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Access Institute is proud to introduce a new mark of distinction for leaders in accessibility and universal design – the 5-Star Credentialed Access Professional Program. This prestigious credential recognises access professionals who have achieved the highest benchmark of training, capability, and commitment in the sector. It represents not just professional achievement, but also a dedication … Read More

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) has long been the cornerstone of disability rights in Australia. For access consultants, it is more than just legislation – it is the framework that guides how we advise, assess, and help organisations create inclusive environments. With the DDA currently under review, changes on the horizon could reshape the … Read More

By Ms. Joe Manton – Director, Access Institute – [email protected] June 2025 Is the use of MLAK on public facilities a form of discrimination, or does it offer essential security for facilities and benefits for people with disabilities? As communities evolve and access expectations change, it’s time to explore whether the MLAK system supports or hinders … Read More

Ms. Joe Manton, Director Access Institute, ACA Fellow, Williamson Fellow. E: [email protected] July 2024 Update to Article – All-Gender Toilets – We just want to go to the Toilet – May 2021 Go to https://accessinstitute.com.au/all-gender-toilets-we-just-want-to-go-to-the-toilet/  for original article. In 2021, I wrote about the provision of All-Gender Toilets and referenced an ABC Opinion piece by … Read More

– A lucrative Career path with plenty of opportunities – SDA Assessors can indeed pursue a lucrative career path with abundant opportunities. As the demand for accessible housing continues to grow, the need for qualified SDA Assessors to assess designs and final as built dwellings against the SDA Design Standard has exploded. There are not … Read More

From (Ms) Joe Manton – Director, Access Institute In Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme provides support to eligible individuals in various types of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). New residential accommodation buildings must comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and adhere to the SDA Design Standard. However, there are concerns regarding the application of … Read More

From (Ms) Joe Manton – Director, Access Institute The Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Pricing Review results have just been released and are available on the NDIS website at the link below. There are a number of reports that relate to this review that incorporate extensive technical data and detail. The majority of SDA configurations have … Read More

All content of the SDA Assessor Updates is approved by NDIS – Access Institute has agreed to post these on this website to assist with information dissemination. Any questions regarding the content of the Updates should be directed to NDIS at [email protected] Clarifications re the SDA Design Standard Interpretations December 2022 This is the 4th … Read More

After working in the access industry for more than 30 years, I cannot remember a time when the focus on the need for improved access features in housing to meet the wide-ranging needs of the community, has been highlighted as much as it is now. After many years of advocacy and work by a wide … Read More

Ms. Joe Manton, Director Access Institute, ACAA & Williamson Fellow Access Consultants have been operating in the marketplace for more than thirty years. The profession began with a few interested people, some with disabilities, who were working in the design and development of the built environment and recognised the need to ensure buildings were accessible … Read More

Ms. Joe Manton, Director Access Institute, ACAA & Williamson Fellow In an ABC Opinion piece by Rory Blundell posted on Tuesday 4 April 2017, Rory states: ‘Like most people who consume almost a litre of soft drink while seeing a movie at the cinema, I really need to pee. A familiar, prickly feeling of anxiety … Read More

After much work across a wide range of sectors, the National Building Ministers forum has agreed that new minimum accessibility Standards, based on the Silver Performance Level of the Livable Housing Australia (LHA) Design Guidelines, will be incorporated into the National Construction Code (NCC). Ministers also agreed that a voluntary Gold Level technical standard for … Read More