Accessibility & Inclusion Policy Statement

See Differently is dedicated to fostering an accessible and inclusive environment for all employees, clients, and partners. We recognise that diversity and inclusion are vital to our success, innovation, and the strength of our community.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access our services, products, and facilities free from barriers and discrimination.

This policy outlines our principles, responsibilities, and actions to promote accessibility and inclusion across all areas of our work, including recruitment, training, communication, procurement, design, delivery, and evaluation. It applies to all members of our organisation and guides us in building a workplace and service environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to participate fully.

The policy is based on the following principles:

• Respect: We respect the dignity, autonomy, and rights of every person and treat them with courtesy and sensitivity.
• Equity: We provide fair and equal opportunities for everyone to participate and contribute to our organisation and society.
• Inclusion: We foster a culture of belonging and collaboration where everyone feels valued and supported.
• Accessibility: We remove barriers and provide reasonable accommodation to enable everyone to access our support and services, products, and facilities.
• Innovation: We embrace diversity as a source of creativity and innovation and seek to learn from different perspectives and experiences.

Responsibilities:

• Senior Management: Responsible for providing leadership and direction, allocating resources, establishing accountability mechanisms, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
• Accessibility and Inclusion Committee: Responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing the policy and related strategies, plans, and initiatives.
• Managers and Supervisors: Responsible for promoting accessibility and inclusion in their teams, providing guidance and support to their staff, addressing concerns, and reporting on progress.
• Employees: Responsible for adhering to the policy, participating in training and activities, providing feedback, and respecting the diversity of colleagues and clients.
• Clients and Partners: Responsible for complying with the policy expectations, communicating their accessibility needs, and collaborating with us to achieve goals.

The policy outlines the following actions:

• We conduct regular accessibility audits to identify and remove barriers in our physical, digital, and social environments.
• We provide accessibility training to all our staff to raise awareness and skills.
• We communicate with our stakeholders in accessible formats and languages that meet their needs and preferences.
• We procure goods and services that are accessible or can be made accessible upon request.
• We design our supports and services, products, and facilities with universal design principles that consider the diverse needs of our users.
• We deliver our supports and services with flexibility and responsiveness.
• We evaluate our supports and services with inclusive methods that involve user participation.
• We recognise that accessibility and inclusion are ongoing processes that require continuous improvement and feedback.

We value the insights of our clients and key stakeholders and welcome your ideas on how we can strengthen our accessibility and inclusion practices. Together, we can create an environment where everyone belongs and thrives.