Walk in my Wheels

Access. Awareness. Support.

My Dreams are Crushed

Hi All,

I'm gutted. Wounded. Annoyed. And most of all, bloody well DISAPPOINTED. 

This came about as a result of a meeting last week with Spinal Injuries Australia. After gathering the facts from John (General Manager, Community Development) I was informed that REMOVABLE timber access ramps from footpaths into businesses are in fact illegal.

My dream of supplying and getting Men’s Sheds all around the country to measure and build the timber ramps for free  to make a 30-150mm step into a shop accessible for people with quadriplegia (and others of course) was cruelly taken away.

Reason why... they are a trip hazard???  To whom? Is a raised step into a shop not already a hazard??? And what about chairs, tables, clothes racks - are they not a trip hazard?

The disability act is a farce and the law sucks.

So to the businesses that jumped onboard thank you for letting me access your shops with your free ramps but I suggest you remove them now before big brother comes knocking.

I was also informed by John that the suggested solution to essential services that have no access is, wait for it… you wait outside, push a button and the trained staff assist you on the kerb… not exactly my idea of access and inclusion.

Anyways……. beaten but not defeated. I may yet challenge the Law.

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible."
Thomas Edward Lawrence

Access to the beach is a different story, a great Queensland initiative is that all surf clubs have rubber mats that roll out over the soft sand to the water and get moved as the tide moves. I'm yet to try one but will upload with photos and report later on.

Thanks to the team at Spinal Injuries Australia including Katie, Peter, Jos, Marion, and John, for taking the time to sit down with me and perform an Ignorance Removal... let's hope there's another good idea coming that will work in with the law this time.

Regards,

Macca