DISABILITY ACCESS NEWS
Columns:-News - July 2001
News - 2001
News - November 2000
News - October 2000
News - August 2000
News - July 2000
News - May 2000
News - March 2000
Consultant:-
Barrier Free Lifestyles
Issues:-
Access to Schools
Cairns Civic Theatre
By: Mrs Robyn Gobert - CBUG Disability Access Officer - Ph 4096 5684 - Fax 4095 1184 - Email
Disability column for 17th Sept.
It is obvious that other regions are powering ahead with funding through the Community Renewal Program which is currently operating in 14 areas across Qld. These communities have a strong and persistent group of people, which include representatives from all community sectors, that are aware, have good ideas and are asking for what they want. If the Tablelands is to prosper we need a similar, united group.
To nominate someone to be a member of the Ministerial Regional Community Forum phone 40398926.
After the recent terrorist activities in America it is obvious that their disabled population will significantly increase. This will include the hidden disabilities such as post traumatic stress syndrome and other mental illnesses. Don't sit back complacently as these events will effect us all. Most worrying could be the loss of civil liberties such as the freedom to movement in Australia as we follow Americas lead.
Tourism Minister Merri Rose has congratulated the (accessible and useable) Ravenshoe Visitor Centre on its accreditation as a quality information provider. The centre is the first on the Atherton Tableland to meet the high standards of service and quality required under the Queensland Visitor Information Centre Signage Policy.
Congratulations to the Mareeba Infrastructure group. They are gaining support. This group will meet at the Community Health Meeting Room, Lloyd Street, Mareeba on 13th November at 1pm.
It is disturbing, however, to see that the term "disabled people" is still being used, even within our disability focus groups. Get with it guys! The term is "people with disabilities". Anything less is defamatory.
After drawing the Transport Dept's attention to inequities at the Bilyana Rest stop, District Director Ian Rose tells me that they are on the job.
It was my pleasure to write a letter of support for the Tableland Respite's quest for funding to reseal their car park. Well done everyone.
There's a block of retirement apartments being built on Herberton Road. It's hoped it will all be accessible and usable. Recently a community housing project in Darwin failed to address these needs. When they lifted a lady in a wheelchair up onto the verandah of her new home she could not fit through the front door in her wheelchair.
The opening of aged units at Babinda this weekend represents a landmark for the housing sector in Queensland.
disABILITY column for 31st July.
Lenore Evans from the Cairns Bicycle User's Group says: The Cairns City Council has $100,000 for bikeways which is 50/50 council/state funding. This is $50,000 out of a $39 million capital works budget and it is too low an amount. The bikeway budget will also pay for foot bridges and paths.
In the Road Ahead magazine there's a complaint from a man who uses a chair saying that he can not self-serve petrol for his car. Garages are missing a marketing opportunity here. Place a sign out to say you'll provide service for persons with a disability pass.
Applause to our petrol provider in Malanda. Eacham Services in the industrial estate is not only cheaper but always prompt with full driveway service.
Call for papers - Adaptable Housing. Adelaide will host the third national conference for about 1,000 delegates working in Home and Community Care from 20-22 February, 2002. As part of the program we hope to draw together a range of presenters who can highlight specific examples or general trends towards implementation of Adaptable Housing in Australia.
Minister for the Arts Matt Foley has announced that
Queensland will host the 7th Asia Pacific Wataboshi Music Festival in 2003 at the Powerhouse Museum, 3-9 November, 2003 in Brisbane.
"About one in five Queenslanders have a disability so it is wonderful news that we can bring so many people with a disability together who have a common love of music," Mr Foley said.
"The festival will have many positive off-shoots - tourism with people with a disability and their carers travelling to the event; employment for artists with a disability; and collaboration with national and regional Queensland music groups," Mr Foley said.
Access Arts Executive Director Neal Price said the festival would attract up to 2000 people nationwide and from 12 Asia-Pacific countries to various performances and workshops.
"This project will allow Access Arts to work collaboratively with musicians with a disability from Indigenous, non-English speaking backgrounds and regional Queensland to demonstrate their vast contributions to Queensland culture," Mr Price said.
disABILITY column 24th July
We are working on forming a Re-evaluation Co-Counselling group on the Tablelands. Interested persons please phone 4096 5684.
I've had complaints about the new accident and emergency department of the Cairns Base Hospital regarding the appalling lack of access within this unit and the steel seats out the front. These seats are alternately freezing cold or hot enough to fry an egg. Not a very clever design.
The NSW Teachers Federation has announced that it will co-sponsor an "Independent Review into the Provision of Public Education in NSW". The Teachers' Federation writes that:
"This review is a chance for people to be involved in groundbreaking, policy debate about the future of public education.. The last major review, the Wyndham Review, was conducted some forty years ago and took four years to complete. The Wyndham review only canvassed secondary education. It resulted in the introduction of the comprehensive high school model. A new review is long overdue. It is a disgrace that the Government has failed to engage in sound, long-term educational planning."
Tablelanders are embracing disability access and people are commenting on how much more is accessible and inclusive today than it was just a few years ago. Even the disability parking is being respected. A lady asked me if I knew I'd parked in a disability bay last week and I thanked her for her inquiry as people power is what will keep these bays available to those who need them.
The Big Cat and Primate Park is being built barrier-free I'm told by David Gill. So is the Tully King Ranch project and the Tully visitors centre. The Tully RSL has also been refurbished and there is a nice cemented walkway along the foreshore in Cardwell.
There's $250,000 been given to Cairns, Barron River and Mulgrave for wheelchair-accessible bus upgrades. While every step forward is applaudable, wouldn't it be sensible if the Cairns City Council provided accessible infrastructure to support accessible buses? If you can't get onto the curb or into the bus shelter, how do you access the bus?
Disability Access News
The 10-bedroom Abbeyfield project in Hospital Street at Babinda provides accommodation for seniors and is the first of its type in Queensland. It houses seniors who no longer wish to live alone, but who are independent enough to look after their own affairs - and want to stay in their local community and provides facilities for a housekeeper or Carer.
Does anyone know if Qld is doing something similar? The United Nations undertook a world-wide evaluation of the progress of including students with disabilities in mainstream classes and Australia failed miserably. This would seem like a good time to develop an inclusive curriculum.