One of our past Associate Directors and current member, Kathryn Lyons, featured in an Our Logan article celebrating International Women’s Day earlier this week.
We are very proud of all that Kathryn has done and continues to do in her quest to improve accessibility and “change lives, to inspire, and encourage others to believe in themselves.”
💕
https://ourlogan.com.au/community/kathryns-mission-for-inclusivity/
LifeRAT (http://liferat.com.au) is a community group recently brought together to provide FREE Rapid Antigen Tests to Australia’s disabled community, and to overcome cost and supply issues and the difficulties and concerns experienced by PWD in trying to access RATs.
PDA’s Ambassador, Dinesh Palipana OAM, in conjunction with Scott, Tim and Tyler from Able Digital Wellness (http://abledigitalwellness.com.au) and Rob from Lovehoney (www.lovehoney.com.au), put together this project to ensure that people with disability are provided with free RAT testing so that they “can get back to living”.
Supported by partners that include Australia Post and Mainfreight, people with disability can register to take part in this incredible project by going to:
As part of his logistic involvement in the project, Lovehoney’s Rob is also interested in employing people with disability to be involved in the distribution of the RATs.
If you are a person with disability looking for employment and you’d like to be involved, please email Rob directly via rob.godwin@lovehoney.co.uk.
Rob has been doing a lot of work on inclusion with Lovehoney, including his involvement with ambassadors Dylan Alcott and Chantelle Otten Sex Therapist.
For more information go to:
www.abledgitalawareness.com.au/about-us/
Whether you’ve experienced issues voting remotely or in physically accessing polling stations (such as available disability parking, building access), availability of accessible polling booths for wheelchair users and those requiring other assistance (eg. Braille, Easy English, sensory requirements), PDA wants to hear from you.
With your help we hope to improve accessibility in Australian elections, so that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to participate in the same way as everyone else.
In a democratic society, voting is something that is generally taken for granted. However, for an increasing number of people with physical disabilities, local accessibility to vote is not guaranteed.
Following the announcement of an election, a list of polling places are made available by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Within this list, each polling place is given a rating around accessibility to assist people with disabilities or mobility restrictions (i.e. wheelchair accessible, assisted wheelchair access, or not wheelchair accessible).
However, previously available statistics taken from this list showed that of the expected polling places outlined on the AEC website, as few as 3% of polling places will be fully accessible at the next Federal election.
These grossly inadequate numbers contravene the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 which states that electors are entitled to vote on election day at any polling place in their electorate.
So why should this inexcusably inadequate availability of accessible polling booths be tolerated?
Why should people with mobility disabilities be given no option but to travel (often long distances) outside of their local areas to vote or be compelled to vote outside polling stations or lodge their votes via post or telephone?
All Australians should be given the opportunity to engage in our democratic processes equally and with fair consideration.
We really want to hear about your personal experiences in voting at Australian elections (whether local, state or Federal) so that we can have a better understanding as to whether or not enough is being done to make our elections accessible.
We’ve put together a QUICK but IMPORTANT survey around this issue and encourage you all to participate, so that we can ensure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process.
Please go to the link below and take part in the survey BY 5PM AEDT MONDAY 14th MARCH 2022 and let’s make sure that everyone’s votes are counted at our upcoming elections.
Today, on International Women’s Day, PDA’s SA Associate Director Krystal Matthews’ NDIS story has just been shared.
“There are a lot of different issues that affect women with disabilities and there are a lot of particular issues that affect parents who have disabilities.
It’s not easy, it’s not easy for anyone to be a mother, but the fact of me having a disability does not make me a bad mother.”
Check it out:
Today is International Women’s Day – a day for women (and men) worldwide to combine voices and share the message of equal rights for women.
Everyone has the right to be recognised equally without distinction or discrimination of any kind.
“Women’s rights are human rights!”
This very important day highlights the celebration of all women, in all their diversities – embracing all facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity or disability.
Today is a celebration of all women who came before us, those with whom we now stand united and for those who will follow us.
Throughout history, women have come together to protest against the injustices they’ve faced, to support other women and to advocate for their rights and equality.
Since the establishment of International Women’s Day on the 8th March 1975, women have used this day of recognition to come together in solidarity to celebrate the achievements of women and to step on the discrimination, harassment and systemic barriers to equality and truly untethered success.
