DisABILITY Accessibility Information Resources

October 2006
Number 41

What's new on e-Bility.com?

Accessible accommodation

The following three properties are all hot new holiday destinations. They have only recently come onto the market and are now taking bookings.

Cooroy Country Cottages - Noosa Hinterland

Enjoy the benefits of modern wheelchair accessible accommodation and the ambience of a rural cottage retreat in the Noosa Hinterland. Though the views, gardens, grounds and tranquillity might keep you from leaving, Cooroy Cottages are centrally located for easy access to most Noosa and Sunshine Coast tourist attractions.

Wattletree wheelchair friendly cottage

Wattletree Cottage is a five-bedroom wheelchair friendly retreat nestled in the beautiful Australian township of Warburton in the Yarra Valley Victoria. The house is spacious and fully self-contained with many large windows and lovely views from the front and rear balconies.

Fisheye 9 - Great Ocean Road accessible accommodation

Ideally located along the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria Australia, this purpose built two bedroom wheelchair accessible accommodation is just 6 kilometres from Apollo Bay and surrounded by scenic attractions such as the breathtaking Twelve Apostles and Otway National Park rainforest. The atmosphere is quiet, with ocean views, a bushy feel and an occasional koala on premises.

Access Noosa

BE Services

Belinda Wardlaw uses an electric wheelchair herself, so understands the importance of personalised services that are reliable and meet individual needs. Through her business, BE Services, she provides a wide range of tailored community support services, as well as holiday and travel assistance programs, for people and organisations in the disability and ageing sector.

Airlink Assisted Airport Transfers

Airlink Transfers have recently announced a new, special service to make travelling easier for passengers with limited mobility. The Assisted Transfer Service operates between Brisbane Airport and the Sunshine Coast and is proving popular with passengers needing assistance with luggage and mobility.

Disability classifieds

Accessible properties for sale

87 Lakey Street is a newly listed modern wheelchair friendly home in Perth. It offers spacious interiors with 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and beautiful park views. Designed for full wheelchair access, this easy living family home is also close to shops, medical centre, chemist and post office.

Buy and Sell

A variety of secondhand accessible vehicles and rehabilitation equipment are currently available, with recent additions including a 3-wheel electric scooter, two stairlifts, two walkers, shower seat, over toilet aid, three Regency adjustable chairs and two Tub mobile support chairs.

Articles

Historic wheelchair skateboarding backflip

Aaron Fotheringham is one of a small, but growing group of elite wheelchair athletes who have taken up the challenge of wheelchair skateboarding. He recently became the first known person ever to do a backflip in a wheelchair.

Wheelchair Trail Ride 2006

An annual wheelchair event held by Extreme Chairing in the USA. The ride spans 40 miles of forest trails and takes around 2 days to complete in a power wheelchair.

Mind gym

In this personal story, the author writes about how computer innovations have enabled her to continue exercising her mind and to be productive in spite of severe physical disability from Multiple Sclerosis.

Dancing at Christmas

This article about planning for Christmas was written last year by Lisa Sampson. Lisa also wrote the play 'Dancing at Christmas' which is now preparing for its second tour. The show tells a story about four people under pressure at Christmas and facilitates the genuine interaction of people with disabilities. Contact and booking details are at the end of the article.

Disability news

Wheelchair design and related transport issues

Greg Killeen from Spinal Cord Injuries Australia reports on the wheelchair transport and safety issues for people with disabilities, many of which were strongly debated at the 4th Symposium on Wheelchair Safety and Standards.

25th Anniversary International Day of People With a Disability (IDPWD)

December 3 each year is an opportunity to celebrate the abilities of millions of people with a disability and to challenge society's stereotypes around disability. Find out more about this year's events or submit an event and be part of the action.

Sound Circles hits the access note in Sydney

Sound Circles, an exciting voice and movement program for people with disability, launched by Accessible Arts in association with Access Arts Queensland. Expressions of Interest by potential facilitators are welcome.

What's new on the WWW?

Wheelabout

Wheelabout have recently redesigned their website with a new easy online enquiries form. Their fleet has also grown to include wheelchair accessible caravans and motorhomes as well as the popular Chrysler Voyager.

Good Company

Volunteers can register their skills and community groups can register their "wishes" on the website. Good Company then connects skilled professionals with charitable organisations in need of pro bono assistance.

OATSoft

OATSoft is dedicated to improving Assistive Technology and computer accessibility through the power of Open Source development techniques. The Open Source Assistive Technology Software (OATS) projects are a great resource and freely available. Projects include software written for on screen keyboards, symbol libraries, text-to-speech, switch input, AAC, environmental control, learning tools and other functions.

FreeMind

Free mind mapping software that is a useful management tool for brainstorming, planning and prioritising tasks.

Christmas cards making a difference!

If you live in Sydney you can't go past the Goodwill Charity Card Shop in Bathurst Street. The card shop comprises twelve Australian charities who each supply their own unique range of Christmas cards. There is a great choice in price and design, with all the proceeds returned to the charity. (There are also similar card shops in other cities too).

National Relay Service

People who are Deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, may already be familiar with the NRS telephone access service. However, the system also connects people with physical disabilities that prevent them from using a standard phone. For example, a phone with switch access can be transferred automatically to the National Relay Service, who will then, through their Speech-to-Speech relay service, connect the user to a number of their choice. The NRS also enables users to have a preferred caller list, for easy access (source: Ability Technology).

It's all right

A teenage support website featuring the fictional diaries of four young people touched by mental illness. The site is an initiative of Sane Australia and includes useful fact sheets and online information service.

Bridge 4 Kids - IEP Goal Bank

A publication and online resources to assist parents and professionals in forming IEP goals and objectives for kids of all ages in the special education system.

Streetwize

Streetwize is a not-for-profit social communications agency specialising in researching and communicating social issues to young people, Indigenous communities and people of a culturally and linguistically diverse background and other hard to reach groups. They have a range of excellent publications available on their website, including the award winning Something on my Mind comic developed by children whose parents or carers are experiencing mental illness