The next territory government must act to build a more inclusive and accessible city for people who have a disability, peak bodies have united to say.
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The ACT Council of Social Service and peak disability representative groups have urged government action to improve access to health infrastructure, transport and housing in Canberra.
They have called for a disability health strategy, groups allowing consultation on access and transport - including increases to taxi subsidies and community transport - and action on universal design housing.
ACTCOSS policy manager Craig Wallace said people with disability made up one-fifth of the city's population, and that the number of people aged 85 or older was expected to increase by 16 per cent over the next few years.
This would mean the number of older people who acquired disabilities would also significantly grow, he said.
Mr Wallace said the territory's obligations to people with disability - including to provide access to decent services - were not exported to federal Parliament just because the ACT signed up to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
COVID-19 has highlighted the need for better health infrastructure, accessible communications and attitudinal change.
- Craig Wallace
The ACT government retained responsibilities under the national disability strategy relating to transport, housing, urban planning, justice and education services for people with disability, he said.
"We still have much more to do," Mr Wallace said.
"COVID-19 has highlighted the need for better health infrastructure, accessible communications and attitudinal change through a disability health strategy," he said.
"Likewise, we can all benefit from inclusive schools and housing, which can be adapted over our lifetime to meet our changing needs."
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"We're calling for equal access to domestic and family violence services, including accessible crisis shelters.
"Moreover, we call for action on violence prevention, including a gendered approach to the disability justice strategy and reducing the number of congregate living settings."
People With Disabilities ACT executive director Craig Shannon said there was a need for improved access to physical spaces and transport.
Mr Shannon called for forums allowing consultation to ensure Canberra's building, construction and transport met the needs of people with disability.
COVID-19 had made it harder for people with disabilities to travel, and reforms were needed to lift trip limits and remove the cap in the ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme, he said.