Link Magazine October-November 2023

ANY AGE. ANY PLACE. SIMPLY HELPING YOU.

0 6 From the Editor

0 8- 09 :

C over Story – Clare Gibellini – A trailblazer for disability

1 2:

C onversations from Early Learning Symposium

1 6-17: A charity driving change

20- 21 :

H ow a near fatal accident changed a carer’s life

4 0 -73 :

ATSA Canberra Feature and Expo Guide

86- 93 : Travel & Leisure – Acceleration in accessible-friendly venues

94- 95 :

L egally blind – Meet a South Australian rock band

98:

U niversal Design – Putting pedestrians first

101-102:

H appenings – Arts, fashion and entertainment

Publisher

Simon Cooper

Editor

Kymberly Martin kymberly@intermedia.com.au

Advertising

Michelle Stevens

mstevens@intermedia.com.au

0419 822 717

Design

Sarah Vella

Prepress

Tony Willson

Production Manager

Jacqui Cooper

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From the Editor

Spring has arrived and Link is blooming with stories and we have most states covered in this issue. Victoria flies in with the Ladybugs, the Visionaries rock in from Adelaide and Queenslander Kathryn Ware reveals how her life changed after a car accident. And I think you will be amused when you read about Stevie the blind chicken, in our very engaging cover story from WA.

On page 96 we have a story on a pub that is going more than a country mile to make it accessible to patrons…yes, it’s in the country!

A new program for tourism operators to make them more accessible and inclusive for those with diverse accessibility needs has been launched in Queensland. Read about Access Accelerator on page 92.

Also, a postscript to our recent cover story on the Shitbox Rally, which has caught the attention of US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, who said in an interview how much she would like to take part in the rally.

A quick call to Jasmine Dingley who said response to this news at the organisation has been noncommittal with some variation on “it’s very exciting that the ambassador is interested, and we would love to have her take part”.

However, the news did produce some great publicity and the buzz the followed. Dingley and her partner Chris Astill, featured in article in the June issue of Link

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023

• Employment

• Mobility

• International Day of People with Disability

Advertising booking date: October 26, 2023

Advertising Material deadline: October 31, 2023

Publication date: December 9, 2023

For article proposal, contact the Editor: kymberly@intermedia.com.au

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Your support, your way. Unleash your dreams with Individualised Support!

Endeavour Foundation’s individualised support service is all about your goals, interests, and lifestyle.

From developing daily living skills to engaging with your local community, our passionate staff will support you as you take the steps to live the life you want.

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Rise and shine from beds to the boardroom

By Sally White

Eighteen years ago, Clare Gibellini was a store assistant selling beds. Now she is waking everyone up and campaigning for change to ensure people with disabilities are valued, respected and included in every aspect of society.

Gibellini landed a job as a disability support worker in 2003 after realising bed retail was not for her.

“With that role, everything just fell into place. I knew I had found my tribe and the disability sector was for me. A few years later, I became a respite foster care for children with high support needs. Then luck just followed with opportunities coming my way,” she told Link

Opportunities she could never have dreamed about; being a TEDx speaker and advocating at two separate United Nations Congress Conference of State Parties.

Then came a string of board appointments, co-chair on the first National Autism Strategy Oversight Council, Board Secretary of People with Disability Australia and member of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Independent Advisory Council Equity Inclusion and Reference Group.

Gibellini is currently stakeholder and partnership manager at NDIS Provider Valued Lives in WA. She arrived at the not-for-profit in 2019 to head up a micro business enterprise project.

“My job was to support people to be their own boss and run their own business. We helped 115 individuals with disabilities, three times what we had set out to achieve. It exceeded expectations with gardeners, artists, a professional party planner and fashion designer.”

The x factor –TEDx Talk captivates audience

In 2021 organisers approached her to speak at the following year’s TEDx Mandurah event.

"I thought, why not? I am comfortable with public speaking. I wanted the audience to understand that people with disabilities should be celebrated.”

The title of her talk: ‘It’s business, but not as you know it.’ Her aim? To break down stereotypical thoughts about leaders and business owners.

She spent six months working on her talk. It entailed regular practice sessions with experts who provided advice so she could keep the audience engaged.

In the sixteen months since her presentation, that TEDx talk on YouTube has received more than four thousand views. This was her ‘coming out speech’ as the year before she learned she was autistic.

“TEDx allowed me to acknowledge it publicly. I’d always thought I might be autistic. I have a son who is autistic. The diagnosis has been positive because I am now more accepting of myself and kinder to myself. I know it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable.”

Having a lived experience of disability and once being a director at the National Disability Insurance Agency, what does she make of the NDIS?

“The idea is brilliant, but the NDIS has drifted from the original intent. It is too complicated. You only have to look at the NDIS website to see that. The participant experience should not be hard work. Currently, it is.”

Amplifying voices to be heard

When she became a board member of People with Disabilities Australia, it led to her attending the 2022 United Nations Conference of State Parties.

It is one of the largest global gatherings of disability advocates and government representatives and on the agenda are subjects like innovation and technology, disaster risk reduction, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.

“It was the perfect opportunity to learn from others and was insightful and impactful. During a panel discussion, we dialled in to speak to a Ukrainian woman with a disability to find out how she was coping. It was the early stages of the war. We could hear a bomb go off in the background. She was just one of 2.7 million Ukrainians impacted by the conflict.”

Gibellini calls the UN conference ‘life-altering’. She’s since returned to another one. Her current focus is pressing for change in disaster risk management.

“People with disabilities face a disproportionate risk of death in any natural or man-made disaster. They are the first to be left behind and the

last rescued. Plus, they are four times more likely to die.”

These alarming statistics prompted Clare to speak at the 2023 WA ATSA Conference.

“The government aid agencies and charities need to recognise they need to rethink the future and to incorporate assistive technology provision to support people with disabilities in emergencies.”

The subject means a lot to her. Her father was a long-time volunteer for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. He inspired her to get involved and she is now a volunteer bush fire brigade officer working within incident control.

“As I began to do more work in the disaster risk reduction space, I became more curious about how it worked from the inside. You get a buzz when you are out there helping because you have an immediate tangible effect. In advocacy, you need to play the long game to learn whether you have made an impact, but this is the opposite.”

When she has any free time, you might find her supporting the Red Dust Heelers, wheelchair basketballers spreading awareness about inclusion. While that is fast-paced and adrenalinefueled, there are quieter creative moments for crocheting and sewing.

A keen traveller, she believes it opens up the mind to different cultures, food and history. To mark her tenth wedding anniversary, she recently went to the Chinese Vietnamese border and the mountainous area of Sapa.

“I got to spend time with the Hmong people who grow rice on the picturesque ridges. Their culture and way of life attract tourists, but they do not benefit financially from these visitors and it angered the advocate in me.”

She loves traditional Vietnamese egg coffee made from yolks. Something else eggs-traordinary, is her love of chickens.

In her LinkedIn profile, Clare lists herself as a ‘mad chicken lady’. Up until

recently, she had nine of them until the fox took them.

“Seriously, they are just the best. I would sit out and watch them roam around, and all that pecking means they’re natural weeders.”

One of them called Stevie lived in the family home with her husband and three children, but this was no bird-brained idea because the chook was blind. “We created a pen in the house so Stevie could live happily and peacefully without being injured or hurt.”

And she exudes compassion and empathy in everything she does. Throughout our interview, she mentioned if she gets a seat at a table, she also wants a spare. Digging further, I ask what this means.

“It’s about raising as many voices as possible so we can be effective. Other emerging leaders have so much to contribute. For those of us who already have opportunities, then we should make space for them too, so they can also contribute and be heard.”

At the United Nations

Enjoying her travels

How can Astris PME help you?

How can Astris PME help you?

As market leaders in special needs equipment in Australia, Astris PME carries an extensive range of Assistive Technology devices that have been created to meet the needs and requirements of people who want to improve their everyday lives by getting out and about independently. We can provide solutions that match the needs of people with a disability, and help therapists achieve the best outcomes for every client, in every age bracket. Astris PME have a huge range of trial equipment available so if you would like to make an appointment with one of our Specialist Consultants or enquire about any of the products and services we offer, please call us. We will be happy to help!

As market leaders in special needs equipment in Australia, Astris PME carries an extensive range of Assistive Technology devices that have been created to meet the needs and requirements of people who want to improve their everyday lives by getting out and about independently. We can provide solutions that match the needs of people with a disability, and help therapists achieve the best outcomes for every client, in every age bracket. Astris PME have a huge range of trial equipment available so if you would like to make an appointment with one of our Specialist Consultants or enquire about any of the products and services we offer, please call us. We will be happy to help!

Thrive by Five Early Learning and Disability Symposium

By Olivia Karaolis

The Life-Changing Impacts of Early Education for Children with Disability

‘The young girl who changed a centre’. This film helped shift my students and their attitude about their role in changing the environment to suit the needs of every child.

We now know how the first hours, months, days, and years shape every aspect of child’s development. We also know that positive and healthy relationships, environments, and communities are critical for this development.

We are now at a place when our society is making important decisions about the environments we want to provide for all children. Thrive by Five are at the forefront of this conversation and brought together speakers to present the latest research and case studies to highlight the role of early learning experiences that occur in natural childhood environments for children with disability and how families, carers and early childhood educators can be supported in their practice.

Over 700 people registered for the event and over 350 participated in the discussion. Included in this discussion were my tutorial group of students in the second year of their degree in early childhood education. They learned so much.

Speakers included NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, Early Education Minister Dr Anne Aly, Assistant Minister for Autism SA Emily Bourke and Professor of

Autism Research at the University of Western Australia, Andrew Whitehouse.

The most powerful aspect of this conversation was the voices from the disability community. Skye KakoschkeMoore, CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), shared, ‘What we’ve heard from people with disability, parents, educators and the disability workforce’, research that engages people and families with a disability and provides them with a platform to shape policy, that for many years has not been informed by their voices.

The importance of this approach was reflected in the keynote by Mac Zamani, who as a transgender youth with a disability spoke of his experience in schools, only his early childhood experience was positive, a comment that had a profound impact on my students.

As did the host, disability rights advocate Elly Desmarchelier with one of my students saying, “In my experience, children and people with a disability are invisible, we never see them, that is wrong…everybody should be seen”.

Other wonderful sessions included a video from Good Start Early Learning,

As a teacher of Initial Teacher Education my work is focused on attitudes about disability and guiding students away from thinking about disability as a problem that needs to be fixed, or about ‘helping’ a child to fit into a learning environment that has not considered the uniqueness of every child.

The video series, ‘In the middle of the desert, something amazing is happening,’ showed us how much we can learn from First Nations organisations such as THRYVE NSW and SNAICC, the conversations with Catherine Liddle, Joanne Goulding and Gretchen Young illustrated what true ‘belonging’ looks like and inspired us to rethink our appreciation of a concept so central to early childhood practice.

Students also heard Professor Andrew Whitehouse, present Inklings, research that was the first to prove that parent-led therapy applied early in life can significantly reduce disability experienced by children with autism.

The findings have implications for any adult who interacts with young children, for educators, therapists, and health care providers and highlight the importance of early intervention.

It was a wonderful event and I encourage everyone to follow Thrive by Five and be part of this campaign for ALL children.

Dr

Olivia Karaolis, lecturer, Special &

Inclusive

Education, University of Sydney.

My Future, My Choice Disability Expos – two new venues for 2024

Presented by Impact Institute, the My Future, My Choice Disability Expo’s stand as an exceptional occasion designed to empower and uplift individuals, along with their families and caregivers, who are navigating life with disabilities.

Centered around the theme of choice, these expos bring together a consortium of hundreds of service providers, spotlighting an array of medical and wellness services, longterm care alternatives, diverse financial opportunities, travel possibilities, lifestyle enhancements, sports engagements, cutting-edge equipment, assistive technology and mobility aids tailored to individuals of all capabilities.

Spanning across two days, attendees are presented with a valuable opportunity to glean insights from

speakers representing governmental bodies and advocacy organisations. Beyond the enriching sessions, the expo extends an array of all-ages entertainment, live stage performances, fully provisioned cafes, and ample seating. This approach creates a warm and inclusive atmosphere, fostering connections, sharing experiences and mutual learning.

The My Future, My Choice Disability Expo’s represent a comprehensive event catering to the diverse needs and curiosities of individuals living with disabilities, as well as their networks of support. It serves as an invaluable platform to explore the latest advancements and services within the disability sector, learn from esteemed experts in the field, and establish connections within a community of kindred spirits.

The next two expos are Brisbane Disability Expo, on October 13-14 at Royal ICC and the Melbourne Disability Expo November 17-18 at MCEC.

Check websites for all details at: brisabanedisabilityexpo.com.au and melbournedisabilityexpo.com.au.

The expo program for 2024 has been announced with two additional venues added to the mix – South-West Sydney and Geelong.

If you are interested in exhibiting visit impactinstitute.com.au for all information.

If you would like to follow on social to attend the expos for free, check out South- West Sydney Disability Expo and Geelong Disability Expo on Facebook.

