DISABILITY advocate Jono Salgo wants to see more businesses become inclusive for people with disabilities.
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Mr Salgo is the co-founder of Provider Choice and previously worked as a consultant for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) from 2015 to 2017.
For years, he said, people with disabilities have been an afterthought when it comes to planning.
Although that is changing, there is more that needs to be done to accommodate people with both physical and intellectual disabilities.
"It's not as though there has been this active prejudice necessarily, though that might be the case. It's more a case that they've been forgotten about," Mr Salgo said.
"The first point I would say is look at the kind of barriers that currently exist, whether they're physical barriers or barriers in terms of people's minds and how they might think about people with disabilities."
Physical disabilities are often the easiest to detect, seeing people with intellectual disabilities often overlooked.
Mr Salgo said it was important for them to experience inclusivity, too.
"It's not easy and it's really important to note that, but I do think there are these blockers in place and it's about making sure the first step is businesses have a better understanding of what some of these disabilities are," he said.
"... What does it actually mean? What does that look like, and how do we as human beings respond to those people who have an intellectual disability?"
Communication is one area that can make a difference. Mr Salgo suggested easy-read documents to convey information in a simple way, including with pictures.
"What's really interesting about these easy-read bits of communication is that they are actually really effective for everyone," he said.
He said people with disabilities can feel like "they're not part of society" if they can't access buildings or services, leading to anxiety and depression.
He recommended that businesses consult people with disabilities or advocacy groups to guide them in positive changes they could make at their premises.
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