Forum tackles issues facing blind and vision impaired

Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
15/10/2009
Forum tackles issues facing blind and vision impaired
 
Disability Services Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today officially opened the Australian Blindness Forum's (ABF) members' meeting in Brisbane.

Members of the national group representing the blindness sector and people who are vision impaired are in Brisbane to discuss a range of issues affecting people with vision impairment.

Ms Palaszczuk said there were more than 3800 blind or vision impaired people in Queensland and the Bligh Government supported the ABF's mission to provide blind people equal access within the community.

"The Bligh Government recognises the key role members of the ABF play in promoting the rights of people who are blind or vision impaired in Queensland," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"That is why we provide $1.4 million annually to members of the Australia Blindness forum in Queensland.

"Queensland has taken a lead role in promoting these right with new legislation for dog and assistance dogs coming into affect on July 1 this year.

"At last month's Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference I called for uniformity of national laws regarding guide, hearing and assistance dogs highlighting Queensland laws as the benchmark," she said.

The Australian Blindness Forum is the peak body representing the blindness sector for the benefit of people who are vision impaired.

The forum program will cover a range of clinical and social issues and hear updates on international activities of the World Blind Union.

Topics will include improving participation rates of blind and vision impaired people in employment, neurological vision loss, and new research from guide dog and puppy educators.

Minister Palaszczuk said it was fitting the national forum was being hosted in Queensland in 2009.

"It's great to be able to welcome people from all over Australia to Queensland to discuss important issues that really matter to people who are blind or vision impaired," she said.

"The Bligh Government is committed to building a more inclusive Queensland and we're pleased to be working with the Australian Blindness Forum to improve the lives of people who are vision impaired."