ImpactInstitute is excited to be bringing you our next season of the My Future, My Choice disability expos occurring in key locations along the eastern seaboard of Australia.

In 2023, the My Future, My Choice expos bring together disability product and service providers to ignite imaginations and equip attendees for a better future.

Our next Expo of the year will be the Sydney Disability Expo 4 & 5 of August 2023, 9am – 3pm at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.

events@impactinstitute.com.au 02 9025 9380

Excitement is building across the nation for the 2023 Australian Disability Service Conference and Awards (ADSCA), to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on November 23.

Hundreds of people from the disability service sector will come together for the 2023 Australian Disability Service Conference, with the aim of spearheading change and helping build a positive future for the industry.

It will be followed in the evening with the glamorous red carpet 2023 Australian Disability Service Awards, recognising and celebrating the innovation, achievement and leading changemakers in the disability service sector.

One Community is proud to be hosting the 2023 Australian Disability Service Conference and Awards with the support of presenting partners Kismet (Award sponsor) and Tender Loving Cuisine (Conference sponsor).

“We are thrilled to see the disability service sector coming together for what will be ADSCA’s third year,” co-founder of event organisers, One Community, Shelley Youman said.

“The Australian Disability Service Conference is delivered for the workforce, by the workforce. It is the perfect opportunity to share information, learn together, and gain knowledge and tools to improve in the workplace and throughout the industry.

“We encourage people across the sector to join us. Frontline workers, including support coordinators and allied health professionals, as well as those in all levels of management, will value the relevant and robust presentations and networking opportunities, she said.

“Celebration also is in order, and we’ll be doing just that at the awards. From individuals leading the way in care and coordination to ground-breaking assistive technologies, the 2023 Disability Service Awards will shine a spotlight on excellence, achievements and innovation in our sector.”

2023 ADSCA will kick off with a keynote interview featuring Graeme Innes, delving into ‘The NDIS Review: Where To From Here’. Innes is a lawyer, author, podcaster, and company director and was a Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for nine years, responsible for issues relating to disability. He is also a director of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

There will be four session streams throughout the day - Support Coordination of the Future, Successful Service Delivery, Innovative Business and Advancing People and Culture.

Thought-provoking sessions led by a mix of industry peers and leaders will delve into topics such as disability and the right to relationships and sex; extending the geographical reach of successful service models into new communities; how to build a profitable NDIS business with purpose; contemporary business leadership; and, unlocking the potential for transformative change in administrative operations with the power of artificial intelligence.

Conference ticket holders can also opt to purchase tickets for the gala dinner and awards night, following on from the conference.

Engaged attendees share smiles and insights at the 2022 Australian Disability Service Conference

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Bill Shorten, will be attending along with the finalists from 13 award categories.

2023 AWARD FINALISTS:

Best Accommodation Provider

• Ability SDA, NSW

• Enliven Housing, NSW

• Livability Care Australia, SA

• United for Care, NSW

Best Assistive Technology Product

• PAROSeal by Alpha Lifecare, NSW

• LusioMATE by Lusio Rehab, NSW

• Secret Agent Society Small Group Program by Social Science Translated, QLD

• Vegepod by Vegepod, NSW

Best Community Program

• U-BEACH by CQ University, QLD

• PINK by North-West Sydney Football, NSW

• Circles Widen by Solution Ideas, NSW

• Stingray Nipper Programme by Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club, NSW

Best Early Intervention Program

• AEIOU Foundation, QLD

• Shredabilities, ACT

• The Lizard Centre, VIC

• Therapy Pro, QLD

Best Employment Program

• Hotel Etico, NSW

• Metanoia Rays, NT

• Spinal Life Australia, QLD

• Uniting Local Area Coordination, NS

Best New Business

• AmAble Community Services, VIC

• Homeable, VIC

• Mells Care, QLD

• Navigate Support Coordination, WA

Best Regional, Rural or Remote Program

• Aussie Ergonomics, QLD

• Minds at Play, NSW

• Pathfinder Care, TAS

• Why Day Services, SA

Best Workplace Inclusion Program

• Hotel Etico, NSW

• NeuroRehab Allied Health Network, VIC

• Real Life Assistants, NSW

• Tender Loving Care, NSW

Most Outstanding Allied Health Organisation

• NeuroRehab Allied Health Network, VIC

• ONE Rehabilitation Service, SA

• National 360, VIC

• Occupational Therapy Group, VIC

Most Outstanding CEO/Director

• Scott Lynch, Community Therapy, NSW

• Lonestar Makoni, Breaking Barriers Disability Services, NSW

• Gabriella Ptasznik, GRP Speech Pathology, VIC

• Sam Smith, Bloom Healthcare, QLD

Most Outstanding Plan Management

• Leap in!, QLD

• AIIM Choices, VIC

• My Plan Manager, SA

• MyIntegra, VIC

Most Outstanding Support Coordinator

• Selwyn Child, Around the Well, SA

• Laura Cleary, Level Up Development, NSW

• Kylie Johnson, Smiley’s Support Coordination, QLD

• Joanne Magill, Physability NSW, NSW

Most Outstanding Support Worker

• Agustin (Gus) Aiello, My Premium Care, VIC

• Theresia (Resi) Fuessel, Endeavour Foundation, QLD

• Wendy Hollingsworth, Le Bon Care, QLD

• Yoshea Ledgard, Endeavour Foundation, QLD

For details visit: adsca.com.au

Accessible Homes Australia displaying their 2022 'Best Accommodation Provider' trophy

L aura O’Reilly, Hireup and Fighting Chance CEO won the 2022 ‘Most Outstanding CEO/Director' Award

T he Hotel Etico team at the 2022 ADSCA Conference opening

Jigsaw Australia's Paul Brown delivers his presentation

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten will attend the 2023 ADSCA Awards

Graeme Innes AM, will be the 2023 ADSCA Conference keynote

Meet the Yellow Ladybugs

By Danielle Kutchel

An autism-led charity is driving change for girls with autism and gender-diverse people.

It all started with a party.

Katie Koullas was picking her daughter up from school, when she noticed another child handing out invites to a birthday party. But Koullas’ daughter didn’t get one.

“My heart just broke. To be publicly outcast like that was just heartbreaking,” Koullas told Link

Wondering if any other young girls were going through the same isolation, Koullas talked to her daughter, and suggested throwing a party for others feeling as left out as she was. Her daughter has autism, and at the time, Koullas said knowledge of autism in girls was lacking.

“At the time, we had never met another girl with autism before. This was many years ago, and it was all geared

towards boys. My daughter asked: ‘if there are any other girls who are autistic’? And I said, I’m sure there are.”

So Koullas put out a call on social media, asking whether any other girls with autism wanted to join her and her daughter for a party for the girls who always missed out on invitations.

And, to her surprise, plenty of people answered the call. One day in late August in 2015, a group gathered at the National Gallery of Victoria, to play and join in something fun with others just like them, forming connections and establishing a tribe.

The idea planted a seed for Koullas and from this Yellow Ladybugs was born. Yellow Ladybugs is an autism-led charity dedicated to celebrating girls and women with autism and gender diverse individuals. It regularly runs

KatieKoullas

events online and in-person for them to come together and connect with each other and feel pride in their diagnosis. It also advocates for the removal of the barriers that girls and women with autism face.

The name was chosen by Koullas to honour her daughter, who had a special interest in the colour yellow and in ladybugs at a young age. It was also a childhood nickname that Koullas gave her daughter.

The name suits the purpose of the organisation, she said. “They are unique and not as common as red ladybugs.”

Driving the conversation

The pandemic pushed the organisation to shift to online programs, which “helped us realise that we can reach every ladybug household in Australia,

which was one of our challenges”, Koullas explained. Now, rural, regional and remote families can take part in Yellow Ladybugs’ events.

With pandemic restrictions over in its hometown of Melbourne, Yellow Ladybugs is now going back to its roots, searching for iconic venues that the Ladybugs can access, especially places they might ordinarily not have the opportunity.

Yellow Ladybugs has been part of a groundswell of autistic self-advocacy and acceptance and has played a part in bringing female representations of autism to mainstream awareness. Reflecting on the organisation’s role in this movement, Koullas recalled being “dumbfounded” that, previously, no one had been talking about “the unique experiences of girls”.

But with the benefit of hindsight, she realised what a big role she and Yellow Ladybugs played in changing that.

“I am proud that I and Yellow Ladybugs have been on the front line of that change and every time I see more people join, it feels really affirming and exciting that it’s not just us now delivering that message. There’s literally an army of our community out there… a whole joint community delivering that change.

“And it’s more impactful. The more we can get, the more we can hear people’s stories, the deeper and more impactful change we can make.”

It didn’t take long for Koullas to identify just how much change was needed, from stereotypes about autism, to misdiagnosis in girls and women and mental health challenges.

And over the years, her desire to tackle those problems and create change for autistic girls has never waned.

“I’ve still got that same fire… to change the world that I did with that first event,” Koullas said.

She was recently diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Watching her daughter’s journey is what prompted

Koullas to unpack her own history and experiences. The formal diagnosis has brought a clarity to her life and added a new dimension to her advocacy.

“At the beginning of Yellow Ladybugs, I was a mum representing her daughter’s story. And I think that understanding myself and being able to take that space, as a voice for autism is really powerful and it’s helped Yellow Ladybugs evolve. I’ve been able to go deeper with my advocacy and surround myself with other neurodivergent people to make sure that we’re leading through lived experience and centring that in everything we do.”

Building up

In May, Yellow Ladybugs held its annual conference online. It was the biggest so far, with interest from people around the world. This year’s conference allowed the organisation to showcase new voices and people, building up new advocates able to share their experiences.

The conference also provided Yellow Ladybugs with ideas for new directions. Feedback highlighted the need for more autism-led, neuro-affirming training for parents, schools, teachers and mental health professionals.

As well, Koullas said the organisation had heard just how valuable its advocacy is, and how crucial it is for Yellow Ladybugs to continue relaying the feelings of its community and make change where it’s needed,

especially in legislation and government consultation.

At the same time, Yellow Ladybugs is continuing to expand its collection of resources for its network. The organisation has just released a book on how to support girls with autism and gender diverse young people at school, written and illustrated by those with lived experience. Another book, aimed at teenagers to help them understand themselves, is on the way, along with a third for younger children to introduce them to their neurology.

Yellow Ladybugs is also working with the Department of Education to develop a resource for early primary school that would introduce the concept of neurodiversity into classrooms.

This would be a first-of-its-kind resource, Koullas said, and is being done in response to feedback from the Yellow Ladybugs community. The organisation is also working on ensuring it is sustainably funded into the future so it can continue to make a difference.

In the meantime, Yellow Ladybugs is keeping up a full calendar of events too. Given team constraints, Koullas said Yellow Ladybugs would be continuing to offer robust online events as well as face-to-face events in Melbourne.

“We’re trying to make the most impact where we can. We are 100 per cent committed to what we do best,” she said.

Trials of Excellence

How to get the best outcomes from your AT trials

• How might equipment help you achieve your goals?

• What is most important to you and what are your personal must haves? The AT equipment journey can often be a process of compromise so knowing what is most important to you will help keep your trial process focused.

Trials

Here it is essential to:

To achieve all you want in life sometimes you need a little help. This assistance might take the form of physical support for daily activities or simply navigating everyday life. Alternatively, it could be in the form of specialised equipment designed to bolster your independence.

Conforming to best practices, conducting trials of assistive technology (AT) equipment is recommended to determine its suitability for your needs.

Ensuring an excellent trial that is smooth and successful comes from preparation and following some important steps. These are Planning, Research, Assessment, and then Trials.

Planning

Begin by talking about your needs and goals that reflect what is important to you. Keeping these goals clear in your mind will make the whole equipment procurement process easier to navigate as each option can then be weighed against how well the AT helps you meet these goals.

Plan for assessment time with your therapist. With their clinical skills and

knowledge, they can advise how best to meet your needs given these goals, assisting you to make the best choices for you as well as prepare reporting for any funding applications required.

Research

Get informed. Start with the internet but also talk with your therapist, attend AT equipment expos and look at product features, and visit a local AT supplier with knowledgeable reps. All would be time well spent.

Assessment

Assessment is key to the success of any AT equipment trial as a thorough assessment with your therapist ensures that all the relevant information is at hand to guide great choices.

Some key questions to answer:

• What is it you want to be able to do?

• How much support and where does that support need to be for you to achieve the task? Your therapist will determine what supports or features are essential for your postural/ balance support, movement support, pressure relieving needs, sensory needs, comfort of use and optimal function.

• Have the right equipment at your trials. Evaluate the options recommended by your therapist and the product specialists with your AT provider. Their clinical expertise and experience will ensure appropriate options are there for you.

• Consider “Plan B” trial options before the day. It’s always easier to make accurate comparisons between options if they are both there at the same time.

• Be prepared to give options a fair trial. The best solution for you may not be what you expect so be positive and open to try something different.

• Give honest feedback to your team on the trial of each piece of equipment. Everyone is individual and your best solution may be different than others.

