CAN YOU BE DISABLED AND HAPPY? – By Ian Walker
Kia ora koutou katoa/hey everybody!
The above-noted question has been asked of me more than once. Almost as if one is at the exclusion of the other. My answer? Bloody oath I can!
Why is the bar of expectation set so low for people with disabilities? – by Adam Sheppard
As a full-time wheelchair user of close to 40 years, I’ve grown pretty accustomed to people asking if I need help.
Some people ask and then you get those that thrust themselves upon you, like you couldn’t possibly have successfully completed the task you’ve done 4653 times prior, without intervention by some random with a saviour complex.
I don’t mean to sound brash but, as a person with a disability, you are either comfortable with people asking if you need help and, therefore, comfortable in accepting the help or kindly declining it.
Why I’m Celebrating Autism Acceptance, not Awareness This April – by Charlie Park
Image Description: A selfie of Charlie sitting at a pub wearing silvery-blue headphones and a rainbow-coloured jumper.
As an Autistic person, I’m calling for Autism acceptance, not awareness in April. Why? Because awareness - “Be aware! Here be Autistics!” - makes us out to be creatures to be avoided. Whereas accepting Autism – “Rejoice! Here be Autistics!” – requires understanding and inclusion of Autistic folk. How do we achieve Autism acceptance?
Exploring Accessibility - Wheelchair Access at Mount Tomah Botanic Garden, NSW – by Daniel Kenna
In my last blog, I talked about returning to the theatre. This time, I want to explore accessing green spaces. Botanical gardens are not just beautiful spaces; they are living museums and sanctuaries for wildlife. For many, they provide a place to connect with nature, relax, and learn. However, for individuals with disabilities, visiting these spaces can present unique challenges. Today, I want to delve into the Botanic Gardens of Sydney: Mount Tomah to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of these natural green spaces.
The power of role models - by Susan Seipel
A role model is someone whose behaviours serve as an example to others. Role models can provide ‘proof’ that it is possible to achieve one’s dreams by demonstrating that a potential goal is attainable. Role models are powerful because they can influence others, and many people with disability can be considered excellent role models.
People I like follow on social media who also have a disability – by Lindsay Nott
A new year brings new challenges, I'm not one to have a New Year's resolution.
I prefer to come across a challenge and or an activity and set a goal throughout the year.
One thing I have enjoyed over the past 4 to 5 years, is following people who either have a spinal cord injury or are in the disability field, via their social media platform.
Over the past five to seven years, I have found a couple of different people I follow on YouTube.
Para sports: the great equaliser – by Natasha Price
In a world that sometimes underestimates the capabilities of people with disabilities, there's something reshaping lives and challenging preconceived ideas – para sports. Para sports aren't just about competition; they're about rediscovering purpose, boosting physical and mental well-being, and finding a supportive community that truly understands the highs and lows of the unique journey each participant is on.
As a para athlete, this is the world I found myself in. A place where self-esteem gets charged, societal barriers are challenged, and community is built.
The inaccessibility of accessible housing – by Alicia Kapa.
scariness and often challenges of finding an accessible house. For me, finding a house was a big challenge as we simply don’t have many available and if we do, they are taken quickly and not available for years because who would want to move if they have everything they need in the house?
Journey to a Wheelchair Part 3: One-Wheel Forwards, Two-Wheels Back – by Ferris Knight
By now I knew a little of what it was like to engage the world in a chair, after having gone to the zoo a few months earlier in a manual chair. It was like tasting chocolate for the first time – now I knew what it could be, and I definitely wanted to have some again, because who doesn’t want more chocolate?
THE SEARCH FOR A NEW GP – by Bill Fuller
Three and a bit years ago we made the move to a new town 60 kilometres away. As one does when moving we got the feel for the town and the businesses that we would frequent. That is apart from two businesses we just couldn’t leave – our GP and our car mechanic. While a 120-kilometre round trip is a decent drive, we considered it well worthwhile to “keep” these as our own.
Our mechanic still does a fine job of keeping our car tip top however the situation with our GP is now a little different.