History
Telstra has been a leader for many years in addressing disability issues and in ensuring our products, services and information are accessible to customers.
Ensuring people with a disability have access to the standard telephone service and new telecommunication innovations are ongoing challenges. The historical timeline below tracks Telstra's major achievements from the introduction of disability equipment in 1981 (to 2003), the International Year of the Disabled Person.
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1993 | 1989 | 1988 | 1981
| Major achievements |
| 2003 |
- Telstra wins PM Employer of the Year Award for Leadership in Disability
- Telstra Wholesale Disability Equipment Program launched
- Telstra establishes 47 Telstra Country Wide offices and specialised community agencies to display Telstra disability equipment
- Telstra launches its new standard rental phone which incorporates accessible features for people with a disability
- Braille teletypewriter (TTY) and Large Visual Display TTY introduced into Telstra's Disability Equipment Program
|
| 2002 |
- Telstra launches its third Disability Action Plan 2002 - 2004
- Telstra makes commitments to people with Intellectual Disability
|
| 2001 |
- Launch of online Disability Awareness leaning program for Telstra staff
- Launch of Telstra's Centre for Accessibility
|
| 2000 |
- Catalogue of products and services for older people and people with a disability released
- Telstra Paralympic Employment Program established
- Telstra wins the Supertext "Advertiser of the Year" award
|
| 1999 |
- Release of second Telstra Disability Action Plan 1999-2001
- Telstra Disability Forum established
- 100th TTY Payphone installed
- Captioned video in AUSLAN on Telstra's Disability Equipment Program released
|
| 1998 |
- Telstra's Disability Equipment Program expanded to include Teletypewriters (TTYs)
- Introduction of the Telstra Braille Bill
|
| 1997 |
- Centralised Disability Enquiry Hotline established
- Staff Disability Awareness program established
|
| 1996 |
- Release of Telstra's first Disability Action Plan 1996-1998, a landmark for the business community in Australia.
|
| 1993 |
- Introduction of Payphone Access Policy to improve accessibility to Telstra payphones
|
| 1989 |
- Telstra Consumer Consultative Councils established
|
| 1988 |
- Disabilities Program Unit established
- Telstra Aged and Disability Centres established in each state capital city
|
| 1981 |
- Specialised products to assist people with a disability to use the standard telephone introduced
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