Astris PME are a client-focused AT equipment supplier with years of experience and expertise in disability equipment. You're welcome to explore their showrooms with your therapist, without any obligation.

With a central mission of “Improving Lives”, their aim is to guide each client toward exceptional equipment outcomes through their own trial of excellence.

For more information, contact Astris PME on: 1300 131 884 or email: clients@astris-pme.com.au

Experience the performance

The Helio C2 Carbon Folding Wheelchair is Motion Composite’s flagship model, and is one of the lightest, most technologically advanced wheelchairs in its category. It features revolutionary components, an impeccable finish and all the advantages carbon fibre offers. With a significantly reduced weight, it allows greater freedom of movement and ease of transport. It has been optimised to help you go further and help you expend less energy.

Express your unique self by mixing and matching the colour of your frame and handrims! 19 colours now available.

Contact us now to arrange a free trial with your local dealer!

A carer whose life changed in a split second

In 2020 Kathryn Ware and her husband Kingsley were driving home to Kingaroy from Toowoomba, when in the blink of an eye, life as the Queensland couple knew it was

completely turned upside down. It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon and raining, when Kathryn took a bend in the road, their car aquaplaned out of control, crashing into a post.

Miraculously Kingsley escaped with minor abrasions but as a result of her upper spinal injuries Kathryn is now a quadriplegic, paralysed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair.

KathrynandKingsley Ware

Most people would regard this as a life sentence, but she has a very different attitude.

“I didn’t struggle mentally with the prognosis at all, just the process of adjusting my lifestyle. Let’s face it, every little thing I did in the past is now impossible, but I don’t see myself as having a disability,” she told Link

“The accident just happened, it was nobody’s fault and now I must deal with it to achieve the best outcome. We all have to contend with challenges in life to move forward, and I have a different set to achieve.” Self-pity and blame are clearly absent from the 61-year-olds DNA.

The mother of two adult sons and a daughter, she was a special education teacher and carer, before the accident.

Following the accident, she was transported by ambulance to the Princess Alexandra Hospital Spinal Injuries Unit, the only specialist spinal injuries rehabilitation unit in Queensland, where she remained for eight months undergoing a strident rehabilitation program.

She spent eight weeks in a Transitional Rehabilitation Program house for country patients attached to the Spinal Unit. During this time her two sisters, husband and daughter were trained by the physiotherapists to be able to assist her in her daily life.

“I am very lucky to be part of a close and loving family, that gives me a big advantage over many people. I was not alone. In rehab it’s not just the patient but also the carers that are trained, but no one can do it for you, it’s up to you.

“The TRP program helps you manage the move from hospital to home. I knew this was going to be a challenging time, but I was helped by a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and nurses. These wonderful, dedicated people are experienced in working with spinal cord injuries,” she said.

“TRP aims to help you adapt to the new way of living in your home and community once you leave the safety net of hospital. It worked pretty well, but I was anxious to get home.”

Home modifications were next Meanwhile in Kingaroy, occupational therapists, specialist designers and tradespeople were working to transform the family home. Fortunately, the house was low set, but the rear needed to be altered to ground level, allowing her to move into the garden without a ramp. What was the laundry is now a bathroom with high basins and a wide ‘wet room’ with space for her wheelchair to turn and a carer to assist.

trained carers. “Now that I am on the other end of it, I can see that the training is not comprehensive enough for the very specific issues of spinal injuries. For example, at times I need assistance with breathing and coughing. We all cough at times, even if we aren’t ill, but a cough can choke me because I can’t exhale properly. Someone has to push in my diaphragm and exhale me.”

Kathryn thinks that even more important than physical care is her connection with other people.“It is very easy to be isolated and that is the worst thing that can happen. I have been told by carers that out of every 12 paraplegics, only three even bother to get out of bed. I have joined the Spinal Care Group in Kingaroy and we meet seeking to advise the local council on disability issues.”

It is also important to keep your brain busy and she is exploring her creativity by painting and gardening with directions to a carer, but Kathryn decides which color and brush to use and explains how it is to be applied.

“Obviously all this renovation, building and modification is very expensive, but my accident was covered by the National Industrial Insurance Scheme Queensland, and I am grateful that it is a very good funding body, as we have lost count of the cost and it will be covered for life.”

Two and a half years after that fateful day, Kathryn finally came home early this year. Ironically, the care group that was her employer now work for her. They assembled a team of 10 to 12 carers on three shift a day and a care coordinator that mirrored the professional roles in TRP House, as rehab is ongoing.

“They are part of my life now and I need them to enable me to stay as healthy as I can physically,” she said. “It’s a lot of hard work as I must keep my body going. "Even though I can’t move my hands and legs myself they must be moved. The old saying, if you don’t move it, you lose it, very much applies to me!”

However, living in a small regional town can be challenging in terms of

One of the pleasures that she misses is travel, as she needs daily care from her rehab team. However, last December she was able to enjoy a holiday tradition of three generations. Since the 1950s her extended family have celebrated Christmas with a caravan holiday on the beachfront at Miami on the Gold Coast.Kathryn and Kingsley booked a ‘glamping’ cabin in the caravan park and engaged a group of local carers. A beach wheelchair will take her onto the sand next Christmas, and hopefully a surf chair, courtesy of the Burleigh Lifesavers, will wheel her into the Pacific Ocean.

“I look forward to Christmas all year, with all the family around me and generations of other camping friends. If I have a setback, I just think about December, and it spurs me on.”

Kathryn’s message? “Be good in spirit, put a smile on your face, and then encourage other people to enjoy life.”

“…training is not comprehensive enough for the very specific issues of spinal injuries”

Inclusive employment has made Rockdale fitness centre stronger

When Crunch Fitness Rockdale general manager Samuel Burrows needed an assistant and wanted to diversify his workforce, he partnered with NOVA Employment. And they introduced him to a young man named Toby.

“Hiring a worker with a disability is so rewarding,” Burrows said, from his Sydney gym that is located on the Princes Highway, Banksia.

“NOVA makes the recruitment process very easy ”

“Toby has really impressed me, he's always on time, he's also very precise, he follows instructions well and has grown into the role.”

Burrow's decision to broaden the workforce aligned well with the Crunch Fitness motto.

“The philosophy for Crunch is no judgements,” Burrows said. "We have people from every race and every age here.”

Burrows said NOVA's service and recruitment process was also a good fit for his business.

“NOVA makes the recruitment process very easy. Essentially, instead of having an interview, what NOVA do a lot of the time is bring a worker in to do a trial, see how they are going and whether they are suited to the role.

“I think that's a much better way to see if someone's going to gel with the job, he said."

“When I had Toby come in for a trial, he was great, and I hired him on the spot. My son has autism so it's a great insight for me.

“I'm able to see where my son could go, in his future when a lot of the time it feels like they might not have many options.”

If you are a business owner or just want to help build a more inclusive workforce in the community, call 1300 ABILITY or visit www.novaemployment.com.au

NOVA Employment is a community based, non-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government to assist people who have a disability, or permanent medical condition, find and maintain the job of their dreams. They work exclusively with people who have a variety of disabilities or significant barriers.

Sam Burrows and Toby

New disability employment microcredentials offer big benefits

this is a big step towards that goal,” DEA CEO, Peter Bacon said.

“We are working with DEA members to utilise their deep expertise and experience, creating rich learning experiences for staff at all levels. These foundations will ensure that disability employment providers continue to deliver world-class services,” he said.

To develop the framework and content, DEA and genU Training are working with a provider-led consultation group consisting of lived experience advocates, industry bodies and the Department of Social Services (DSS).

The new microcredentials are suitable for people with different levels of experience and expertise – from people new to the sector, to those providing NDIS supports, DES practitioners and emerging leaders in the industry.

Microcredentials provide an accessible learning approach.

Disability Employment Australia (DEA) and genU Training have launched the first of five microcredential training courses to drive better career outcomes for people with disability.

Bringing together lived experience and best practice from across the sector, the co-designed Disability Employment Fundamentals suite offers disability workers client focused training that will improve skills and confidence.

“There is a wealth of knowledge about how to deliver outstanding personcentred disability employment services and I am so excited to see it drawn into a range of training packages and microcredentials,” DEA board chair, Thérèse Campbell said.

genU CEO Clare Amies believes the new microcredentials will help

strengthen the delivery of disability employment services across the sector through a consistent, modern staff training experience.

“By equipping staff with best-practice knowledge and real-life examples, they will be better positioned to empower clients, help them realise their employment goals and create impact,” she said.

Bringing together the best in the industry to improve client experiences.

As the peak body for disability employment providers, DEA have focused on training fundamentals as a powerful way to improve the client experience.

“We recognise there is a need to better standardise learning in our sector and

The new suite of five Disability Employment Fundamentals will roll out over a twelve-month period from this October and enable employees to build on their professional development over the year ahead.

“Stackable microcredentials are an accessible and engaging way to achieve professional and personal growth,” genU Training general manager Lisa Abbott said.

“This sector has such an important role supporting people with disability to enter and succeed in the workforce. We are delighted that this training will help ensure that the staff supporting them on that journey are operating at their best.”

To learn more about Disability Employment Fundamentals, visit: www.genutraining.org.au

Peter Bacon and Lisa Abbott

Navigating the ebbs and flows of parenthood

By Sathsara Radaliyagoda

When we think of parenting, we think of all the things that change, all the things you sacrifice, and all the things you have to consider. From your changing sleep patterns, your child’s first words and steps, till they go off into the wild on their own.

But what happens when you are a parent of a child with a disability? How does that alter the way you planned your future and your life?

Menucha Cooper is a passionate mother who is advocating for the life and future of her child, Mendy, who was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome at seven months.

Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition that impacts intellectual and physical ability, affecting around one in 20,000 people.

Within the first seven months, Menucha and her husband, Reuvi, did not notice any major signs that indicated there was anything different with Mendy.

It was on a trip to Israel when alarm bells started to go off. Mendy’s behaviour

wildly differed from their nephew who was only a few weeks older.

“I remember getting off the plane from Israel and I called the paediatricians office because I knew there was something. I remember thinking, oh my gosh, my life could just change.”

Her experience with Mendy’s first paediatrician is one she hopes no other parent with a child of disability has to experience.

The doctor did not take the time to research the condition or think about Mendy’s long-term care after diagnosing him with Angelman based on blood tests.

There was no proper explanation for the syndrome because the doctor did not have the expertise or knowledge, and only offered the advice of “don’t go home and Google it.”

“I will never forget walking into the lift, with my husband and we burst into tears because it was like this unknown.”

This initial encounter with medical professionals propelled Menucha

into speaking up for her child and advocating for better practices.

“What I would suggest to any doctors if you're telling a parent a diagnosis, you need to have an appointment ready with someone there that they can talk to that could explain it.”

A study conducted in the United States indicated that the likelihood of parents with children who have a lifelong illness to experience post-traumatic-stressdisorder (PTSD) quadruples.

Fortunately, Mendy’s new paediatrician is a breath of fresh air for Menucha, “He said you need to guide me and tell me what you want from me. I'll do whatever research you want.”

While Mendy is 10 years old, he is non-verbal and that gives Menucha even more reason to give him a voice, “I am not afraid to speak up for my child. If I don't speak up, nobody will.”

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia has an online Resource Hub dedicated to informing and educating our community with stories such as these for people with disabilities, families and carers. Read the full article at scia.org.au/resource-hub.

T he Cooper family

Mendy Cooper

Spotlight on Recreational Therapy Consultancy and Brain Injury

activity and require support to engage in mainstream or modified capacity. Alternatively, the client may have lots of unoccupied ‘free time’, or complex behavioural issues they need assistance with finding meaningful opportunities in their life.

What would an initial consult look like for a client?

Each client is unique. Some need interpreters, others require written or pictorial prompting cards due to their communication limitations, or others may engage independently in face-toface discussions.

and interest what will shape the future treatment plan.

In slow stream rehabilitation, collaborative teamwork is key. Changes occur gradually in physical, emotional, and cognitive aspects. As clients progress, I adjust support to align with their increasing independence and abilities, gradually reducing my assistance to transition and facilitate support worker lead programming.

Where does your work mainly occur?

Amanda Vizas has been a recreational therapy consultant in her private practice for over ten years, based in Sydney and servicing the region of NSW. She sat down recently to answer a few questions and talk about the work she does, working with clients who have brain and spinal injury in slow stream rehabilitation through the icare and private insurance schemes.

When would clients be looking for a recreational therapist?

Clients would not necessarily know of a recreational therapist. Usually, the referral would come from the treating team, the case manager, or the insurer looking after that client. There are many reasons why people might be referred to a recreational therapist.

They would generally look to refer to a recreational therapist to assist a client to identify meaningful activities they would like to return to following illness or injury. They may also be referred if the client identifies goals relating to a particular leisure pursuit or meaningful

I term this initial consult as a 'meet and greet,' a relaxed chat about interests and identified barriers hindering participation in their chosen activities. I align this with a pre-read report for informed prompts, like asking about a shoulder injury affecting tennis. It gauges their perspective, awareness, and insight into limitations. This unveils barriers to meaningful leisure, guiding tailored support. I develop treatment plans in subsequent sessions which target addressing identified barriers.

