Music as Therapy - an update - by Jessica Cochran
Sometimes I hear a song on the radio and it hits me like a wave, the wall comes crashing down and I feel the emotion run through me, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. (Cochran, 2020)
The constant worry of discrimination – by Geoff Trappett OAM
Every disabled person knows outright discrimination. From not being allowed into a space ‘because you are a fire hazard’, not providing communication in applicable formats, to refusing entry to a space due to a guide or assistance animal. These acts of discrimination are abhorrent and must be stopped through every avenue both legal and social we have at our disposal as a society.
How I cope with lockdowns – by Alicia Kapa
Lockdown has become the new normal for life these days as we struggle to keep Covid-19 under control. It has come with a lot of mixed emotions, feelings and discovery of things we did not know existed before.
There are many ways people have dealt with hard times during this pandemic. Here in New Zealand, we are currently in our 4th lockdown, so we have figured out what works best for us! I’d like to share with you what has helped me during this current lockdown and hopefully, it might help you!
Job hunting as a person with a disability – by Eliza Ault-Connell AM
There are many challenges around employment for people living with a disability. The statistics show that 48% of people with a disability are employed compared to 80% of people ages 16-64 without a disability. Sadly, what these statistics show is that people without a disability are twice as likely to be employed as their disabled counterparts.
There are many reasons that contribute to these numbers.
- Physical Barriers. These can take the form of structural issues in the environment that impede function.
Queen of the castle: Access at its best! – by Marlena Katene
When is a home truly a home?
The Honour of Being an Invacare Ambassador - by Ian Walker
Hey everybody!
This year I was invited to give a talk about my journey recovering from two separate spinal cord injuries (SCI) by Geoff Purtill, Invacare Vice President Global Strategy and General Manager Asia Pacific, at the recent 2021 ATSNZ Disability Expo held in Auckland, New Zealand.
At the event I was talking with Sankesh Chetty, Invacare Business Manager New Zealand and Marketing Manager Australia New Zealand, when he made the first exciting and humbling suggestion of appointing me an Invacare Ambassador.
Don’t call me an Olympian – by Susan Seipel
I am a proud Paralympian, by calling me an Olympian you dismiss the rich history of the Paralympic movement and the pioneering figures that stood up against injustice and prejudice to transform society’s views on people with disabilities through sport.
How can you drive personal inclusion? – by Geoff Trappett OAM
Something I have found getting back into sports, specifically the fun run circuit, way after my professional wheelchair racing career ended, is that you need to be much more a part of your own destiny when it comes to your inclusion in events.
The Fall – by Jess Cochran
And just when you think the struggle couldn’t get any harder; the problems continue, the rain falls harder, the darkness is darker, and the challenges keep coming. It’s then that you must remember that yes, the struggle is difficult, and it feels like it will never end but you’ve been here before and you’ll be here again.
My journey with inclusive fashion – by Eliza Ault-Connell AM
I will never forget the day I was rolling through the mall when had my brand-new denim jacket on in my spanking new green wheelchair. 19-year-old me thought I was looking pretty darn cool. That coolness was soon horror as the large metal button on the jacket sleeve got caught between my push rim and wheel suddenly bringing me to a screeching halt. I fumbled around for what seemed like an eternity and finally released the button and tentatively went on my merry way. At that moment I realized not all fashion was created equal.