Information Technology and Telecommunications:
Papers, Articles, Reports & Submissions 2001 - 2005

'Women With Disabilities and Adaptive Technology in the Workplace' - by Michelle Murdoch (2005)(Canada) [PDF Version Only]
This report provides an overview of a research project that examined the experiences and perspectives of unemployed, underemployed, and employed women with disabilities, and their knowledge of and need for adaptive technology. The Report contains detail of the Project and includes a series of recommendations. Copyright 2005.

Women With Disabilities Australia: Submission to the 2005 Review of the Telecommunications Consumer Representation & Telecommunications Research Grants Program (2005) [Word Version] [PDF Version]
In 2005, the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts (DCITA) undertook a review of its Telecommunications Consumer Representation Grant Program. This is WWDA's Submission to that Review which encompasses a series of responses to the Review Discussion Paper issued by the Department of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts. Copyright WWDA 2005.

Women With Disabilities Australia: Position Paper VISION 20/20 Workshop (2004) [Word Version] [PDF Version]
This is a paper presented by Sue Salthouse on behalf of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) to the Australian Communications Authority and the Telecommunications Disability Consumer Representation Body (TEDICORE) 'Vision 20/20' Forum, held in Melbourne on 29 November 2004. Copyright WWDA 2004.

Women With Disabilities Australia: Submission to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts on the Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and the Customer Service Guarantee (February 2004)
This document is WWDA's response to the Australian Government's Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and the Customer Service Guarantee, conducted in early 2004. Copyright WWDA February 2004.

Women With Disabilities Australia: Submission to the Legislation Committee for Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts on the "Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003" (September 2003)
The Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003 (the Bill) proposes to amend the Telstra Corporation Act 1991 to provide a framework for the sale of the Government's 50.1 per cent equity in Telstra Corporation Limited, leading to full private ownership. The Bill gives the Commonwealth the flexibility to use a wide range of approaches to conduct the sell down of Telstra either through a single tranche, several tranches or other approaches such as placements. The Senate has referred the provisions of this bill to the Committee for inquiry and report by 30 October 2003. This document is WWDA's response to the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003. Copyright WWDA 2003.

'Bridging the Digital Divide' - A Resource Manual of Initiatives Enabling People in Disadvantaged Groups to Gain Access to the Internet (September 2002)
This Manual was developed by the WWDA Telecommunications Group in 2002. Women with disabilities are over-represented in low socio-economic groups compared to men with disabilities and women in general. This affects their ability to access Information and Communications Technology (ICT) that further disadvantages them in a range of activities that are now conducted over the Internet. Many E-commerce activities - for example bill paying and banking - offer discounts for business conducted over the Internet. Thus lack of Internet access further penalises people who are already under financial strain. Moreover, the lack of access to the Internet deprives women with disabilities the social interaction afforded by email contact with family, friends, disability support groups and other special interest groups. There are many initiatives underway both internationally and Australia-wide which seek to bridge the Digital Divide. This Resource Manual details many of these initiatives, and is intended to serve as a resource for other organizations whose constituents form a digital divide disadvantaged group. Copyright WWDA 2002.

Women With Disabilities Australia: Submission to the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry (September 2002)
In mid 2002, the Australian Government announced a Public Inquiry into the adequacy of telecommunications services in rural, regional and remote Australia. This is WWDA's submission to that Public Inquiry. The Submission was prepared by Sue Salthouse and members of WWDA's Telecommunications Working Party. Copyright WWDA 2002.

Women With Disabilities Australia: 'Telecommunications Use by Women with Disabilities in remote, rural and regional Australia' (2001) [Word Version] [PDF Version]
This study was initiated because of a high level of dissatisfaction with telecommunications services registered to the executive of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) by its remote, rural and regionally located members. In addition, in the past several years there has been much public discussion about the inequities of delivery of telecommunications services to remote and rural areas throughout Australia. Although government initiatives were (and are) being put in place to address the inequities of telecommunications services delivery, WWDA felt that it was important to try to 'tease out' the additional difficulties and expenses which its remote, rural, and regionally located members encounter specifically because of their disability. Copyright WWDA 2001.