After the initial consult what happens?

In some cases, clients would benefit from resources and information to engage in their desired pursuits. This will be provided in the assessment report with no further support required. Most cases require further recreational therapy intervention following the initial assessment period to consolidate participation patterns and skills as well as supporting the care team through training to facilitate the prescribed recreational therapy program. I would propose trial sessions to gauge capacity, equipment needs

The approach varies based on client’s goals. Striving for a harmonious blend of in-home and community activities is my focus. For in-home activities and goals, sessions revolve around home life, while community-based goals involve collaboratively with local providers and clubs for sport or classes. By assessing client’s capacity and support needs, I tailor assistance and develop bespoke treatment for my clients.

When would you stop working with a client?

Continuous support is essential as clients demonstrate progress in recovery and engagement. When they plateau and improvement is maintained, a shift to support workerled programming occurs. Discharge from service follows this transition.

For more information on the Australian Recreational Therapy Association go to: www.recreationaltherapy.au

Lewis Herod has the cutting edge

When Lewis Herod was 16, he was struck down with crippling anxiety that left him unable to leave the house. He felt he had no choice but to leave high school to focus on regaining his health.

“My anxiety was debilitating. I was in a bad place. I didn't know what to do or where to go,” he said.

Although he knew employment would give him the purpose he so desperately craved, the teenager from Forster, NSW, spent months idle at home before eventually contacting not-forprofit employment and apprenticeships provider, VERTO, to help him find a path forward.

“VERTO quickly identified that improving my mental health was the priority, and that I needed emotional support so I could apply for jobs or attend job interviews,” he said. "That was a big thing for me - I felt like I was working on two important parts of my

life at the same time: my mental health and my career.”

VERTO provided Herod with support and guidance through the Disability Employment Services program. Through the program, he established he was interested in hairdressing, and with help from VERTO, landed a job at Nik’s Cutting Edge in Taree.

Herod spent a year on the floor working as an assistant: washing hair, stocking shelves, ordering hair products, cleaning equipment and welcoming clients to the salon.

“I loved everything about the job, the clients, my supportive boss, my colleagues, the work. I just knew it was the right career for me.”

After 12 months working as a salon assistant, VERTO encouraged him to sign up to an apprenticeship. He began a Certificate III in Hairdressing in February 2022.

“I’m now in the second year of my apprenticeship and I can honestly say it’s one of the best things I’ve done. I’m in a good place and I’ve found my purpose,” he said. “I feel more comfortable within myself and am a lot happier with where I'm going and what I'm doing.”

For more information on how VERTO can assist with a range of tailored individual employment support, visit www.verto.org.au or phone: 1300 487 386

Lewis Herod

Safety and peace of mind

indispensable tool in safeguarding their health and wellbeing while also offering reassurance and peace of mind for their family, friends and caregivers.

Understanding the needs of people with disabilities

In a world striving for inclusivity, understanding the unique needs of people with disabilities is a pivotal step towards creating an environment that is safe and accessible to everyone. Factors such as mobility challenges, communication barriers, and sensory sensitivities should all be considered when evaluating your personal safety.

While accessibility and mobility modifications can help enhance physical safety, assistive technology like monitored emergency alarms provide a multifaceted approach to safety, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional aspects.

Physically, a monitored alarm provides a direct lifeline in an emergency with rapid response from trained professionals. Mentally, it offers a sense of security and confidence, easing anxiety and fear of potential falls or accidents. Emotionally, it provides reassurance to both the user and their support network, fostering a feeling of connectedness and care.

The key benefits of personal alarms

✓ Independence and peace of mind

✓ Reliable emergency response

In critical situations, swift response times can make all the difference. Monitored personal alarms offer a prompt emergency response by trained professionals who are knowledgeable, calm, and act fast. Whether you’re facing a medical emergency, a fall or an accident, fast response can prevent further injury or complications.

✓ Suitable for different environments

Personal alarms are versatile and can be used at home, at work or when out and about. At home, these devices offer a reliable safety net, particularly at nighttime or when caregivers are not immediately available. At work or on the go, the alarm provides an added layer of protection, allowing you to work and engage with your community with confidence. Personal alarms can also be invaluable during travel within Australia, ensuring safety in unfamiliar surroundings.

Overcoming stigma and embracing safety

Despite the numerous benefits personal alarms offer, there can be stigma or hesitancy surrounding their use. These days, personal alarms are small and lightweight, allowing them to be carried discreetly wherever you go.

Navigating life with disabilities can present unique challenges that call for thoughtful solutions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of members of the disability community. This is especially important since people living with a disability may require more time to recuperate after an injury or medical incident.

For those living with a disability, a personal alarm can become an

Personal alarms can empower you to lead a more independent life. The presence of a discreet safety device ensures that you can confidently engage in daily activities, knowing that help is just a button press away.

This sense of security also extends to caregivers and family members, who find peace of mind knowing their loved ones have access to immediate assistance any time of the day or night.

Jess, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, decided to get a personal alarm when she moved out by herself for the first time. “It’s a small alarm, so I don’t have to feel self-conscious about it and I just know that when I’m in or out of the house, I’m covered,” she said. “I would definitely recommend MePACS to people like myself. Young people living with disabilities want to have as much freedom and choice as we can.”

Simply Helping you stay happy and healthy with personal care

“Personal care often requires extra sensitivity and consideration, as some needs can be quite intimate, especially when it comes to bathing and hygiene. We understand that the person we’re supporting may feel a little vulnerable and hesitant to ask for help in these areas. That is why matching a compatible support worker to build a trusting relationship is so important.

“Depending on the participant’s needs, the first conversation may also involve a family member, but the overall aim is to get to know their preferences, and make sure everyone feels safe and supported,” Feery-Richards said.

Access to safe, flexible care and support is essential in fostering wellbeing, so people of all abilities can continue to enjoy daily living at home and have the self-assurance to engage in community activities.

We all have a daily routine that helps us maintain our health and wellbeing. We brush our teeth morning and night, take a daily shower or bath, and feed ourselves nutritious food to keep our bodies fit and ready to take on the world.

For many of us, this routine comes naturally and is likely to happen with little thought at all. But for some people living with disability, these daily tasks can pose a bit more of a challenge.

Home care providers offer personal care services that can be incredibly valuable for people living with disability, and include assistance with a mix of tasks, such as bathing,

grooming, dressing, meal preparation, travel requirements, and use of special equipment. Personal care can help take the stress out of daily living and create an empowering support system to keep people with disability happy, healthy, and feeling confident.

Home care provider Simply Helping director and founder, Angela FeeryRichards, spoke about how to learn more on their approach to personal care. “It’s in our nature to go above and beyond when providing a broad range of home care services. Our commitment and dedication become even more important when we are trusted with a participant’s personal care requirements,” she said.

Feery-Richards and the team at Simply Helping recognise the value of personalised support and feel a sense of pride in delivering these services to the community. “Receiving help with such intimate tasks can be daunting, but we’ve always practised a personcentric and respectful approach to make people feel more comfortable,” she said. “At the end of the day, your comfort, happiness, and health are paramount, and we feel privileged to influence that in such a positive way.”

Simply Helping is a registered NDIS and home care provider, servicing locations across Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Perth. With flexible and tailored support options, Simply Helping enables people with disability to live happily and comfortably at home and confidently participate in their community.

A game changing solution for wheelchair users

In today’s rapidly evolving world, technological advancements have made significant strides in transforming our lives, and the realm of mobility is no exception. Among the latest innovations that stand out is the Yomper+ power assist; a game changing solution that holds the potential to redefine the way wheelchair users move and explore their surroundings.

The Yomper+ power assist is a cuttingedge device designed to enhance mobility whether you are commuting through urban streets or navigating rough terrains.

The Yomper+’s pivot system allows you to climb, adjust to dips and bumps where grass and paving stones are no longer a problem. The Yomper+ has the potential to be your ultimate travel companion.

At its core, the Yomper+ functions as a compact and lightweight device, crafted for a seamless experience. Its activation relies on an “EasyGo” control box, which can be conveniently recharged via a USB with a longlasting battery. The device also offers a wireless Bluetooth connection and presents the option for attendant control via an attendant throttle.

What sets the Yomper+ apart is its distinctive positioning within the axis of the manual wheelchair’s rear wheels. This strategic placement optimises propulsion and manoeuvrability, particularly in confined spaces.

The Yomper+ can also be set to “Sleep” mode allowing you to install it in the morning and conserve battery life by deactivating the EasyGo feature. In this mode, the Yomper+ can remain

operational for up to five days. The Yomper+ ranks among the lightest power add-on devices, weighing in at a mere 5.8kg with the 160Wh battery.

Safety and security are paramount with the Yomper+. When the device comes to a stop, it automatically reverts to speed 1 to prevent any abrupt acceleration that might catch the user off guard. Activation involves a doubletap action, ensuring no unintended starts. Adjustments to parameters can also be made through the EasyGo interface, enhancing safety during initial use and facilitating smoother integration of the Yomper+.

The device features an indoor mode, enabling halts using the hand rims. The control box offers flexible installation in two positions: on the wheelchair or the user’s leg.

Visual tech training brings new opportunities within range for the deaf community

Classes in digital technologies have opened a vital door for thousands of Australian seniors. But for those facing the communication barriers associated with deafness and aged-related hearing loss, the benefits can be even more profound.

If there was an award for tech skills acquisition within Australia’s deaf community, Marcia Girke-Boyle would be a leading candidate. When she’s not out shopping or socialising, the outgoing pensioner spends much of her time practising the skills she’s picked up at Deaf Connect’s Tech Savvy Seniors classes at her local library in Campbelltown. She’s forgotten how many of these classes she’s attended, “but it must be at least 20 by now”.

For Marcia, who turned 80 in June, learning new technology is less of a hobby than a necessity. “With all the new apps around these days, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of things to learn,” she said. “But the benefits of these skills have been fantastic… they make every part of my life easier.”

Since Tech Savvy Seniors (TSS) began in 2014, more than 200,000 participants have accessed a rich variety of lessons in communications, shopping, banking, booking and cyber-safety skills, in up to 16 different languages. For Deaf Connect’s community accessing the program in New South Wales, the language of choice is Auslan, the national sign language, used by at least 16,000 Australians.

Deaf Connect has run nearly 150 TSS classes since 2015, with more than 1,100 enrolments – from its main office in Parramatta, to libraries and community centres across Sydney, and out to regional centres like Gosford, Wollongong and Newcastle.

But the real boon, program coordinator Laura Robinson said, was the end of Covid-19 – when they could return to face-to-face classes.

“As Auslan is a visual language, it’s much better to provide training in person, delivered by our deaf trainers in Auslan, which is the primary language of all our participants,” she said. “We suspected that enrolments would bounce back after Covid and that’s what we are seeing now.”

Step-by-step graphics

Deaf Connect has specially adapted its training to focus on graphic ‘how-to’ lessons demonstrating popular apps, video platforms, and other programs, with clear illustrations leading you through each step for downloading and using an app, and handouts to take home and practice yourself.

“The conversations are always very lively,” Anne Bajraszewski, who teaches the Campbelltown and Bomaderry courses said. “I unpack each tool and step through it, making sure the participants clearly understand everything.

“It’s so gratifying, seeing these lovely seniors learning new apps that you know they will be using to buy things, book events, and stay safe online. When the class ends and they go home, they are always beaming!”

For Laura Robinson, the close partnership between Deaf Connect, Telstra and the NSW Government

means the classes will always be informed by the deaf seniors who attend them.

“Our participants want to become more confident using platforms such as FaceTime, WhatsApp and Skype, so they can connect with their deaf friends and family members,” she said. “And increased confidence using these platforms also naturally increases access to interpreting services as well.”

“I think being confident when using a device is so important,” Bajraszewski said. “If a deaf person like me has a doctor’s appointment and an interpreter is not available in person, it’s incredibly useful to be able to video-call an interpreter who can remotely interpret instead.”

For Marcia Girke-Boyle, the lessons are so valuable she keeps going back.

“I used to be very scared trying to book or buy things online, not knowing which sites I could trust,” she said. “But Anne’s lessons have given me the confidence to know how to keep my details safe.

“It’s been great having the handouts too, so I can practice when I get home. There are so many new things to learn these days, but they are not so scary anymore.”

This article was written by Ralph Johnstone in collaboration with the Telstra Sustainability team. Reprinted with permission from Telstra Sustainability Team

Medi-Map enables a holistic approach to care

With My Health Record Integration for care organisations

Medi-Map is the first electronic medication management solution to release direct access to My Health Record (MHR) This enables nurses to access uploaded records from across the broader healthcare sector and is now available in Medi-Map.

Approved care organisation nurses can access a resident’s health record, based on an individual’s permissions and decision to opt in. The integration will provision access to discharge summaries, pathology lab results, general practitioner summary, pharmacy dispense records, allergies, referral letters and immunisation records.

“We believe that connectivity to MyHR is a necessary step to provide staff with

a more holistic view of an individual’s medication journey and improve their health outcomes”, general manager Christelle Ucinek said.

