Emails, 24 hour news and a long list of Facebook news means we have an information overload these days. As a result, stories come and go swiftly. What’s headline news one minute, is at the bottom of the news feed the next. I find there’s so many great stories about accessibility but blink and you’ll miss them. So I thought I’d trial putting the best of the posts I see in a blog so the information is searchable in the future.
Here’s the stories which captured my attention this week.
MALLORCA, SPAIN
A post on the Handisport Mallorca page caught my eye earlier in the week. Imagine a beach with a hoist to make transferring to a beach wheelchair easier. Well, that’s exactly what they’ve installed at Alcudia. Beach wheelchairs are wonderful but for many they are useless without a hoist to assist with the transfer.
You can follow Handisport Mallorca here.
CORFU, GREECE
I visited this beautiful Greek Island as a child, long before I was travelling with any consideration around accessibility. I was thrilled to read this week about the island drawing visitors from all over Europe because of its inclusive approach on its beaches. The island has been declared “the friendliest island for wheelchair users, with a total of 21 beaches that are truly “open” to all.”
Photo courtesy of www.ekathimerini.com
You can read the full story on the beach access available on Corfu & other Greek beaches here.
SURFERS PARADISE, GOLD COAST
I received an email from Craig this week letting me know Surfers Paradise Lifesaving will be launching beach matting and beach wheelchairs on 22 September.
Today a news crew were doing a story so I asked Craig if he could send me a picture to share with you all. The fabulous access on the Gold Coast beaches is making it an even more attractive accessible holiday destination. You can read about our trip to the Gold Coast here.
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
A fantastic initiative in Victoria is being offered next weekend with free access to many of Victoria’s favourite attractions for people who use a wheelchair and their carer. Accessibility Weekend is happening 8-9 September and aims to celebrate access and inclusion for people with a physical disability.
Read about the attractions participating here.
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
Congratulation to Carly Findlay who has organized a sell-out event this weekend. Access to Fashion – Disability on the Runway is a Fashion Week event. The event will involve a panel discussion, a fashion runway featuring models with a disability and will emphasise the need for accessibility and authentic representation.
Photo credit – Carly Findlay
Carly says, “Almost twenty percent of Australians are disabled, but if you bought a magazine, consumed any media or went retail shopping, you would think that the disabled population was almost non-existent, or only existed in a medical setting. But we are here and are proud, and not surprisingly, we are buying and wearing clothes!”
You can watch the event via this link
It is being streamed at 3.00 pm AEST Saturday 1 September or you can watch it at a later date.
CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
Our mates at Touched By Olivia opened another inclusive play space this week – Livvi’s Place Wagga! An amazing project, and the first for the the NSW Government #EveryoneCanPlay program.
SYDNEY
Being my home town I’m particularly thrilled to see the proposed upgrade to access to the Sydney Harbour Bridge is finally taking shape and wheelchairs will be able to access the bridge.
