Disability Inclusion Toolkit


2 men standing smiling in front of 2 MCCSA banners that say Speak my Language and Cultural Connections in Disability

Our online toolkit helps you support people with disability in your community.

The Disability Inclusion Toolkit provides valuable information for people living with disability as well as community leaders and community members who want to help people with disability.

The toolkit was created as an outcome of our ‘Cultural Connections in Disability’ project. ‘Cultural Connections in Disability’ helped multicultural communities become more accessible, inclusive and supportive for people living with disability and their families/carers.

MCCSA General Resources

Inclusive Design Checklist: Key Considerations for Accessibility

This comprehensive list outlines key considerations for creating an inclusive and accessible environment, covering physical, digital, and interpersonal aspects to ensure equal participation for people with diverse needs and abilities:

  • Accessible Entrances: Ensure your premises have ramps, automatic doors, and clear pathways to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids.
  • Reserved Parking: Designate accessible parking spaces close to entrances and provide clear signage.
  • Clear Signage: Use large, easy-to-read fonts and clear symbols for directions and information.
  • Assistive Technologies: Offer options like screen readers, Braille materials, and hearing loops for individuals with visual or hearing impairments.
  • Accessible Bathrooms: Ensure restrooms are wheelchair­-accessible and equipped with handrails and emergency pull cords.
  • Sensory Considerations: Diminish loud noises, add tactile elements, and consider scent-free spaces for those with sensory sensitivities.
  • Communication: Be patient and use clear, simple language. Offer written materials in alternative formats when needed.
  • Inclusive Events: Host events with accessibility in mind, including accessible seating, sign language interpreters, and captioning.
  • Feedback Channels: Establish ways for individuals to provide feedback on accessibility improvements.
  • Transportation: Ensure accessible transportation options are available and promoted.
  • Online Accessibility: Maintain an accessible website and digital content to include everyone.

culturalQ Disability Access and Inclusion Training

This specialised program combines cultural intelligence principles (as part of our culturalQ program) with disability awareness, offering a unique CALD perspective on access and inclusion.

Key Outcomes:

  • Understand the intersection of culture and disability
  • Recognise and challenge unconscious biases related to disability and culture
  • Implement practical, best practice solutions for physical and digital accessibility
  • Understand legal obligations and cultural considerations in disability access
  • Develop culturally appropriate disability inclusion policies and procedures

Learn more about our Training Services
Email [email protected] to book


MCCSA Disability Inclusion Video Series

The Disability Inclusion Video Series was produced by MCCSA, in collaboration with a diverse number of communities, community stakeholders and individuals from across South Australia.
Watch the full playlist on YouTube

A Chat about Cultural Connections in Disability

ft. Our ‘Cultural Connections in Disability’ Community Partners

Watch on YouTube


Disability Inclusion – What Does it Mean to Me & You?

ft. Disability Inclusion Champions: Belle, Ayla and Dylan
Watch on YouTube


ft. City of Playford, South Australia
Watch on YouTube


ft. Two Way Street
Watch on YouTube


ft. South Australian Museum
Watch on YouTube


ft. South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID)
Watch on YouTube


ft. Guide Dogs SA/NT
Watch on YouTube


Conversations with Long-time Disability Self-Advocate, Janet Curtain

Learn about Disability Self-Advocacy with MCCSA: culturalQ Coordinator, Hanaa’ Grave speaks with Janet Curtain, a long-time disability self-advocate from Power in Culture and Ethnicity, about disability, the NDIS and the importance of self-advocacy.

Watch on YouTube

Download the Video Transcript (.pdf)


External Links and Resources

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is an Australian government initiative that provides funding and support for Australians with permanent and significant disability, aiming to help them live more independently and participate more fully in their communities.

Here are some resources on their website that our community has found particularly useful:


Australian Human Rights Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory organisation that protects and promotes human rights in Australia, and their website offers a wealth of resources including publications, reports, and educational materials on various human rights issues.

Here are some pages on their website that you might find particularly useful:


Inclusive SA resources – including the State Disability Inclusion Plan and the SA Autism Strategy 2024-2029

Inclusive SA resources, toolkits and guidelines

Inclusive SA has developed resources that support better services, programs, and opportunities that make a difference in the community.