“This supports the Medi-Map Mission statement to promote better patient outcomes. Clinicians can access MHR information which will assist with medicine management decision making, and ensure the nurse has all information needed when caring for residents”.

The MHR functionality has been rolled out with Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) assistance, to care organisations as they register for access.

“This will be another great addition to the Medi-Map platform and give care organisations and their staff access to

wider health information to assist with care,” Ucinek said. “It is another step closer to assisting with the transition of care and collaboration of healthcare professionals in the provision of care.”

How Kory found her kind of independence through Mable

By finding the right support, Kory has been able to achieve her professional goals

Kory offers peer mentoring to autistic teens as part of her business. She recently attended the Disability Connections Expo in Sydney as an exhibitor for her microbusiness, Autie Talk.

Kory, who has autism, booked Kate, an independent support worker on Mable to support her over the two days. Mable is an online platform that connects people with disability looking for support, with support workers.

How Kory’s support worker helped

Kory has a voice disability, which means that after a while, she loses her voice and cannot project it very loudly. Kory explained how Kate supported her. “Kate ensured she had studied the training material I sent to her before her support session. That way, she could engage well with the visitors at my booth and assist me when I couldn’t talk.

“Kate took every opportunity during the expo to promote my services to the visitors and other exhibitors. She was sincere about assisting me in having a successful time at the expo.”

Find your kind of independence with Mable

Through Mable, it’s possible to book support workers on Mable with diverse backgrounds, in all ways.

Kory at her booth

Kate and Kory

A useful resource for your communication requirements

Accessible Telecoms is an initiative of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to address the lack of consolidated, independent, and up-to-date information about accessibility features of telecommunications equipment available in Australia.

This is a free service currently funded by a grant from the Commonwealth of Australia and is specifically geared towards people with disabilities, seniors, their families and carers, service providers and advocates. However, anyone is welcome to get in touch.

The website has useful resources about the accessibility features of phones, tablets, accessories, and apps that may assist with communication.

The Accessible Telecoms team can provide personalised advice on how to get the most out of your current mobile, home phone or tablet, or help you find new devices, accessories and apps that may be suitable.

We can also recommend local or virtual training organisations who can help you learn more about your devices, the internet, and many other aspects of digital life.

Some examples of what you can find at Accessible Telecoms include:

• Home phones with loud ringers, volume control or big buttons.

• Hearing aid compatible mobile phones.

• Emergency pendants.

• Wheelchair mounts for mobile phones and tablets.

• Eye gaze accessories, switch

buttons, prosthetic equipment, and other alternative controls for phones and tablets.

• Apps to caption media, transfer voice-to-text, zoom or enhance screens.

• Search your area for local or online training options for your new device.

We welcome you to contact Accessible Telecoms to chat about your needs, our staff are available to answer your queries and help you find the best options. Why not get in touch today?

Contact Accessible Telecoms:

Helpline: 1800 442 300

Text: 0438 454 413

Email: accessibletelecoms@accan.org.au

Website: www.accessibletelecoms.org. au to search for information or open a chat query.

Adaptive Adven Elevating Your Travel Ga

ture ame

Navigating new horizons: adventure, access, and the Amylior range of wheelchairs

When the outdoors beckons

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Amy Alltrack R3 is its adaptability. Designed with all-terrain capabilities, this power wheelchair breaks down barriers by providing access to previously inaccessible landscapes. Its reinforced frame and rugged wheels offer stability and support, enabling users to navigate sandy beaches, cobblestone streets and forest trails with unparalleled ease. With this wheelchair, travel isn't just about getting from one place to another: it's about embracing the journey, no matter the destination.

…cutting-edge features that prioritise user comfort and freedom

However, the true essence of travel lies not just in the thrill of adventure, but in the accessibility that enables it. In this regard, Amylior's commitment to inclusivity shines through. The Amy Alltrack range boasts cutting-edge features that prioritise user comfort and freedom.

In a world where the allure of exploration and adventure beckons, the notion of travel transcends its mere physicality. It's about venturing into the unknown, embracing diverse cultures, and creating cherished memories.

For individuals who rely on wheelchairs, this yearning for adventure often intersects with the essential need for accessibility.

Fortunately, the evolving landscape of mobility technology, exemplified by the Amylior range of wheelchairs and the remarkable Amy Alltrack R3 power

wheelchair, is reshaping the boundaries of travel, ensuring that every individual can embark on their dream journeys.

The Amy Alltrack R3 power wheelchair is an embodiment of both technological ingenuity and the desire for unlimited exploration. With its robust design and advanced features, this wheelchair serves as a beacon of hope for those who wish to traverse the world's diverse terrains. From bustling city streets to rugged mountain paths, the Amy Alltrack R3 empowers users to seek out thrilling experiences, all while ensuring comfort and safety.

Beyond the innovative technology, Linds ethos extends to fostering a community of adventurers with diverse abilities. Our company's dedication to customisation ensures that every wheelchair is tailored to suit the user's unique needs and desires. This not only empowers individuals to embark on their own journeys but also fosters a sense of belonging within a community that understands the transformative power of travel.

Visit Linds at the ATSA Canberra Expo on Stand #94.

Meet James Hawker from Team Queensland

James Hawker is the Freedom Motors state manager for Queensland.

He came to the company when he moved from the Northern Territory to the Sunshine Coast and brings with him years of experience in both the vehicle industry and disability sectors.

Hawker goes above and beyond to make sure that clients in Queensland have all the relevant information that assists them to pick a vehicle and modification to suit all their requirements, but also has a huge selection of approved service centres throughout Queensland.

He has made it his mission to make sure that the vehicles are being used in the safest way possible by providing training to families and organisations to ensure they are being used correctly.

Hawker also has extensive experience with working with the NDIS when it comes to vehicle modifications and makes the whole process easier for the participant and their occupational therapists.

He has a wealth of information from his background in the sector.

Call him on: 0409 090 265 or email: jamesnhawker@gmail.com to arrange a demonstration or to discuss servicing options.

Not in Queensland. Give Freedom Motors Australia head office a call on: 1800 672 437.

We can put you in touch with your state manager to arrange a consultation to see how we can help you get back to traveling and living the life you choose.

James Hawker

Freedom Motors managing director Robert van Mullekom and James Hawker

WILA Innovations specialises in providing a range of disability equipment

WILA Innovations is the Australian distributor for the Vicair pressure care products, the FOCAL dynamic Arm Supports, the Obi Robotic Feeding Device and the VELA work and medical chairs.

V isit WILA Innovations at the Melbourne Expo to experience the full Vicair pressure care range including the Vicair air mattress.

The Vicair O2 cushions have the unique combination of high-quality pressure redistribution, optimal positioning and comfort. Available in several different models, these are extremely suitable to use to prevent the skin.

The Vicair O2 wheelchair cushion range offers optimal hygiene, temperature and moist regulation and like the Vicair O2 cushions are 100 per cent

breathable and fully machine washable.

FOCAL arm supports offers support for reduced arm and/or hand function. In line with their motto ‘listen, create, improve’, is focused on personal needs and wishes and to achieve an improved quality of life.

A lso on display is Obi, a revolutionary eating device for individuals with upper extremity strength and mobility limitations. Through the use of customisable accessibility switches Obi allows the user to control what they eat and when.

Eating should be personal, fun, joyful, exciting, independent. Obi makes it possible!

W ila Innovations will also have the full VELA chair range on display including the VELA 700E for users

up to 160kg and the VELA 310E for users up to 300kg.

I n a world first WILA Innovations will introduce the new VELA 600E, the completely renewed VELA children’s chair!

All chairs offer independence at home, work and school in a user-friendly design. By sitting down in a VELA chair, you can perform your usual standing activities safely and comfortably without draining your energy. All because of a safe handbrake, easy-rolling wheels and stable sitting comfort.

Visit WILA at Stand #114 at the ATSA Canberra Expo on November 8-9.

For more information visit: www.wila-products.com.au or info@wila-products.com.au www.wila-products.com.au/

Next Level Rear – Wheel Drive

It’s with great excitement that Quantum Rehab announces the arrival of the R-TRAK, a revolutionary addition to their power base line-up. A decade in the making, the R-TRAK combines ultimate comfort with all the familiar benefits of a rear-wheel drive configuration.

The integration of Smooth Ride Suspension (SRS) technology offers unprecedented stability and increases sitting tolerance. The independent suspension on all four wheels, with the addition of a compact base, offers a more seamless and agile driving experience.

The R-TRAK comes with a range of standard features that enhance both

functionality and aesthetics. These include fender lights, a USB charger, and drive wheel colour accents, adding a touch of style and convenience.

Additionally, the product offers the option of a 10-inch safe seat elevation, enabling users to drive at speeds of up to 5.6km/h while elevated.

“The Quantum R-Trak wheelchair sets a new standard of excellence for rearwheel-drive mobility solutions. We are ecstatic it’s finally here,” Quantum Rehab Australia product specialist & clinical educator, Kathleen Sodder said.

“With its pioneering design and innovative engineering, the R-Trak empowers rear-wheel-drive users

Visit Quantum Rehab at the ATSA Canberra Expo on Stand #66.

with a blend of performance, stability, and comfort. Effortlessly navigating diverse and challenging terrains, the R-Trak promotes independence and mobility, allowing users to confidently accomplish everyday tasks.”

The standard features of the R-Trak include 4-pole motors, allowing for powerful performance. It offers a maximum speed of up to 10 km/h (5.6 km/h when elevated), ensuring swift movement.

The inclusion of LED lighting in the front caster arms and fenders enhances visibility and safety. The superior SRS (Smooth Ride Suspension), designed with automotive-grade precision, provides an unparalleled driving experience and exceptional ride quality.

Moreover, the advanced stability of the product ensures seamless transitions over obstacles, further enhancing its performance capabilities.

Rear-wheel drive never felt so good. Engineered to deliver optimal comfort and stability, whether around the house or tackling uneven terrain in the great outdoors, the R-TRAK is the total package to serve users’ activities of daily living. We’re thrilled to say the

For more information about the R-Trak and Quantum Rehab’s range of products visit their website: www.quantumrehab.com.au or view on , available for download

The next level of rear-wheel drive has arrived. And as far as we’re concerned, it’s about time.

Occupational therapy – a person-centred approach

activities. An OT may help to develop coping strategies for people overcoming their mental health issues or improving confidence and self-esteem in social situations.

Working with older people

OTs play a key role in providing aged care services to older people, both in the community and in residential aged care facilities. OTs work with older people with age-related conditions such as poor balance/coordination, memory loss, confusion, vision loss and hearing loss, which lead to changes in their ability to participate in the meaningful activities of everyday life.

Working with children

Occupational therapy (OT) is a degree-based health profession, regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Occupational therapists use a whole person perspective to work with individuals, groups and communities to achieve optimal health and wellbeing through participation in the occupations of life. OT supports people of all ages and abilities to engage in activities (i.e., occupations), they find meaningful.

In this context, ‘occupations’ refer to all the everyday things we do in our lives, including the things we do to create a meaningful life and to engage with wider society and culture. Occupations include activities such as taking care of oneself or others, working, volunteering, participating in hobbies and social events, undertaking education, household tasks, and many more.

OT is a person-centred health profession involving ongoing assessments to understand what activities you can do (and those you want and need to do), any current challenges, your goals and

motivations, and also to offer advice or techniques on how to do something more easily and safely.

Occupational therapy’s person-centred approach encourages collaboration between OTs and clients and their families for meaningful care and rehabilitation.

OTs may also prescribe assistive technology to help you do the activities you want and need to do and will work with you to ensure you can use the technology in the best way to meet your needs.

OTs work with people across the lifespan in a range of settings. This includes hospitals, rehabilitation centres, private practices, aged care facilities, schools, community health centres and government organisations. These are just some of the many ways that OTs work:

Mental health

OTs in mental health use individual and group programs/activities to enhance independence in everyday

OTs work with paediatric clients with any condition or disability that affects their ability to perform the everyday activities of life. OTs work in partnership with the young person, their parents and other important people in their life, such as their doctor, teacher and other health professionals. The occupations of young people are centred around play and learning, and include getting dressed, eating, going to school, making friends and being part of a club or group.

Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) is the peak professional body representing the interests of OTs across Australia. We exist to support them throughout their careers so they can support individuals to participate in the occupations of life, no matter what stage of life they are in or what their unique needs are.

For more information on occupational therapy and to find an occupational therapist in your area, visit OTA’s website at: www.otaus.com.au

If you are attending the Canberra ATSA expo in November, you can visit us at Stand #50.

Iain Hogg: revolutionising the accessibility landscape

Imagine being a small business owner paying nine per cent on your overdraft for up to six months because the government wouldn’t pay its bills. That’s exactly the situation that was facing assistive technology

suppliers in the year 2000, the year Iain Hogg became a business owner in the AT industry.

Iain and his wife Rhonda had a small but ambitious business in the highly

competitive AT industry. Competition is great for consumers, but it can hurt them too. In this case, consumers were suffering because AT businesses couldn't make ends meet, and the government wasn't listening to their concerns.

