Working with young people with a disability
Checklist: How accessible is your service?
Use this checklist to identify how you can improve your service for young people with disabilities - see How to use the checklists.
You can either:
- tick the boxes on screen, then print the page, or
- print it out and use a pen!
Physical access to your venue
People can be dropped off and picked up from your venue, close to the entrance of your venue
Yes
No
There is a clear path to your venue, which is well maintained, free of hazards and lit at night
Yes
No
There are designated accessible car spaces located close to the entrance of your venue
Yes
No
Designated car spaces are marked with the international access symbol
Yes
No
Your service ensures that the designated car spaces are only used by people with a disability
Yes
No
Your venue is wheelchair accessible
Yes
No
The main entrance or the accessible entrance is obvious or clearly signposted
Yes
No
Hand rails are provided on all ramps and stairs
Yes
No
Ramps and stairs are well lit at night
Yes
No
Ramps are built according to disability standards, ie. not too steep
Yes
No
Stairs are slip resistant
Yes
No
Doorways are a minimum of 850mm in width
Yes
No
Your venue and venue entrance is free of hazards that block pathways (such as bikes, school bags, brochure stands, pot plants)
Yes
No
Floor surfaces are even and slip resistant
Yes
No
Your venue uses colour differentiation between ceilings, walls, doors and floors
Yes
No
Door handles, door bells, brochures and promotional material are at the right height for wheelchair users
Yes
No
There are designated accessible toilets and change rooms
Yes
No
Accessible toilets have a grab rail next to the toilet and there is enough room for a person to manoeuvre themselves from the wheelchair to the toilet. Taps and handrails are within reach of wheelchair users
Yes
No
Signs indicate all important features such as the reception, toilet
Yes
No
Signs use symbols rather than words whenever possible. For example a symbol of a woman, rather than the word "women" on a toilet door.
Yes
No
Signs use dark writing or symbols on a white background. Any writing is in a plain font such as Arial and is in a large point size
Yes
No
If people need to wait for your service, seating is provided
Yes
No
You use warning signs for entertainment events that use strobe lighting or smoke machines
Yes
No
Your service has transport arrangements for young people who have difficulty in getting to your service
Yes
No
Making your service more accessible is likely to make it safer and more accessible for other people who visit your service such as young parents with prams, or people who cannot read English. It could also help you meet your public liability and workplace safety responsibilities.
Promoting your service
Promotional flyers use a dark coloured print on a light background, pictures, symbols and diagrams, a plain font such as Arial, at least 12 point font size (minimum for people with a visual impairment)
Yes
No
Promotional flyers are easy to read, use basic English and no jargon
Yes
No
Photos and drawings of young people in promotional material feature a range of young people, including young people with disabilities. Consider including graphics designed by a young person with a disability.
Yes
No
Promotional flyers state if you have wheelchair access
Yes
No
You network with, and provide promotional material to, a wide range of services, including disability services
Yes
No
Young people can phone, SMS (text), email or fax your service, or your service has a TTY phone system. (A TTY phone system is designed for people who have a hearing or speech impairment. TTY works by sending typed messages between two people who have TTY phones).
Yes
No
Your website meets disability standards
Yes
No
Staff and volunteer awareness
Staff and volunteers have been trained in basic disability awareness
Yes
No
Staff and volunteers know how to communicate with a young person who has a:
- Yes No - hearing impairment
- Yes No - visual impairment
- Yes No - speech impairment
- Yes No - learning difficulty or intellectual disability
- Yes No - brain injury
- Yes No - mental health issue
Staff and volunteers have strategies in place for promoting friendships among young people attending programs, such as group and team activities
Yes
No
You consider employing a specialist disability worker
Yes
No
Partnerships and networks
You have a referral list of disability services for young people and their families
Yes
No
Your service works in partnership with disability services to make your service accessible
Yes
No
You provide information about your service to disability services
Yes
No
Participation in decision making
Young people with a disability are involved in decision making, such as having input about how services are run, being involved in informal consultations, the youth committee or management committee
Yes
No