On the resources page of the Inclusive SA website, you will find:

  1. Guidelines:
  2. Toolkits:
  3. State Disability Inclusion Plan:
    • Available in PDF, plain text, and Easy Read formats
    • Consultation report from July 2019
  4. External resources:

Inclusive SA / Government of South Australia – SA Autism Strategy 2024-2029

The SA Autism Strategy 2024-2029 is a comprehensive 5-year plan developed with input from Autistic communities, aiming to improve services, inclusion, and participation for Autistic people across seven key focus areas, available in multiple accessible formats.


Access Institute handbooks and tips for promoting inclusion within your workplace

Access Institute Australia handbooks

Access Institute Australia has developed a series of Access Awareness Handbooks in response to a need for a simple and concise resource that can be used by a range of organisations and communities that are aiming to improve access to their business, services, and premises.

Here are some handbooks that we have purchased through Access Institute and found particularly beneficial:


Scope Australia resources

Scope Australia, one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit disability service providers, supports people with complex disabilities across Victoria and New South Wales through a wide range of services, with a focus on innovation, research, and person-centered care.

Among their many valuable resources, we are highlighting three that are particularly relevant for supporting communication and inclusion:

  • The Connecting Me Tool Kit – Part 1: A comprehensive guide for planning individualized services using a co-design approach, focusing on preparation, planning, implementation, and review stages for people with communication difficulties.
  • The Connecting Me Tool Kit – Part 2: A complementary resource to Part 1, providing detailed fact sheets, examples, and templates of communication aids to support choice and self-determination in planning.
  • The Communication Bill of Rights: A visual resource outlining essential rights for effective communication, including access to information, dignified communication, and inclusion in social interactions.

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health’s Resource Hub

The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health (CEH) Resource Hub offers a wide range of multilingual and culturally relevant materials covering topics such as cultural competence, accessing interpreters, NDIS and disability, health literacy, COVID-19, sexual health, gambling, and communication strategies for diverse communities.

Among their many valuable resources, here are some that have been particularly useful for our communities:


Health Translations

Health Translations is a free online library of high-quality translated Australian health and wellbeing information funded by the Victorian Government. Made for Australian health practitioners and people who work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, the site provides quick access to a wealth of reliable resources.

Among their many valuable resources, here are some that have been particularly useful for our communities:


Advocacy organisations in South Australia and their contact details

Citizen Advocacy South Australia

They focus on those members of the community who are believed to have intellectual disability, are often neglected, vulnerable and alone, and who need someone to speak up for them and represent their interests.

Address: 20 Myers Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8410 6644 / 0408 811 845
Email: [email protected]


Advocacy for Disability Access and Inclusion Inc.

ADAI aims to enable people with disability to access their community and achieve better education, service provision and employment opportunities by advocating for the person or/and their family.

Address: 183 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
Phone: (08) 8340 4450
Email: [email protected]


Disability Advocacy & Complaints Service of SA

Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service of SA Inc provides support, information and advocacy for all people with disability, their families, friends and carers.

Address: 33 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 7122 6030
Fax: (08) 8332 5112
Email: [email protected]


Disability Rights Advocacy Service Inc

Disability Rights Advocacy Service Inc. (formerly known as MALSSA) mission is to safeguard and promote the rights and interest of people with a disability, their families and carers:
1. ‘Individual Advocacy’ Program: representing people on a one-to-one basis to resolve their individual concerns, and
2. ‘Systemic Advocacy’ Program: aims to identify, challenge and change policies, legislation and structures that negatively impact upon our constituency.

Address: Shop 4/80 Henley Beach Road, Mile End SA 5031
Phone: (08) 8351 9500
Fax: (08) 8152 0396
Email: [email protected]


Independent Advocacy SA

They advocate for people who have an intellectual disability or who are labelled or treated as having an intellectual disability and who we understand to be the most vulnerable people we hear about.

99 Frome Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8232 6200 / Freecall: 1800 999 884
Email: [email protected]


Brain Injury SA

Range of advocacy services for people with ABI plus external Merits Review Support Component; supporting people who with review of NDIA decisions.

Address: 70 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: 1300 733 049
Email: [email protected]


Disability Advocacy Service – Uniting Communities

Helping clients navigate the NDIS, understand your rights and resolve issues.

Address: 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8202 5960 / Country: 1300 886 220
Email: [email protected]


Deaf Connect

Deaf Connect is the largest whole-of-life service provider for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing Australians, with offices across Queensland and NSW, as well in Adelaide, Melbourne and Darwin.

