YMCA Camp Manyung and Scope create Australia’s first communication accessible campsite

by Jacob Matthew & Sarita Slater Communication Access Consultants Scope’s Communication & Inclusion Resource Centre

Jacob Matthew is an Access consultant and works at Scope as a Communication Access Mentor. Jacob was born with cerebral palsy and as a result, utilises a range of alternative methods of communication. Jacob is passionate about raising awareness of communication accessible and universally designed environments.

Sarita Slater is a Communication Access Consultant and Speech Pathologist with Scope’s Communication and Inclusion and Resource Centre. Sarita supports businesses Australia wide to become accredited with the Communication Access Symbol. Sarita is passionate about building community awareness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Going on school camp is an exciting time for any student but being away from the comfort of home in a new, unfamiliar environment can be overwhelming. For people with disability, this experience may be even more daunting.

A person with disability might ask themselves: Can I participate in all the activities at the camp? Will I be able to find and access my dorm easily? Can I talk to volunteers and staff? Will I have access to the services that I need like accessible bathrooms?

Like most places, it’s essential that school camps are fully accessible for people with disability so that all campers feel comfortable, safe and included.

COMMUNICATION ACCESS: JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL ACCESS

Whilst many school camps may have wheelchair access, it’s not often that all campsite areas and activities are fully accessible for people with disability. This means students with disabilities have limited activity options. Additionally, students with communication difficulties may find that the staff and volunteers have not been trained to communicate effectively using methods other than speech.

Approximately 1.2 million Australians have a communication disability. However, this number is likely underrepresented due to inaccessible reporting methods 1 . People with a communication disability may have difficulties using speech to communicate. They might use methods such as writing, pictures or electronic communication technology. Some people also have difficulty understanding everyday spoken language or written communication. For these individuals, communication access – where staff, written communications and signage are fully accessible - is vital. Communication access means people are respectful and responsive to individuals with communication disabilities, using strategies and resources to support successful communication 2 .

1 Speech Pathology Australia. (2015). 2015 Review of the Disability Standards for Education (2005). Retrieved from https://docs.education. gov.au/documents/final-report-2015-review-disability-standards-education-2005 2 Solarsh, B., & Johnson, H. (2017). Developing communication access standards to maximize community inclusion for people with communication support needs. Topics in Language Disorders January/March, 37(1), 52-66

YMCA HAVE CREATED A UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE CAMP

One camp in the Victorian Mornington Peninsula is championing both physical and communication access. YMCA Camp Manyung has created a universally-designed campsite that is fully inclusive of all students. To achieve this, they made extensive upgrades to physical access, including installing three fully accessible cabins, upgrading signage across the site and considering the holistic accessibility of camp activities. Camp Manyung not only considered physical access but recognised communication access – the ability of all campers to get their message across - as fundamental for creating an inclusive environment and striving for best practice Universal Access.

In 2019, Camp Manyung partnered with Scope to gain Communication Access Symbol accreditation, leading the way as the first camp in Australia to meet the internationally-recognised standard.

Scope launched the Communication Access Symbol in 2011 to address the communication gap present in the majority of community environments. Businesses that commit to cultural change through communication access training and assessment are awarded with the symbol as public recognition of their ability to be fully inclusive. To date, more than 200 businesses across Australia have gained accreditation.

Camp Manyung worked closely with Scope and the Communication Access Network to achieve communication access accreditation at two key sites – a universally designed Tree Rolling Course and the camp’s main reception. The first step involved the development of customised communication tools to facilitate communication between campers and staff in the dynamic activities at the camp.

On the uniquely designed Tree Rolling Course, campers in adapted wheelchairs, clip onto the course and use a ramp to ascend into the trees and access a universally designed high ropes course.

ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIENCE

A briefing takes place beforehand at the main platform. A large communication board permanently stands at the entrance of the course with messages such as “Buckle under the chin,” and “Nervous”.

The boards allow campers to clearly communicate how they feel and ask questions, as well as see clear instructions in a visual format. Course staff wear a lanyard with commonly used phrases and picture cards attached. These communication cards facilitate effective communication in the midst of the action.

Custom communication boards were developed for campers to make enquiries at reception about their accommodation, or other things to do with camp life. Communication boards were placed at a suitable height for a person in a wheelchair to use. Accessible written information was also produced in the form of plain language and an easy-to-understand site map. Staff and volunteers at Camp Manyung participated in a series of training sessions to learn how to use the communication tools, and respectfully speak to campers with communication difficulties both in person and over the phone.

Communication access plays a key role in access and inclusion at any organisation; it ensures that everyone can get their message across and is treated with dignity and respect. This is a basic human right.

The idea of creating communication access at an outdoor campsite may seem like a daunting task, however Camp Manyung’s Communication Access Symbol award shows that communication access really is possible anywhere!

If you would like to learn about Scope’s accreditation process for the Communication Access Symbol, please: visit www.scopeaust.org.au, email contact@scopeaust.org.au or call 1300 472 673.

ABOUT SCOPE

See the Person. This is the heart of Scope. It guides everything we do. It’s how we deliver services.

We are one of Australia’s leading providers of support services for adults and children with disabilities, autism or developmental delays.

We work with corporate and community organisations to create a more inclusive society for people with a disability. Scope was founded more than 70 years ago by families who wanted better support for their children. Our mission is to enable each person to live as an empowered and equal citizen. Today, we are one of the largest not-for-profit disability service providers in Australia, supporting thousands of people with complex intellectual, physical, and multiple disabilities.