Ramps & Rehab in NSW

Yesterday we came across a bike shop that also does mobility equipment, with a small black portable ramp (with high vis tape across it) against the small step into the shop that ordinarily would've made it inaccessible to wheelchair and scooter users.

We had a quick chat with the business owner who has operated for 20 years and had been told he wasn't allowed to make permanent changes to the entryway... and he needs to offer access to his customers... so that's what he's gotta do. Simple. As. That. When pressed further on the legality of the ramp he explained in NSW the law allows Removable Portable Ramps as long as they were removed out of work hours.

I am.... confused. How can they be a trip hazard in QLD and not in NSW? Can anyone shed some light on the ins and outs of the laws in this state?

I also checked out the Royal Rehabilitation in North Ryde in Sydney and was pleasantly surprised at their Spinal Rehab set-up. It’s on a huge site and has lots of activities, tennis courts, a grouse garden where they eat what they grow, an obstacle course to keep your wheelchair skills up to scratch, and for chilling out a barbeque area with plenty of tables. I caught up with a few Wheelies doing their rehab and found everyone happy and positive about the future.

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

Up Up & Away!

Well we're excited about the ramp idea and how eager local Men's Sheds are to help out with the construction, and how ready local businesses have been to donate the timber. 

Last week we visited the Coral Coast Men's Shed and they pretty much immediately measured up and made the first ramp for the local Post Office at Bargara, where we had been staying. 

Thehandsome crew at Coral Coast Men's Shed with the little ramp - undercoat completed - for the Bargara Post Office.

Yeppoon Men's Shed have been busy, already they've made up 6 ramps for local businesses including motels, a local chiropractor, and an art gallery. Great work boys!!

A ramp coming off the production line at Yeppoon Men's Shed

A shout out to Iron's Mitre 10 in Yeppoon for your support

It'll be interesting to see how we can make change in the next few towns with this concept!  Let us know if you get to use one of the new ramps.

Going LIVE & the Bundaberg Moment

So this site and blog is officially live as of yesterday. Be sure to check out the 'Where's Macca?' page if you want to see when I'm coming to a town near you, if so, then email me at macca@walkinmywheels.com

The Walk in My Wheels Facebook page is up and running... and I even have a Twitter account... yikes! This is getting serious! 

Now to get posting.. sharing.. commenting... filming... editing... stirring... shaking... moving... 

I bumped into Pauline Hanson today at the Bundaberg Rum Festival, she took the time to sit down with me and have a chat about what I'm doing with providing free ramps to local businesses and was very encouraging and supportive. What an inspiring woman who's gone out there with the hope to make change and is now making that change.

Whatever your political views, you've gotta agree she has a following... and that following will soon be seeing me on her Facebook page. Bring on the awareness building baby!!

We are just getting started and who knows what kind of impact this project might have on building more inclusive, aware communities that truly look out for one another. 

Gold Stars for you Yeppoon

We've just wrapped up ten days in Yeppoon in Queensland and we NAILED it... but most importantly Yeppoon has nailed it!  This is one great little seaside holiday spot with a whole community ready and willing to get to number one on our accessibility ACED list.

This was our first real experiment in getting into a town and really stirring the pot, and we think we did bloody well!  Here's what we managed to achieve over our time there:

1. Reviewed wheelchair access in and around the main foreshore and other beaches we visited and I reported my findings to the local council who were very eager to take onboard my suggestions.
2. For those businesses lacking full access I had a flash of inspiration and linked the local Men's Shed with supplies donated by Iron's Mitre 10 and gave them some pointers on ramp building... the result being our first wooden ramp built by volunteers to give full access to the pool area at The Coast Motel.
3. Attended the Capricorn Coast Community Access Group meeting and gave them a run down of what I'd been up and my ideas to so they could take the reins.
4. Talked to the local paper about all of the above.... resulting in a front pager! Big thanks to Amy at the Cap Coast Mirror for giving our ramp idea a ramp up!
5. Had a great time! Also one of our top priorities of course - this is afterall the first real break I've had in 20 years.

This little spot on the Capricorn Coast was the perfect place to recharge after our long drive from Darwin. Horsey got lots of beach time chasing seagulls which was a joy to watch. I was able to access the beach via the Surf Club boat ramp and the sand is hard packed so there was no issue about getting bogged in my power wheelchair.

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Kicking off our trip with a front page splash!

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Thanks Yeppoon for a bloody awesome time and if every town is as willing as you to make changes toward a truly inclusive community our job is going to be very rewarding indeed.

Cheers,

Macca