IainandRhondaHoggatthe ATSAGala Awards 2022

This is something Hogg found out when he banded together with a small group of suppliers and hired a lobbyist.

A time of looming regulations

He remembers a landscape ripe for transformation. Consumers in every industry have a right to expect industry standards that ensure quality products that meet their needs. But back then, there weren't agreed standards for AT. This meant the government might step in to regulate the industry.

being chewed up by extending credit to the government.”

The need for a new trade show Hogg wanted to grow his small business, but money was tight. For an AT business to grow, consumers need to know what they offer. And with AT products in particular, consumers need to be able to see and try the product, talking to experts before buying.

about. “New products are breaking down barriers. People with disabilities can do so much now, whether it’s going off-road in their chairs or getting onto the sand at the beach. Even a seemingly simple accessory like a drink bottle holder on a wheelchair means one less reason someone has to ask for help. It’s all about maximising independence.”

Evolving an industry

When government regulates an industry, it's essential to getting the best result that the industry should always be represented. However, the AT industry wasn't being consulted and Hogg and the group needed to know why, so they hired a lobbyist. The lobbyist came back with the impression that the government had a poor perception of the industry, which is why the government wasn't talking to them.

Hogg and the rest of the group knew that a respected voice to government was essential. Without that voice, the government couldn't make the best decisions for the industry or consumers.

Stretched margins and little funding

The AT industry also needed a voice to government as a matter of survival. It was hard for businesses to keep their doors open when the government, the primary customer, was funding too little and paying those funds out painfully slowly.

“There was only $24 million in funding in New South Wales for AT, which was a pittance compared to what was needed to fund disability,” Hogg said.

Sluggish payments put pressure on small businesses like his. "I remember paying nine per cent interest on overdrafts while waiting up to six months for payment. As a very small business, it was incredibly tough to survive even without profit margins

Hogg teamed up with the same small group of suppliers to launch the Daily Living Expo in 2001. Despite doing this while putting in long hours running their own small businesses, they found time to design an education program. The program wasn't designed to sell products but to help everyone servicing AT consumers raise their standards.

The benefits of joining forces

After seeing the success of what could be done together, Hogg and the group formed a new AT industry association, which evolved into the ATSA we know today. The association gave the industry a voice and worked with the government to fund AT equipment appropriately. They made it possible for the industry to collaborate on matters of shared interest without stifling the competition that is so valuable to consumers of AT.

That competition has sparked many innovations in AT that Hogg is excited

Hogg has had more than a career in the AT industry; he's been on a mission since joining it in 1991. That mission has seen him contribute to shaping the industry, fostering collaboration, and enhancing lives.

Fast forward to today, and he is stepping into retirement. Hogg and his wife have spent decades running the Specialised Wheelchair Company and wholeheartedly investing in the wellbeing of their clients, therapists and staff.

It’s thanks to the vision of Hogg and the suppliers he joined forces with decades ago that we have ATSA today. This vibrant, competitive industry has a strong voice to government, and consumers and suppliers can come together at ATSA expos to experience the latest in AT innovations.

If you would like to learn more about how ATSA can support you or how to become a member, go to our website: atsa.org.au.

“New products are breaking down barriers”

ATSA Gala Awards 2022

When turning in bed just got easier

The Wonder Sheet can benefit anyone of any age, including the young, who have any type of limited or restricted mobility.

If you’d like some independence back and wake up feeling like you’ve actually slept, then you should try the Wonder Sheet.

The Wonder Sheet is available online or through one of our many stockists Australia wide.

We are a NDIS registered provider, and you can also get the Wonder Sheet through your Home Care Package, My Age Care and DVA.

Would you like to turn over in bed more easily, with less effort and less pain?

Something as simple as a fitted sheet could help. It’s called the Wonder Sheet. I designed it for my dad who had Parkinson’s disease. He started to find turning over and getting in and out of bed difficult.

The Wonder Sheet uses satin, which is under your shoulders, back and hips and has poly/cotton at each end.

The satin panel makes sliding your hips easier while reducing friction against your skin, which can then reduce the risk of skin breakdown causing pressure ulcers.

I hope it benefits you as much as it did my Dad …Dominique.

Contact us today on: 07-5591 1629, www.thewondersheet.com.au or email: info@neeki.com.au

Visit us at the ATSA Canberra Expo on Stand #180

Dominique Sanday

Opel Mobile – technology that cares

Australian-owned and operated, Opel Mobile provides Australia's top-rated mobile phone solutions for seniors, kids, and the vulnerable.

With a commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, our comprehensive range has a phone to suit everyone’s needs. From simple-to-use Candy Bar style feature phones to the ever-popular Flip phones and budgetfriendly Smartphones. Opel Mobile also has unique 4G Home Phone and Personal Alarm solutions better suited to those needing a little more care or assistance.

At Opel Mobile we believe that technology should be inclusive and

due to this, many of our devices are packed with functional technology and user-friendly features. Some of our key features include raised big buttons, easy-to-read screens, emergency SOS buttons, adjustable font sizes, talking keypads, extra loud ringtones and

hearing aid compatibility, to name a few.

Opel Mobile's dedication to care doesn't end with its products. Our nationwide customer service team is there to support our valued clients. From simple how-to questions to more complicated technical issues our support team is just a call or click away for assistance.

Opel Mobile is a registered NDIS partner.

Call us on: 1300 971 584 (Monday to Friday AEST 8am to 6pm) or email: help@opelmobile.com.au

To learn more and to see our range Visit us at the ATSA Canberra Expo Stand #184 or go to: opelmobile.com.au.

Harnessing the expertise of people with lived experience of AT use

By Libby Callaway

After a comprehensive and far-reaching engagement process, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Independent Review Panel closed online submissions in August, as the panel moves towards a final report to government proposed for October 2023.

The Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) has consulted with our members across multiple states to prepare our submission to the panel.

ARATA’s overarching goal through this process has been to ensure that the panel addresses existing issues in the area of NDIS-funded assistive products and services with a focus on solutions, and to ensure NDIS participant outcomes are maximised.

Pleasingly, the NDIS Independent Review Panel has consulted extensively with people with lived experience of the scheme, including people with disability and their families.

The NDIS was developed out of an excellent grassroots advocacy campaign, called “Every Australian Counts” which held central the long standing disability movement position of “Nothing About Us Without Us”

This position links well to the identified good practice steps of assistive technology provision ARATA has previously published, the first one being that the process should be person-centred, not product or servicecentred. More recently, the World Health Organization and UNICEF – in an inaugural Global Report on Assistive Technology – listed out four ‘minimum

steps’ that should be used as part of wholistic AT provision:

1. Assessment: determine person’s needs, goals and preferences.

2. Fitting: ensure selected product matches user profile.

3. User training: in how to safely use and maintain the product.

4. Follow up: provide for repairs, maintenance, adaptations and refurbishment and performance evaluation.

ARATA’s ambition is that the NDIS Independent Review Panel will highlight solutions from our submission, as well as contributions by others to the review, that can ensure these steps are consistently made possible.

This can be achieved through empowered NDIS participants who use AT; well-built NDIS plans that enable consideration of both products and services that are vital to AT solutions; and a high quality, evidence-informed AT workforce that collaborates with the NDIS participant to achieve positive AT outcomes.

ARATA is pleased to have people who use AT as part of our membership, along with other members who advise on, develop, supply, research and/or educate in the field of AT.

Our Voluntary Board of Management has for decades included members with lived experience of AT use, and/or informal or paid supporters of people who use it.

To grow this central lived experience expertise on our board and mentor the next generation of AT users to take

up director roles that can impact AT policy and practice, ARATA recently launched its Board Mentoring Program for AT users.

This program is currently taking expressions of interest from people who use AT to partake in a 12-month Board Mentoring program, with a $1,000 honorarium provide for this contribution. If you are someone who uses AT in your own life, and are interested in understanding more about Board Directorship, you may wish to consider expressing interest in this opportunity. The World Health Organization as previously noted ‘assistive technology changes lives’, and this new ARATA Board Mentoring Program has been designed to ensure Australian policy and practice harnesses and grows the expertise of people with lived experience of AT use.

Associate Professor Libby Callaway, president, Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) and registered OT, Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre and Occupational Therapy Department, Monash University.

Rehab Technology Distribution debuts at the Canberra Expo with Dejay Medical

New products and informative seminar sessions at the expo

Rehab Technology Distribution (RTD) importers of many of the brands such as Easystand, Special Tomato, Hoggi, Meywalk and Connie Hansen

Frame Runners will partner with Dejay Medical and also present several seminar sessions at the ATSA Canberra expo.

Launching at ATSA Canberra is a new range of strollers from Europe, now available in Australia for trials.

The range includes four different strollers, starting with the Mouse stroller designed for the youngest of users through to the Yeti stroller for teenagers up to 80kg.

Each stroller includes a wide range of supports and accessories within the

package and feature the new “I grow with you system”.

Frame Running (also known as Race Running) will feature for the first time at ATSA Canberra on our stand. This exciting new activity is ideal for therapy, fitness and with clubs forming Australia wide. Now is a great time to try one yourself.

RTD national educator, Rob Norman, will host several seminars at the expo.

A paediatric panel is on Wednesday November 8 at 11:15am in Room 2. Norman will bring together a wealth of knowledge from across the industry and take questions from attendees during the discussion.

On Thursday November 9 at 1:00pm in Room 1 Rob Norman and Ali Gebhardt, NAPA clinical director will present “What do I do with my equipment now I Have it?” Join them through planning, prescribing and implementing equipment into the home, therapy and the community as a whole.

Visit the RTD team on Stand #38 and we can walk you through the exciting new additions to our product range that includes a new Therapy Kit and discuss how we can partner with you to help your clients.

Visit our website: www.rtdaus.com.au

Visit us at the ATSA Canberra Expo on Stand #38

Exhibitors

ACORN STAIRLIFTS Stand 136

An Acorn Stairlift gives you a safe, comfortable, and simple way to get up and down your stairs. Each Acorn Stairlift is tailor-made to suit your individual home and lifestyle. They are designed for fast installation with a range of cleverly engineered features that make them quick and simple for us to install and more importantly for you to use. Acorn Stairlifts are precision manufactured, designed, and assembled in the UK. They are fitted by qualified installation engineers, with all work conforming to the highest standards. These are just a few reasons why Acorn has hundreds of thousands of happy customers throughout the world.

acornstairlifts.com.au

AIDACARE

Stand 178

Aidacare is one of Australia’s largest Healthcare Equipment and Service providers. Since 1987, they have assisted Australians in the Hospital; Residential Aged-Care; Home & Community Care; Complex and Rehabilitation sectors. Their focus on product quality and ongoing services & support has made Aidacare & Aspire trusted brands throughout Australia. Aidacare’s vision is to be Australia’s leading Healthcare Distributor in their chosen areas of focus providing unparalleled customer service and product excellence as a path to optimal healthcare equipment solutions for their customers.

aidacare.com.au

ALLIANZ PARTNERS Stand 196

At Allianz Partners your clients are in safe hands, with over 22 years of experience in caring for vulnerable people they are supported by a network of providers across Australia including over 500 trade providers and health equipment suppliers.

