Businesses encouraged to review accessibility for people with disabilities

The Central Highlands Inclusion Working Group is encouraging businesses, service providers and community groups to consider how they can better include people of all abilities.

Group member Rebecca Paton said COVID-19 had improved access for people with disabilities in many ways.

"It is a lot easier to get things delivered, Telehealth has been fantastic and there is a lot more space in public spaces now, you can get between tables because they are all so much further apart," she said.

Group member Sharon Eacott said deliveries had made a big difference to her life, particularly of pharmacy medication and food from restaurants that had not offered delivery before.

"It makes a big difference because there is a lot of stress just getting into places," she said.

"Ballarat wasn't designed for people who can't open heavy doors, go downstairs or go across the bluestone gutters.

IN OTHER NEWS

"Having more space to get around and going to the supermarket and not having to take my stick with me because I know I am not going to get knocked over in the crowds is really nice."

Mr Thompson said another positive impact of COVID-19 was improved connections with neighbours who made extra efforts to care for each other during lockdown periods.

Group member and community health service worker Frances Riggs said COVID-19 had created a greater shared experience of restrictions on movement and an inability to exercise choice.

"Invariably people with a disability don't have the opportunity to make those choices because the access options aren't there," she said.

"This is what people with a disability experience all the time, but we can all do something about improving access and inclusion to enable them more choices for participation every day for everyone."

Watch the video created by Central Highlands Inclusion Working Group below.

The Central Highlands Inclusion Working Group hopes many of the positive changes will remain and businesses that have demonstrated their flexibility will adapt further to improve accessibility.

The group, led by the region's NDIS partner LaTrobe Community Health, is providing businesses and community organisations with a self-assessment tool to understand how people with disabilities experience their service.

Ms Paton said improving accessibility was a 'win-win' for businesses and people with disabilities.

"Businesses have shown they can be really flexible when they need to be, so if they can embrace that flexibility to enable people of all abilities to access what they have to offer, then that is a win-win for the whole community," she said.

"Whole families make decisions based around accessibility. If we go out for dinner for a family event we will be looking at somewhere that is going to have wheelchair access, plenty of space and an accessible park somewhere near.

"For other families, it is whether the brother with autism is going to feel overwhelmed in that setting or the person with visual impairment feels safe getting around that place."

Ms Riggs said the completion of the self-assessment was the first step before discussing low-cost options for improvement.

Contact engagement.ch.lac@ndis.gov.au or 1800 242 696 for more information and to undergo a self-assessment.