For more information head to:
www.iwda.org.au/take-action/international-womens-day/
Well worth the read.
www.tasmaniantimes.com/2022/03/international-womens-day-for-a-woman-with-disability/
Written by and starring Melanie Hawkes (and her dog Upton)
Growing up with three younger brothers, my parents were busy all the time. I either had to learn to do things for myself, or wait a while for someone to help me – not ideal. With hands like mine, sometimes it was a challenge to find ways to do things, but it has made me more independent. There’s no better feeling than being able to achieve something previously thought impossible.
I only have the ability to bend my little finger on each hand, but can grip things between some fingers as well. Tasks I can do include feed myself with ordinary cutlery, write, type, knit, cross-stitch and prune my bonsais with scissors. What I can’t do with one hand I can usually do with the other, and if not, I use my teeth. ** Disclaimer: don’t try this at home. I look after my teeth by flossing and brushing every day and regularly visiting my dentist. **
Here are some videos of me doing some everyday tasks. It might be slow and frustrating to watch, but I am proud that I can do these things when nobody is around to ask for help.
You can watch my videos below or by going to the PDA YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMyTzhTbs2oLH-WZR18zX2Q). Whilst you’re there please check out our other videos and subscribe.
I hope that you enjoy watching my videos.
With elections looming this year and with accessibility to vote further challenged by COVID-19, PDA is interested to hear about issues that you have personally faced in previous elections – whether at a polling station, early voting centre, via telephone, postal or AEC voting.
We encourage you all to participate in our short survey so that we can ensure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process.
PDA’s TAS Associate Director Tammy Milne has written a piece for the ABC around her world that continues to shrink as a result of COVID.
It’s a great read.
“When the coronavirus pandemic hit Australian shores, Tammy Milne knew she would have to call time on her 33-year teaching career.
“I decided to retire, or resign,” she says. “It was basically because of the risk factors of COVID and just not feeling safe.”
…Unsure of where COVID may be circulating in the community, Tammy now limits her movements in order to protect herself.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-08/underlying-health-conditions-omicron-outbreak/100792142
We recently heard the story about an Australian man who found himself in a considerable financial predicament following the interstate purchase of a modified wheelchair vehicle.
It’s a sad story that we wanted to share with you to encourage you to do your research and take care when making a purchase.
Whilst this particular case is more a case of lack of due diligence, it highlights the importance of knowing all the facts before committing to buying something – particularly big ticket items.
John (name changed) was in need of a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Unable to find something suitable locally, he did what so many of us do and looked online. Using a reputable, popular and respectable online car sales website John found his perfect car – in his price range, with his needed modifications and with the added assurance of it having been owned by a state health department – albeit not in his state.
Happy with his decision, John bought the vehicle and arranged for it to be shipped through to him.
When it arrived John went to transfer the registration to his home state and to sort out his insurance – and this is where his nightmare began.
It is important to note that each state and territory in Australia has its own unique rules and regulations when it comes to registering a vehicle transferred from interstate.
It is also worth knowing that if you buy from a private seller, protections such as cooling-off periods and statutory warranties do not apply. With this being the case, it is crucial that you thoroughly research the car, have it inspected (whether by yourself, a trusted local contact or an independent inspector) and find out what rules/regulations/expectations/requirements apply to interstate vehicle registrations before you buy.
CarsGuide has a helpful article on purchasing a vehicle from another state (https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/buying-a-car-interstate-how-to-purchase-a-vehicle-from-another-state-80480), HOWEVER, it is important that you are fully informed on your state’s rules PRIOR TO COMMITTING TO A PURCHASE. We encourage you to speak to the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state.
In John’s case, whilst the car was sold in good faith and as advertised by the seller, the associated paperwork relating to the modifications was incorrect. Recorded as a 7 seater, rather than the modified 4 seater, the vehicle could not be registered locally without accurate paperwork. In an added twist to the story, when chasing up this discrepancy with the interstate engineer who had approved the modifications, it was discovered that he’d passed away and so could not correct his paperwork.
To have the required inspections and anticipated corrective work done to meet his state’s vehicle standards and specifications, John was informed that associated costs would be considerable and outside of his financial capabilities. Selling locally in its existing state as a non-registrable vehicle would mean huge losses to John.
The Office of Fair Trading could not help as it was simply a case of buyer error.
So sadly John learnt the hard way that due diligence is essential.
Please ensure that you are fully informed and have done your research before you make a purchase – particularly those with a high dollar value.
