Support tools on offer for vision impaired council members

• Toolkit for supporting a council member who's blind (PDF 407.8 KB)
• Guidelines for accessible documents and support for a council member who is blind or has low vision (PDF 668.5 KB)

What you'll find in the toolkit

Using frameworks encompassing various federal and state legislation addressing accessibility and inclusivity, the toolkit provides advice to councils on how to:

• Communicate and engage with council members who are visually impaired (including the appropriate terminology to use), navigate common challenges, provide aid, enable accessible information and templates, incorporate universal design principles, as well as promote training opportunities for wider council staff members.
• Increase elected member diversity to safeguard council members who are visually impaired, so they remain at the forefront of decision-making.
• Provide suitable physical accessibility features to comply with accessibility requirements and ensure occupational health and safety requirements are adhered to. Some examples include implementing allocated taxi and bus drop-off zones, installing braille, guardrails, and other tactile features to council building infrastructure, as well as emergency plans that incorporate accessibility installments.

This inclusive development makes sure councils are providing all elected members with the opportunity to perform their roles well and promote diversity and inclusivity.

Development of the toolkit and guidelines

One South Australian council was integral to identifying the need for supporting tools and guidelines. In 2022, South Australia gained its first Council Member who is blind, with the appointment of disability and accessibility advocate, Councillor Angela Schiller and current Deputy Mayor at the City of Victor Harbor.

Since being elected and as a direct result of funding from Local Government Research and Development Scheme grant, Cr Schiller has spearheaded an accessibility overhaul at the council. This has included a review of approaches to information sharing and steps to better foster equity amongst council and the community within Victor Harbor.

Support from LGA to secure funding

Facilitated by LGA South Australia, the City of Victor Harbor was successful in gaining funding ensuring there is expanded capacity for a more inclusive and equitable representation of the community.

Since being awarded the grant, the council has expanded accessibility features. Cr Angela Schiller said implementing a support role to assist her as Councillor has been instrumental in representing the Victor Harbor community accurately.

Positive outcomes of the accessibility improvements

“As the organisation improved its accessibility, I’ve been able to improve my contribution to the community,” Cr Angela Schiller said.

“The Access and Inclusion Support Officer position, kindly funded by the LGA Research and Development Scheme with contribution from City of Victor Harbor, has enabled me to perform my Elected Member duties more effectively, at or above the standards of other Elected Members, providing me with the confidence to take on additional roles and responsibilities within the Elected Member role.”

Find out more

Visit support framework and guidelines for visually impaired council members to learn more about the project.