Allianz Partners is a proud provider to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Allianz Partners helps in the aged care sector with Home Maintenance, Domestic Assistance, Gardening, Allied Health, and Aids and Equipment to promote greater independence, safety and quality of life.

alliance-assistance.com.au

ALPHA LIFECARE

Stand 90

Alpha Lifecare, an Australian family-owned business, leverages decades of experience in delivering Healthcare Equipment and Services. With an extensive product range, they offer a one-stop solution for Acute Care, Aged Care, and Community Care. Whether it’s outfitting a large facility, equipping community-based care, or providing hire equipment, they are here to help. They also offer servicing completed by experienced technicians, preventative maintenance, and asset management programs. Their commitment to “Caring Further” has seen them empower Australians AND their Care Network in recovery and independent living. Visit them to explore how they can provide a complete solution to your care needs.

alphalifecare.com.au

AMBASSADOR PRODUCTS

Stand 46

Ambassador electric lift and recline chairs are designed to assist the mobility of people with increased body weight and limited personal movement. Our chairs give patients more independence at the touch of a button. Specialists in Electric Lift Chairs. Ambassador Products has over 25 years of experience in designing electric lift and recline chairs for the bariatric. Each chair includes custom-made mechanisms and components, exclusively for Ambassador, which are extra strong, durable and medical grade. They provide greater lifting capacity than any other lift and recliner chair on the market. Allowing industry best warranties for peace of mind. The premium components are sourced from Europe and Asia, and the chairs are manufactured in Australia to meet Australian Standards. ambassadorproducts.com.au

ASTRIS PME Stand 60

Astris PME is an independent, industry leader providing Assistive Technology Equipment and services to clients throughout Australia. They are dedicated to improving lives of people with disability by providing the best the world has to offer in AT equipment as well as advice and one-on-one consultations with the Astris PME team of specialist consultants. Their services include equipment trials, assessments, and personalised consultations as well as extensive product knowledge and customisation of products to suit individual needs and requirements. They also offer hire of AT equipment, mobile service technicians and scheduled maintenance programs astris-pme.com.au

ATSA Stand 28

Assistive Technology Suppliers Australia (ATSA) gives members a business edge through access to the services, tools and connections only a peak body can deliver. Founded in 2000 by dedicated assistive technology experts, ATSA is the industry’s voice to government, allied health and other stakeholders. ATSA promote the vital role of assistive technology. Their works puts the spotlight onto an essential industry and advocates for the highest standards of professionalism in the AT industry. ATSA represent members in all facets of assistive technology, including suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and individuals. They can support you with context, guidance and industry contacts, making business easier in a challenging environment. When you join ATSA, your business will be represented within the peak industry body. Your membership lends your voice to the development of appropriate, workable legislation. Membership of ATSA also signals your business’ commitment to quality results for people who deserve nothing short of the best from the AT industry.

atsa.org.au

ATTO AUSTRALIA Stand 118

ATTO AUSTRALIA are importers of the amazing ATTO mobility scooter range by Moving Life. The scooter offers features that make this scooter a stand out! Splits in half for easy lifting and portability, trolley mode, higher ground clearance, larger wheels, more leg room, outstanding engineering, unique, sleek, stylish fashionable design, large range of accessories, designed for stability with flared back legs that retract when folded into trolley mode, folds to cabin luggage size, remote control locking for safety, cruise control, LED lights, 6-10km per hour speed settings. attoaustralia.com.au

AUTOMOBILITY Stand 120

Automobility is one of Australia’s leading wheelchair access vehicle manufacturers. Commencing operations in 2001, they are driven by their Core Values of Excellence, Customer Oriented and Integrity and are renowned for their innovative and high quality designs and conversions. Automobility wheelchair access vehicles meet Australian Standards. They offer different configurations – driver and drive from wheelchair or front row wheelchair, 2nd row wheelchair, 3rd row wheelchair and seating for up to 6 people. With their robust construction and simple maintenance free proven designs, their vehicles are ideal for private or commercial users. They are one of the major suppliers to the Transport Accident Commission, Workcover, Insurance companies, Court funded purchases, community transport and private buyers Australia wide. Automobility pride themselves in their customer service and support that includes a 24-hour emergency contact phone and an Australia wide service and support network.

automobility.com.au

Exhibitors

BEDSHED FYSHWICK

Stand 32

The team at Bedshed understand the significant role sleep has on your mental and physical health. Bedshed is a proud supporter of the NDIS. Participants can shop across all Bedshed stores, across a range of NDISapproved mattresses and adjustable beds, pillows, and accessories. Bedshed Fyshwick is a registered provider, able to assist those within the ACT & NSW region with NDIAmanaged funding and work directly with Plan Managers. Their bedroom experts are trained to understand your needs and help you find the optimal sleep solution that best accommodates each client’s needs and preferences.

bedshed.com.au

BRAZIER MOBILITY

Stand 96

Brazier Mobility (formerly Les Brazier Special Vehicles) is Australia’s premier modifier of Vehicles for Wheelchair Accessibility and modified driving controls. Their modified Vehicles are certified to the relevant Australian Standard and Australian Design Rules irrespective of which state. With over 45 years’ experience they are experts in the transportation needs of the mobility challenged and elderly ranging from one off individualised modification to multiple vehicle modifications. Located at Edinburgh North in South Australia, their Wheelchair accessible vehicles along with other modifications and mobility products are distributed to their Australia wide customer base.

braziermobility.com.au

CANTERBURY CONCEPTS

Stand 132

Canterbury Concepts grabrails have built a reputation for trust and reliability. Their rails have been designed and tested to maximise

grip and optimise safety. They are produced with a contemporary look and modern colours. Available in beige and white they look great in the home or anywhere they’re needed. Canterbury Concepts grabrails continue to be the preferred grabrail safety solution all throughout Australia and New Zealand, and the Canterbury Concepts team are proud to provide a product that assists people to continue with their daily activities and remain secure. Canterbury Concepts grabrails: Stay mobile. Stay independent. Stay at home.

canterburyconcepts.com.au

CAPITAL REHABILITATION SUPPLIES

Stand 20

Capital Rehabilitation Supplies are a local family-owned business. Their vision is to provide the general public and all NDIS patients Australian wide, everything they need on the road to recovery. Capital Rehabilitation Supplies are also a registered NDIS provider. They provide Bathroom and Toilet aids, a wide range of daily living aids, electric lift chairs, height-adjustable chairs, patientlifting equipment, pressure care cushions and mattresses, electric hospital beds and home care beds, mobility equipment, catheters and accessories, and scooters.

capitalrehabilitationsupplies.com.au

CARE ESSENTIALS

Stand T6

Care Essentials, an Australian, family-owned company, has two decades of expertise manufacturing award-winning medical devices at their advanced Geelong facility. Their reach spans 65+ countries. Amid the pandemic, they pivoted, heeding the Australian government’s call to produce top-tier N95 respirators. Diversifying further, the last four years witnessed expansions into incontinence care via the Allusive range, and

assistive technology with the Medi Alarm fall detector pendants, watches, and Medi Manager pill dispensers. Their core focus remains the health and well-being of the elderly and vulnerable.

careessentials.com.au

COLOUR MY WHEELS

Stand 54

Colour My Wheels is on a mission to bring colour to the wheelchair users of the world. Our wheel covers are fun, vibrant and eye catching as well as being created using sustainable materials and processes. The material that we print on is made from 50% recycled kerbside waste. It is green tag certified, carbon neutral and 100% Australian made. Simple to attach to a wheelchair, it makes sense to have more than one set so you can switch them out depending on your mood!

colourmywheels.com.au

CONTROL SYNERGY

Stand T16

Control Synergy is a dynamic technology company with a strong reputation in the defense and aerospace sectors. Their company profile reflects our commitment to innovation and cutting-edge solutions. A significant aspect of our portfolio is the renowned RuggedTab range of rugged tablet devices. Specifically designed for Assistive Technologies, these robust tablets provide unmatched reliability and functionality in challenging environments. Empowering individuals with disabilities, our RuggedTab tablets boast user-friendly interfaces, accessibility features, and seamless integration with assistive software. With a passion for enhancing lives through technology, Control Synergy continues to lead the industry with their inclusive and transformative solutions.

controlsynergy.com.au

CONVATEC

Stand 122

Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence, and infusion care. Their products provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention and protection of at-risk skin, to improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs, whilst upholding the united Convatec promise of “forever caring”. Living with a condition is a journey and one that will be different for everyone. But Convatec believe it never needs to be you changing. You deserve better holistic care, so you can keep being you.

convatec.com

COUNTRY CARE GROUP Stand

150

Country Care Group is an Australian owned and operated national retail and distribution group, ensuring assistive technology products and services are accessible nationwide. Founded by Rob Hogan and the Hogan family in 1997, Country Care started as one store in regional Victoria, growing into the national group of specialised retail stores, manufacturing, and distribution company, it is today. Supplying hospitals, aged care facilities, in-home care, and communities, Country Care offer delivery, hire and service options, and a specialised retail team to meet the unique needs of each customer. National Distribution. Local Service. Country Care Group provides innovative healthcare solutions, empowering people in their everyday lives.

countrycaregroup.com.au

Exhibitors

DEJAY MEDICAL Stand 38

Dejay is a family-owned Australian business, founded over 35 years ago. Their mission is to help people with a disability achieve their goals with our carefully selected rehabilitation and mobility equipment. They are a manufacturer of wheelchairs, designed and handcrafted to suit each individual at their workshop facility in Rouse Hill, in Sydney’s North Western Suburbs.

dejay.com.au

FREEDOM MOTORS AUSTRALIA

Stand 176

Based in Sydney NSW Australia, Freedom Motors Australia Pty. Ltd was founded in 1997. Since that year they have grown to become the premier vehicle modifier for wheelchair access Australia wide. They pride themselves on bringing the most innovative and reliable wheelchair transportation solutions to the market. They have experience in the design, manufacture and installation of lowered floors, ramps and hoists to many private and commercial vehicles. Freedom Motors are a quality driven company, so you can rest assured that you are dealing with a company who is committed to manufacturing the best quality wheelchair accessible vehicles, with the best trade persons, to the highest standards for the Australian market.

freedommotorsaustralia.com.au

GTK PTY LTD

Stand 64

GTK is a leading provider of Assistive Technology Equipment. Established in 1991, GTK’s core focus has never changed –tailoring and configuring equipment solutions to the needs of it’s clients. This is possible by offering in-house trials and assessments, mobile technical service and repairs and education and training to Therapists.

gtk.com.au

HOMEABLE Stand 126

Homeable is a smart home technology provider, with a focus on creating accessible smart home solutions for people with disability and aged care. Their team of experts can design and install bespoke smart home solutions that align with their clients’ unique needs and goals. From voice-activated lighting to smart blinds and doorbells, Homeable’s accessible smart home solutions will ensure that everyone feels safe, independent, and comfortable where it matters most – the home.

homeable.com.au

HOMELIFE TECHNOLOGY Stand 138

HOMELife Technology’s mission is to supply easy-to-use products that enhance life, independence & personal wellbeing. They are the exclusive suppliers of HUG by LAUGH, RELISH Music Player, ROBIN Day Clocks, FLIPPER easy-to-use TV remote, RAVENCOURT products and they are Australia’s Connected Photo Frame specialists, with Australia’s widest range. Fully Australian owned and with over 40

years’ experience in consumer technology and aged care, they carefully curate their products to ensure they are only providing best-in-class products, making your choice easy and providing peace of mind with helpful local Australian support.

homelifetech.com.au

HOSPEQUIP

Stand 170

HospEquip has established itself as the “Go-To” company for friendly, expert advice trusted by healthcare professionals and individuals. An industry leader within Aged Care, Hospital, Home Care, NDIS and Rehabilitation across 5 locations in Australia, their team are experts in sales, hire and preventative maintenance for medical equipment. A curated group of quality products include electric beds, pressure care mattresses, wheelchairs and scooters, bathroom and shower aids. Their customers are their priority, which is why HospEquip is a registered NDIS provider as well as an Allianz contracted supplier for DVA equipment, ensuring they supply the best products to suit your needs.

www.hospequip.com.au

INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALISTS

Stand 44

At Independent Living Specialists (ILS) their clients are the heart of everything they do. Their team includes over 70 expert assistive technology professionals, who provide healthcare equipment solutions with one goal in mind: to improve the social, physical and mental wellbeing of their clients as they move through life. The ILS team works across ILS Kids (Paediatric Equipment), Rehab (Configured Mobility), Home and Community Care, and Hospital & Pressure Care, as well as their continually growing network of showrooms. ilsau.com.au

INTEGRATED LIVING

Table 18

integratedliving are a leading provider of health services throughout regional, rural and remote communities across Australia. Their focus is on delivering better health outcomes for Australians, supporting them to live independent and active lives. They provide a range of health and wellbeing services for older people and their families. intergratedliving’s mission is to transform the delivery of aged and community health services in regional, rural and remote Australia, reaching more people than ever before and achieving outstanding health & economic results that benefit individuals and their communities.

integratedliving.org.au

K CARE HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

Stand 146

Established in 1976, K Care Healthcare Solutions is an Australian-owned and operated industry leader; in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and supplying Assistive Technology for domestic and overseas markets. Working alongside leading allied health and medical professionals, K Care Healthcare Solutions develops solutions that meet the needs of people living with disability; and equipment that meets the best practice requirements for Hospitals, Aged Care facilities, Medical clinics, and homecare environments. Homecare distribution and supply of products is via an extensive Australian healthcare dealer network. See them at ATSA and learn more about how K Care are helping Australians live fulfilled and independent lives. kcare.com.au

Exhibitors

KISA Stand T4

KISA stands for Keep It Simple Always a complete solution to help the elderly, the vulnerable and people with disability to stay safe and maintain independence, while also helping their carers and relatives enjoy peace of mind.

kisa.com.au

LINDS REHABILITATION EQUIPMENT Stand 94

Linds Rehabilitation Equipment is an Australian family owned and operated business which was founded in 1965. Over half a century later, Linds Rehabilitation has grown to become an industry leading, experienced, and respected supplier of complex wheelchair solutions to the healthcare industry throughout Australia. Linds Rehabilitation will be showcasing the Amylior powerchair range including the Ascent Stander, Motion Composites range of carbon fibre light-weight manual wheelchairs, PDG range of Tiltin-Space wheelchairs, including the new T50 TakeApart, Active Controls alternate control positioning systems, the Switch-It specialty controls and switches, a variety of seating solutions (including Dynamic options) the Ibis Nuage along with a variety of powered mobility options including the Klaxon powered attachments for manual wheelchairs and much more.

lindsrehab.com.au

LINK ASSISTIVE Stand 72

Link Assistive are an Australian supplier of Assistive, Interactive and Sensory Technology for individuals with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. Their team of assistive technology, mounting and sensory specialists includes Speech Pathologists, an Occupational Therapist, IT and Repair Specialists and Administration and Logistics staff. Their products are designed for accessibility and optimal user experience. They work with therapists and their clients to ensure compatibility with the user’s needs and existing technology systems.