Address: 200 South Rd, Mile End SA 5031 Australia
Phone: 1800 893 855
Email: [email protected]


See Differently

See Differently advocacy is available and provided to individuals, to assist them navigate their way through the various funding processes and product and service provider sectors, and systemically for the entire vision community, which includes negotiating with Councils, Government and other agencies to ensure equity for the vision loss community is considered in all matters of policy and regulation.

Address: 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: 1300 944 306
Email: [email protected]


Down Syndrome SA

Down Syndrome Australia (DSA) provides information, resources and advocacy for people with Down syndrome and their families across Australia.

Phone: 1300 881 935
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Information Service SA – Down Syndrome Australia


Other Useful Advocacy Links & Resources:

First Nations Advocacy (National): First People Disability Network

First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) is a national organisation of and for Australia’s First Peoples with disability, their families and communities – governed by First Peoples with lived experience of disability. They proactively engage with communities around Australia and advocate for the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability in Australia and internationally. 

Location: Sydney
Phone: (02) 9267 4195
Email: [email protected]


Federal Advocacy: National Ethnic Disability Alliance

National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is a national Disabled People’s Organisation that advocates federally for the human rights of people with disability, and their families, from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and non-English speaking backgrounds.

Location: Canberra
Phone: +(61) 402 610 399
Email: [email protected]


Resources FOR Advocates and Advocacy Organisations: Disability Advocacy Resource Unit

Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) works with disability advocacy organisations to promote and protect the rights of people with disability. They offer resources and training opportunities to keep disability advocates informed and up-to-date about issues affecting people with disability.

Location: Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9639 5807
Email: [email protected]


Resources for inclusive employment and workplaces

Australian Government Disability Employment Strategy (Employ My Ability)

The Australian Government, through the Department of Social Services (the department), has developed ‘Employ My Ability’ – the Disability Employment Strategy, to provide a guiding framework for governments, employers and the broader community to increase employment outcomes for people with disability.

On this website, you will find the Employ My Ability document in 3 formats (standard, Easy Read and Auslan) and a number of factsheets have been developed to support Employ My Ability and encourage employer action.


Disability Employment and Inclusion: Your Guide to Success (.pdf) by Workplace Initiative

This document is an introductory guide for employers on creating disability employment and inclusion initiatives, covering topics such as the value of disability inclusion, finding qualified candidates, workplace accommodations, and addressing common concerns, with the aim of helping businesses successfully integrate people with disabilities into their workforce.


Inclusive Workplaces Guide by Victoria State Government (.pdf)

This resource is a comprehensive guide developed by the Department of Education and Training to help create inclusive and respectful workplaces, covering topics such as equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion, with practical tips and strategies for supporting employees with diverse identities across various aspects of employment.


CBM Disability Inclusive Development (DID) Toolkit

This toolkit by CBM is designed as a resource that can be used in a variety of ways: to support staff induction, team meetings, refresher days and training workshops. It can also be used as a tool for personal reflection and self-study.


Australia’s Bilingual and Bicultural Workforce: Report by FECCA, 2017

This report examines the roles, training requirements, and career pathways for bilingual and bicultural workers in Australia across various sectors. It highlights the need for standardised accreditation and training for these workers, and provides recommendations for developing a national strategy to better recognise and utilise their skills in delivering culturally and linguistically responsive services.


‘Bicultural Brilliance’ A toolkit for working with and as Bicultural Workers: Report by Enliven Victoria, 2018

This toolkit was developed to promote the benefits and strengths of bicultural workers. It provides useful tools and tips for recruiting or working with bicultural staff and sets out a framework to support best practice. This resource highlights the way organisations flourish when they recognise bicultural workers’ inherent strengths, skills and competencies.


Information and resources about Mental Health and Psychosocial Disability

The term ‘psychosocial disability’ comes from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

The word ‘psychosocial’ comes from two things:

  1. Psychology – how you understand your experiences, the world, your emotions and feelings; and
  2. Social – how people who experience mental health conditions are viewed by others, or what society defines as ‘normal’

“Psychosocial disability mostly refers to social and economic impacts of living with a mental health condition, so things like earning money, buying things you need, or having relationships with friends or family. Psychosocial disability describes the challenges a person experiences that are related to their mental health condition, that affect their ability to participate in life.”
Reimagine, ‘Disability and psychosocial disability’, January 2020

Mental health support organisations

If you or someone you know need support, the below services may be able to help:

