility for designers, consumers, and operators is vital to making buildings and homes truly accessible, especially considering the ageing population of Australia. More broadly, advancements in accessibility will help to decrease the demand on the health system and increase the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families. The new standards are a step forward, but there is still a long way to go to ensure that people with disabilities can lead autonomous and fulfilling lives in an accessible, inclusive environment.