Disability Action Plan and History

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The challenges and commitments for Telstra on disability issues are included within our Disability Action Plans. You can review our current plan as well as past Action Plans and Review Reports.

You can also review information on Telstra's key achievements over the past 20+ years for people with a disability.

Disability Action Plan

Telstra's Fifth Disability Action Plan 2010-2012

Telstra is proud to be a corporate leader in serving customers with a disability and addressing accessibility issues.

As Australia's leading telecommunications provider, Telstra is uniquely positioned to provide great service to our customers with a disability. We can also contribute positively to the lives of people with a disability and their carers through community investment and partnerships, and we can be a great place for people with a disability to work.

In 1996 Telstra formalised commitments to ensure Australians with disability have access to communications, including to the latest technological advances, by becoming one of the first major Australian corporations to lodge a Disability Action Plan with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Our objectives for our fifth Disability Action Plan 2010-12 were:

For our customers - to provide affordable, innovative and accessible products and services which improve the quality of life for Telstra customers with a disability and their carers.
For our communities - to support and create opportunities for people with a disability and their carers to participate within our community, particularly through the use of our information, communication and technology capabilities.
For our people - to improve Telstra’s attraction, recruitment, engagement and retention of people with a disability and their carers.

An independent review of our fifth Plan conducted in March 2013 endorsed Telstra’s approach to providing services to customers with disability and for our disability programs generally.

The comprehensive review - which involved interviews with key staff, an examination of electronic and hard copy documentation and an interrogation of material provided by Telstra - found that of the 80 Telstra DAP actions: 75 (94%) were either Completed or Ongoing; three were In Progress; and, two had yet to be actioned.

The review report said that Telstra understood the enabling power of technology and was a strong advocate for ensuring developments such as the National Broadband Network provide real benefits to people with a disability. The report also indicated that Telstra had taken a number of significant steps to improve the lives of people with a disability in the broader community including work to advance the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and support for the Every Australian Counts Campaign.

Telstra will launch its Sixth Disability Action Plan later in 2013.

Telstra's Fifth Disability Action Plan Review report 2010-2012 (PDF 254kB)
Telstra's Fifth Disability Action Plan Review report 2010-2012 (DOC 169kB)
Telstra's Fifth Disability Action Plan 2010-2012 (PDF 238kB)
Telstra's Fifth Disability Action Plan 2010-2012 (DOC 441kB)

You can also view past Disability Action Plans and Review Reports.

History

Telstra has been a leader for many years in addressing disability issues and in ensuring our products, services and information are accessible to customers.

Ensuring people with a disability have access to the standard telephone service and new telecommunication innovations are ongoing challenges. The historical timeline below tracks Telstra's major achievements from the introduction of disability equipment in 1981 to the present.