  • Lifeline (24/7 personal crisis support): 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue (for anyone feeling anxious or depressed): 1300 224 636
  • Kids Help Line (counselling for young people aged 5 to 25): 1800 551 800
  • Suicide Call Back Service (for anyone thinking about suicide): 1300 659 467
  • 13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line): 13 92 76
  • SANE Australia (free support, information, and resources): 1800 187 263
  • MensLine Australia (for men with emotional or relationship concerns): 1300 789 978
  • Open Arms (veterans and families counselling): 1800 011 046
  • Headspace (mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25): 1800 650 890
  • ReachOut (100% online, anonymous and confidential support for young people)
  • Is it an emergency? If you or someone you know is in immediate risk of harm, call triple zero (000)

Visit SA Health to view the comprehensive range of public mental health services available to children and adolescents, adults and older people in SA. 


Embrace Mental Health in-language resources

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (the Embrace Project) is run by Mental Health Australia and provides a national focus on mental health and suicide prevention for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. It provides in-languages resources about mental health, available in over 20 languages.


Reimagine – Mental Health, My Recovery and the NDIS

Reimagine provides In-language information and resources on mental health and the NDIS (Available in Arabic, Chinese [Simplified], Spanish, Korean, Turkish, Vietnamese, Persian, Assyrian).


Marathon Health – NDIS After Hours Crisis Referral Service

Marathon Health’s After Hours Crisis Referral Service (AHCRS) is designed to support NDIS participants aged 18 and over, who are experiencing a crisis because of a breakdown of their usual disability related supports.


PEACE Multicultural Services (a service of Relationships Australia SA)

PEACE Multicultural Services support all migrants and refugees regardless of their visa type, free of charge. Their aim is to help people from diverse language and cultural backgrounds to lead independent, healthy and good lives in Australia.


Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service (STTARS)

STTARS provides flexible and culturally sensitive services to promote the health and wellbeing of people who have been tortured or who have suffered refugee-related trauma prior to their arrival in Australia. They offer a range of services, including: Counselling, Group programs, Advocacy and Complementary therapies.
STTARS’ staff speak many languages and all use professional interpreters when needed. You can tell them which interpreter you feel safe with and keep that same interpreter where possible.


Video and Audio Resources

Equal Opportunity SA

The office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity promotes equality of opportunity, preventing certain kinds of discrimination and helps South Australians participate in our community. Here are some videos that help to understand the role of Equal Opportunity SA:


Action on Disability with Ethnic Communities (ADEC)

ADEC has produced NDIS Capacity Building videos in different languages to help our CALD communities understand the NDIS better and explain how ADEC staff can help you with your NDIS journey. The videos explain eligibility for NDIS, Planning and documents you need to apply, ADEC NDIS services including Plan Management, Disability Support and Appeals and Reviews.

Available in English, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic and Karen.


Community Access and Services SA on YouTube

Community Access and Services SA provides a wide range of services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in South Australia.

Some valuable in-language video topics you can find on their YouTube channel:

  • Job Readiness and Disability (available in Vietnamese, Nepali, Arabic, Kirundi and Dari/Farsi)
  • This is my story (about displacement by conflict) (available in English, Vietnamese, French, Swahili, Dinka, Nepali, Arabic and Kirundi)
  • Who is your NDIS Local Area Coordinator (available in English, Arabic, Bahasa, Indonesian, Creole, Croatian, French, Hindi, Kirundi, Local South Sudanese, Arabic, Nepali, Portuguese, Punjabi, Shona, Vietnamese and Zande)

AMPARO Advocacy Inc. resources

AMPARO Advocacy Inc. is a non-profit community organisation which provides independent individual and systemic advocacy on behalf of vulnerable people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds with disability. In addition to their YouTube video resources, they also have other valuable resources, including:


Summer Foundation resources

In addition to their fantastic YouTube video channel, Summer Foundation has developed information about NDIS access and plans, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and other housing options, as well as information for health professionals, including supporting them with the hospital discharge process so that young people with disability can find housing and support they need.

They even have a podcast series hosted by Dr George Taleporos called Reasonable and Necessary: Making Sense of the NDIS. It is available on YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts. You may find Episode 1 of Series 5 (Getting great outcomes for all NDIS participants) particularly relevant: Talking ethnicity, culture and the NDIS – with Sophie Dutertre from the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, and NDIS participant Julie Duong (28 May 2020)


Smartphone Apps

CALD Assist

CALD Assist™ offers a simple and dynamic way for health care workers to communicate with patients from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds when an interpreter is not available.

