Disability sector news and information
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Welcome to Ability News!
Hi and welcome to the first edition of Ability News!
Our aim is to inform, connect and empower the community of people with a disability in Canberra and its surrounds. We’re starting (today) with a newsletter which contains the most important news over the past week as well as two feature articles written specially for Ability News.
In the coming weeks we’ll be extending our offering as we offer even more services and links to keep you informed and connected, so why not take the opportunity now to sign up and keep in touch with what’s happening in your community.
Today we look at how hard it is to find a disabled toilet and also have an important feature on the weekend’s disability expo in Canberra, as well as news stories.
You’ll find more - including links to expo exhibitors - on our website.
Have a great week!
Nic Stuart
Editor
Living with a disability
Let’s talk toilets
Author: Danielle Kutchel
Why Changing Places are so important for people with disability
Going to the toilet shouldn’t be something we need to think about. But finding a usable public toilet - even in an airport - isn’t always easy. One advocate is using her experience to push for change.
When disability advocate and podcaster Peta Hooke arrived at Melbourne Airport, ready for a holiday, she did what many of us do before getting on the plane: she went to the toilet.
For Hooke, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, going to the toilet requires some planning as she needs to use an accessible bathroom, known as a Changing Places room. Melbourne Airport has two of these available for passengers to use.
But when Hooke arrived, she found that the bathrooms were inaccessible because the hoists inside were out of order.
From the disability sector:
Concern for sector's future
Peak body National Disability Services has released a survey that shows more than 80 percent of providers are concerned about their ability to continue providing adequate services this year. CEO Laurie Leigh says many have said that spiralling costs are making it virtually impossible for many operators to continue providing adequate services.
Changes to Disability Support Pensions
Services Australia says it will automatically boost Disability Support Payments for eligible recipients from the 20th September. The increase - which only applies to some people - was announced in the Federal Budget. Those receiving the extra money will see it flowing through to their payments this month along with a further boost to deal with inflation.
Newsbriefs
Queensland government controversy over vaccine
People With Disability Australia has slammed the Queensland government after its decision to abandon vaccine mandates for hospital staff. PWDA President Nicole Lee points out that even small colds or flues can make vulnerable people severely ill and has asked the state government to reconsider their decision.
Search for reducing NDIS cost blow-outs
The increasing cost of the NDIS has sent the government searching for ways to curb the rate of growth. As more than a third of participants indicating autism as their primary disability, finding new methods of dealing with this complex condition has been identified as a potential means of stopping further cost blow-outs.
Canberra Disability Expo
Wattle Blue CEO Jack Cheeseman offering a happy welcome at the front of the Expo. Source photo: Nic Stuart
Showcasing Disability Services in Canberra
Headlined as a ‘one stop shop’ for disability services and products, the weekend’s Canberra Disability Expo didn’t disappoint. But just in case you missed the exhibition Ability News visited and picked up the vital information you’ll be needing.
Caring Approach and Wattle Blue were the Expo’s Platinum Sponsors, dannymetsally and CarersACT took up Gold Sponsorships, while Mabel, Empower Living and Community Home Australia were featured as Silver Sponsors.
This year’s Expo was organised by the Impact Institute, which operates a series of Disability Expos across the country each year. Visit the Disability Expo website.
Impact Institute says it aims to provide “high value opportunities for engagement between NDIS product and service providers, government and community organisations and people with disability, their families and carers”.
“Our attendees tell us that coming to a 'My Future, My Choice' Disability Expo had an overwhelmingly positive impact on their ongoing care needs.”
Author: Nic Stuart
Pauline Donald from Mobility Me, an online business with disability swag that did a roaring trade in merchandise. Source photo: Nic Stuart
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