2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1993 | 1989 | 1988 | 1981

Major achievements
2013	An independent review of Telstra’s 5th Disability Action Plan, 2010-12 found that of 80 Telstra DAP actions: 75 (94%) were either Completed or Ongoing; 3 were In Progress; and, 2 had yet to be actioned.
2012	Telstra’s Supported Workforce Program, a diversity in procurement initiative that employs over 200 people with disability nationwide in partnership with Australian Disability Enterprises won the Excellence in Improving Employment Opportunities Award to celebrate International Day of People with Disability on 3 December. The Awards recognise individuals and organisations whose contributions improve the lives of people with disability. Telstra partnered with Able Australia to develop a digital literacy program for deafblind Australians. Telstra supported the National Disability Insurance Scheme: Telstra was the major sponsor of the Every Australian Counts, NDIS - Make it Real 2012 Campaign rallies held around Australia in 2012.
2011	Telstra launched the third generation of Telstra’s Next G™ EasyTouch® Discovery postpaid and second generation of Telstra’s EasyCall prepaid mobile phones, both providing a wide range of accessible features for people with disability. Telstra made two submissions to the Productivity Commission inquiry into Disability Care and Support, in support of a National Disability Insurance Scheme, including recommendations to ‘include telecommunications’. Telstra was major sponsor of the National Disability & Carer Congress in May 2011.
2010	Telstra lodged its 5th Disability Action Plan 2010-2012 with the Australian Human Rights Commission to co-incide with International Day of People With Disability 2010. The focus of this Plan includes: Customers - to provide affordable, innovative and accessible products and services which improve the quality of life for Telstra customers with a disability and their carers; Communities - to support and create opportunities for people with a disability and their carers to participate within our community, particularly through the use of our information, communication and technology capabilities; and People - to improve Telstra's attraction, recruitment, engagement and retention of people with a disability and their carers. An independent review of Telstra's 4th Disability Action plan 2007-2009 found that 33 of 42 items in the Plan were complete or on-going with high achievement; there was extensive progress on 4 items; with 5 items still in progress. Telstra EasyCall mobile phone launched -a very low cost, prepaid mobile phone with a host of accessible features. Dr Denise Wood, from the University of SA, was awarded the 2010 Christopher Newell Prize for Telecommunications and Disability for her paper, “Communicating in Virtual Worlds through an Accessible Web 2.0 Solution.” Telstra announced it will once again sponsor the prize in 2011.
2009	Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize for Telecommunications and Disability announced ($20,000), to be awarded for the best original paper offered for publication by the Telecommunications Journal of Australia that demonstrates the tangible benefits that an innovative use of telecommunications technology can deliver in assisting individuals with disabilities. Telstra launches Next G™ network EasyTouch® Discovery II mobile handset, developed for and with input from older people and people with disability.
2008	20th meeting of Telstra Disability Forum and Disability Equipment Program Consumer Advisory Group held Telstra launches Next G™ network EasyTouch® Discovery mobile handset, developed for and with input from older people and people with disability
2007	Telstra launches its Fourth Disability Action Plan - 2007-09 The application process for most Telstra Disability Equipment Program products improved so most eligible customers no longer need to complete an application form, leading to faster delivery of products and an improved customer experience Testing of Telstra Next G™ mobile phones by National Acoustics Laboratories and customers finds that people with hearing aids and cochlear implants can successfully use 3G mobile phones without an assistive device in almost all situations
2006	Disability Services included into Telstra Compliance and Corporate Ethics Framework Telstra Diversity Council Taskforce for Disability established
2005	An independent review of Telstra's Third Disability Action Plan 2002-04 found that 92 per cent of the actions were complete and eight per cent rated extensive progress Telstra was principal sponsor of the 20th Deaflympic games, held in Melbourne A Big Button Multipurpose phone, developed in consultation with the Telstra Disability Equipment Program Consumer Advisory Group, was added to the Telstra Disability Equipment Program Telstra Disability Forum Payphones Working Group develops a draft Payphones Industry Code
2004	Disability Awareness online training made mandatory for Telstra employees with customer contact Telstra takes up first year of three year major sponsorship of NSW "Don't DIS My ABILITY" campaign held on 3 December, centred around International Day of People with a Disability Cordless phone added to Telstra Disability Equipment Program
2003	Telstra wins PM Employer of the Year Award for Leadership in Disability Telstra Wholesale Disability Equipment Program launched Telstra establishes 47 Telstra Country Wide offices and specialised community agencies to display Telstra disability equipment Telstra launches a new standard rental phone (T1000S), incorporating a number of accessible features for people with disability, including volume control Braille teletypewriter (TTY) and Large Visual Display TTY introduced into Telstra's Disability Equipment Program Fault reporting procedure introduced specifically for TTYs TTY Payphone locations and catalogue of products and services for older people and people with a disability published online
2002	Telstra launches its third Disability Action Plan 2002 - 2004 Telstra makes commitments to people with Intellectual Disability
2001	Launch of online Disability Awareness leaning program for Telstra staff Launch of Telstra's Centre for Accessibility
2000	Catalogue of products and services for older people and people with a disability released Telstra Disability Equipment Program Consumer Advisory Group established Telstra Paralympic Employment Program established Telstra wins the Supertext "Advertiser of the Year" award
1999	Release of second Telstra Disability Action Plan 1999-2001 Telstra Disability Forum established 100th TTY Payphone installed Captioned video in AUSLAN on Telstra's Disability Equipment Program released
1998	Telstra's Disability Equipment Program expanded to include Teletypewriters (TTYs) Introduction of the Telstra Braille Bill
1997	Centralised Disability Enquiry Hotline established Staff Disability Awareness program established
1996	Release of Telstra's first Disability Action Plan 1996-98, a landmark for the business community in Australia.
1993	Introduction of Payphone Access Policy to improve accessibility to Telstra payphones
1989	Telstra Consumer Consultative Councils established
1988	Disabilities Program Unit established Telstra Aged and Disability Centres established in each state capital city Telstra Credit Management Working Group established
1981	Specialised products to assist people with a disability to use the standard telephone introduced

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Testimonial

"Now more than ever, our nation needs corporate champions like Telstra to show what can be achieved when people with a disability are given the support they need to make the most of the abilities they possess.

There is no doubt that next generation technologies like Telstra's Next G and Next IP networks have the potential to transform the personal and professional lives of thousands of Australians with a disability.

I congratulate Telstra for its ongoing leadership."

Dr Rhonda Galbally AO

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