Featuring 200+ phrases commonly used during basic care interactions translated and recorded in 10 common languages (Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Mandarin, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese plus English), CALD Assist™ facilitates basic care interactions to support patient care.

Download for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.


Pavely

Pavely is a social planning app which makes it quick and easy for people with accessibility needs or those close to them to find new places to go or things to see and do.

With Pavely, you can easily search for and plan visits to accessible venues across South Australia and rate your experiences to help others in your community.

Download for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.


External Publications, Blogs and e-Newsletters

The below resources, project evaluation reports and publications provide information and updates on working with Disability and the NDIS in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities:


Stay up-to-date on the latest news from within the Disability Sector. Subscribe to an external organisation’s e-Newsletter, read their archived editions or read their latest blog posts / news articles. The below organisations provide valuable news from within the sector:


Other helpful links and resources

Easy Read (aka Easy English) National Standards for Disability Services

The Australian Government’s Department of Social Services offers an Easy English workbook on National Standards for Disability Services in three formats: a fully illustrated PDF, a text-only version for screen readers, and a print-ready version, designed to help workers explain these standards to people with reading difficulties.


Recreation Integration Victoria Factsheets

These factsheets from the former Recreation Integration Victoria (RIV) offer guidance on creating inclusive recreational environments, explaining the process and benefits of inclusion in recreation settings.


Positive Partnerships translated resources for supporting school-aged autistic children

These resources have been developed with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to support their school-aged autistic children. The resources are in 22 Languages.
These translated resources can assist conversations between family members and professionals working with and supporting autistic children.


Autism Friendly Charter website

The Autism Friendly Charter is an initiative of Autism SA that was initially funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme to build capacity for social inclusion and participation for people with a disability within their local community. The Autism Friendly Charter has been developed in collaboration with the autistic community.


Information about Driving and Supports

Williams Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping people with their mobility needs. Their website shares valuable information and resources to help with your driving
independence and safety with dedicated assessment, training, vehicle modifications, vehicle access, transporting your wheelchair or mobility aids, and much more.

Additionally, although American, this guide by Milavetz Law, P.A. provides useful information on Driving with a Disability, like which disabilities are people able to drive with, what are some of the pieces of adaptive equipment that enables us to drive with disabilities, and how to get grants to purchase some of the equipment and modifications necessary.


Kudos – NDIS Early Childhood Partner

Kudos Services is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) partner in South Australia delivering the early childhood approach. Kudos assists families to understand the role of the NDIS, offering independent advice on supports available to help families and their children (under 9 years old) to meet their goals and where appropriate refer to other community and mainstream supports.


Multilingual Information Access (MiAccess) website

Multilingual Information Access (MiAccess) is a website that brings together available translated information to support access to the NDIS.

In particular, you may find their video series for the Social Model of Disability particularly interesting – The Social Model of Disability is an important framework to consider and utilise when responding to disability issues in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.


RACGP Information for general practitioners about NDIS

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have created an informative guide for GPs to support their patients accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme.


Easy Read UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by Centre for Universal Design Australia

This resource provides an Easy Read version of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), along with information on the UN’s disability inclusion strategy and the Convention’s general principles, making complex rights-based content more accessible to a wider audience.


The Housing Hub online-based tool

Find the home that’s right for you: The Housing Hub is an online community of people with disability and housing providers working together to create accessible housing options. They are Australia’s leading accessible housing organisation, specialising in helping people with disability find suitable housing and access a variety of support options.


DHS Exceptional Needs Unit

The Exceptional Needs Unit (ENU) is a multi-disciplinary team in the Department of Human Services. The team works with systems and services to help support people and families who have multiple complex needs and risk factors. The ENU works in particular with people and families who are facing barriers to accessing appropriate supports or who are struggling to get their complex needs well met by existing services.


Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability – Final Report

In 2023, the Royal Commission made 222 recommendations on how to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. You can read their latest updates (up to 2023) via their archived editions of Connect Newsletter.


Self Advocacy and Diversity: A model for CALD inclusion (.pdf)

This report is a collaboration between Diversity and Disability (DnD), Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU), Ethnic Community Council of Victoria (ECCV) and Ethnic Council of Shepparton and Districts (ECSD). The model for CALD inclusion in self advocacy groups is the result of a project that aimed to develop recommendations for self advocacy groups to work in partnership with CALD people with disability and their organisations.


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