www.linkassistive.com

LIVE LIFE ALARMS Stands 8 & 10

As the largest Personal Mobile Alarm provider in Australia, Live Life Alarms are focused on supporting our customers, listening to their needs, and investing in research & design to ensure they continue to provide devices that have the latest technology available whilst maintaining a device that appears simple and is easy to use. Live Life Alarms’ mission is to help people live the live they deserve. Helping provide independent living with peace of mind.

livelifealarms.com.au

LIVEUP Stand T12

LiveUp is a free online healthy ageing guide funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, and powered by a not-for-profit,

iLA. LiveUp has been designed to give older people in Australia a breadth of opportunities to maintain their independence and social connection as they age.

liveup.org.au

LIVING ON THE SPECTRUM Stand

56

Living on the Spectrum is Australia’s first and only National Autism Directory and Neurodiversity hub. Their comprehensive online platform provides inclusive resources, products, events, and news specifically tailored to the Autistic, Neurodivergent, and caregiver community. Connect with valuable information and support through their free directory and website. They are committed to positively impacting lives and improving outcomes for parents, caregivers, Autistic individuals, businesses, and service providers. Their website is accessible and free to use, and any business or service that genuinely supports the Autistic or Neurodivergent community can be included at no cost.

livingonthespectrum.com

MACA (MOBILITY & ACCESSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN IN AUSTRALIA LTD)

Stand T14

Mobility and Accessibility for Children in Australia (Ltd) is a not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to advancing the rights of children with disabilities and medical conditions to safe and accessible transport. MACA is leading an unprecedented research and development program to support safe and equitable transport of children with disabilities and medical conditions. MACA translates this research into independent and practical information, resources, and training to strengthen the system so that it can better meet the motor vehicle transport needs of families of children with disabilities and medical conditions. www.macahub.org macahub.org

MAGIC MOBILITY Stand 24

Magic Mobility is Australia’s premier power wheelchair designer, developer, and manufacturer. We’re determined to push the boundaries of what power wheelchairs can achieve and above all provide users with choice. Our range of Australian made, high quality powerchairs can be tailored to individual needs. Our chairs help bring more aspirational goals within reach; they take you where you need to go and help you stay comfortable for longer. Their modular design allows for easy re-configuration of seating and accessories as goals and needs evolve over time. It’s your life. Your terrain. Your choice!

magicmobility.com.au

MEMORY MACHINE

Stand 142

Memory Machine is a ground-breaking and unique App dedicated to support people living with memory loss, their carers, family, and friends. A communication hub like no other it helps with the challenges of forgetfulness, loosing things, repeating, social isolation and scheduling. Affordable and accessible it is designed to help people living with mild memory loss through to late-stage dementia. Memory Machine are dedicated to supporting dignity and independence.

memorymachine.com.au

Exhibitors

MERIDIAN Stand 2

Meridian is a not-for-profit organisation advocating and supporting vulnerable communities to improve health and wellbeing. Historically supporting LGBTI+ communities and people living with or impacted by HIV, the care finder program is now funded to provide Aged Services Navigation to older people from all communities. Aged Services Navigation is intended for older vulnerable people who require intensive support to access My Aged Care and navigate relevant supports within their community. They operate the ACT and South Eastern NSW. Aged Services Navigators will meet with people face to face, in an environment where the person feels comfortable, such as; in their home, café, park or office.

meridianact.org.au

MERITS AUSTRALIA Stand 116

Merits Australia is the Importers & distributors of the Merits range of state-ofthe-art mobility & healthcare equipment. Products including a modern well-appointed full scooter range, folding scooters, pull apart scooters, also medium & large scooters with weight capacity over 200kg. A modern well-appointed full range of power chairs including small compact transportable pull apart & folding to medium & large with weight capacity over 200kg & also a modern well-appointed range of rehab power chairs with options of power tilt, power recline, power leg rest & power seat lift. Also, a large range of manual equipment, rollators, wheelchairs & bathroom products. Merits Australia dealer network has coverage across all of Australia.

meritsaustralia.com.au

MOBILITY ENGINEERING Stand 160

At Mobility Engineering, they specialise in vehicle mobility solutions that provide independence to people across Australia. Their mission is to improve the lives of Australians by empowering them to be independently travelling in the vehicle of their choice. They do this by providing Australia’s largest range of Mobility Adaption products for vehicles and operate a nationwide network of installers. Their range of products will ensure that no matter your ability and strength, they can tailor a solution that can get you driving and enjoying the independence you deserve!

mobiltyengineering.com.au

MOLMIKE MEDICAL Stand 140

Molmike Medical is a leading consumables supplier, committed to delivering innovative solutions that empower and improve the lives of patients and healthcare providers. They understand that their customers are at the heart of everything they do. That’s why they are committed to providing exceptional customer service, from their ground-breaking plan management tool which streamlines order processing - to their timely delivery and extensive after-sales support. With a team of highly skilled and dedicated professionals - including a dedicated Concierge ServiceMolmike Medical is poised to revolutionize the healthcare consumables industry. Join them on this exciting journey as they continue to innovate, empower, and ensure all their customers receive the very highest standard of care.

molmike.com.au

MOMENTUM SPORTS & REHABILITATION SERVICES

Stand 30

Momentum Sports & Rehabilitation Services offers expert assessment and treatment of injuries and conditions to optimise fitness and function. They treat and manage a wide range of conditions including post-surgical rehabilitation, sports and workplace injuries, and chronic pain. They also offer functional rehabilitation for long-term conditions such as spinal injury, amputation, neurological damage, and long-term functional impairments. With a strong emphasis on education and ongoing injury management, our holistic programs are tailored to your individual needs. We invite you to meet with our team and take a leading role in your rehabilitation to achieve your health and fitness goals.

momentumsr.com.au

MUVE TECH

Stand 174

Muve tech are specialists in Power Assist and Movement Therapy Equipment. They are the Australian importer and distributor of Alber power assist products, THERATrainer movement therapy equipment and PRO ACTIV traction devices & wheelchairs. Their peerless brands are designed and manufactured in Germany to an exacting level, giving the customer complete confidence in their equipment. Come and see them and try out the latest products from Alber, THERA-Trainer and PRO ACTIV. Let them help put “The you in move”.

muvetech.com.au

MY BUDDY GARD

Stand 130

Buddy Trackers are a great tool to help monitor your loved ones in real time while giving them independence. The custombuilt Track Map, combined with personal GPS trackers (watch or pendant with lockable options) provide a safety net, where you can see not only the person wearing the GPS Tracker at all times but also any loved ones and carers you have added via their smartphones. Peace of mind AND freedom for as little as $0.30/day! Its like having your own personal bodyguard that helps keep your loved one safe 24/7!

mybuddygard.com.au

NATON TECHNOLOGY GROUP

Stand 128

At Naton AUS, they pride themselves on their commitment to innovation, quality, and the provision of advanced medical solutions that cater to the ever-changing needs of healthcare professionals and patients. Recognising the increasing needs for rehabilitative and elderly care, they are dedicated to enhancing the overall wellbeing of their clients by supplying exercising equipment, general medical consumables using biodegradable ingredients, and orthopaedic implants.

roboct-global.com

Exhibitors

NDIS Stand 6

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is an independent statutory agency that implements the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS provides funding to eligible people with disability to gain more time with family and friends, greater independence, access to new skills, jobs, or volunteering in their community, and an improved quality of life. The NDIS also connects anyone with disability to services and supports offered by state and territory governments.

ndis.gov.au

NEEKI DESIGNS Stand

180

The Wonder Sheet (WS) is a unique style of fitted bed sheet owner Dominique Sanday designed for her dad who had Parkinson’s disease. Turning over and getting in and out of bed was becoming difficult for him. It’s all because of the satin panel, which is under your shoulders, back and hips. People with other mobility issues tried the WS and got the same result; Increased mobility, more independence and less effort required. Please come and see their display and Dominique will show you how it works. Turning over independently with less effort is now possible. neeki.com.au

NURSE NEXT DOOR

Table 2

Nurse Next Door offers a range of disability support and aged care services for their clients to help maintain their independence in their own home, on their own terms. From assistance with everyday activities to social and community participation, the Nurse Next Door team of experienced

nurses and caregivers offer a personalised tailored plan to match the unique needs of each individual. It is their mission to Make Lives Better and help clients lead a life full of possibility, where they have the confidence and opportunity to do everything they want to do, with the help of an experienced, professional caregiver along the way. nursenextdoor.com.au

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AUSTRALIA

Stand 50

Occupational Therapy Australia is the peak professional body representing the interests of occupational therapists across Australia. The association has over 12,000 members and aims to support, promote and represent the profession of occupational therapy as a key component of the allied health sector in Australia. Occupational Therapy Australia’s vision is that people and communities are engaged in occupations that bring meaning and purpose to their lives, fostering health, wellbeing, participation and inclusion. otaus.com.au

OFFICE PARTNERS

Stand 208

Office Partners is a Canberra based and owned provider of office furniture with a particular emphasis in workplace health and safety solutions, including sit stand solutions, a wide range of ergonomic seating, including bariatric chairs, as well as a solution called “sit, stand and move”, with the Gymba Activation Board added to the sit and stand desk and ergonomic chair solution. This solution, along with a new concept in seating for the Health and Aged Care community, “Slide-n-Dine” seat will be demonstrated, along with Bariatric seating. officepartners.com.au

OPEL MOBILE/3FEET SOLUTIONS

Stand 184

Opel Mobile - Technology that Cares! Australian owned and operated Opel Mobile provides Australia’s top rated mobile phones for seniors, kids and the vulnerable. Opel Mobile has the tools to help you stay connected with your loved ones even when you’re not there with them. They offer specialised Mobile Phone technology with features such as big button functionality, easy to read screens, SOS buttons and hearing aid compatibility. Their SafetyPendant personal safety alarm is supported by the leading edge Guardian App that has features such as GPS tracking, fall detection and SOS alerts. Opel Mobile designs technology to keep you and loved ones connected.

opelmobile.com.au

OPEN MOBILITY

Stand 14

Open Mobility has a 23-year history of selling Assistive Technology equipment. In 2000 Riverina Scooters (as they were then known) sold the Australian built Walkabout Scooter, opening their first showroom in 2004. From humble beginnings a rapid retail expansion plan commenced in 2019 and the Open Mobility brand was born. Independently owned and operated, Open Mobility has large, modern, relaxed and inviting, retail focused showrooms located in NSW and the ACT. They provide market ready and fit for purpose equipment with free delivery, demonstration and set-up. With many exclusive products, Open Mobility guarantees they will not be beaten in terms of service or price.

openmobility.com.au

OSCAR GROUP

Stand 212

Oscar Furniture, part of Oscar Group Australia, is a family owned and operated business, manufacturing quality Furniture in Australia for over 50 years, and specialising in highly customisable Lift Recliners. The groups recent acquisition of BedMaster© Australia has allowed a further development to their extensive range to now include a new range of home care beds and mattresses. Their highly dedicated team with extensive industry knowledge, are here to provide you with expert solutions, quality furniture and a personalised level of customer service.

oscargroup.com.au

OTTO BOCK AUSTRALIA Stand 26

All around the world, the Ottobock name stands for high quality and technologically outstanding products and services. With 50 sales, service subsidiaries, and export activities in over 140 countries across the globe, they are constantly in close contact with their customers. Otto Bock Australia delivers quality, innovative mobility solutions. From paediatric through to geriatric, the Human Mobility product portfolio addresses a broad spectrum of needs across a wide range of age groups. Working with their distribution partners, they aim to deliver industry leading advice, support and service to patients, their therapists, and institutions. “Quality for life”, the quality of life enjoyed by the people who use Ottobock products every day.

ottobock.com

Exhibitors

PACIFIC VISION INTERNATIONAL (AUST)

Stand T10

Pacific Vision International is a leading provider of quality innovative assistive technology, both hardware and software, which helps to enhance the lives of those who are blind or have low vision. They offer a wide range of product solutions, from portable and desktop CCTVs to hand magnifiers, computer accessories including keyboards and software, media players, Daisy readers as well as a variety of Braille equipment. They are passionate about what they do, and their highly qualified team is dedicated to providing customers with all the information needed to help them make an informed decision, and also to meet their requirements and budget.

1lowvision.com

PARAGON MOBILITY

Stand 100

Paragon Mobility is the Exclusive Australian Distributor of several leading Assistive Technology Brands. Boasting a portfolio of Ki Mobility Manual Wheelchairs and seating, Raz Design Mobile Shower Commodes, Ride Designs Seating and Positioning, Therafin Accessories and Freedom Trax Off Road access devices, and a nationwide Dealer Network, Paragon is here to assist. Drop by their stand and check out what’s new.

paragonmobility.com.au

PEGASUS HEALTH GROUP Stand

74

Pegasus Health Group /Hospital At Home, a pioneering healthcare provider in Australia, committed to delivering unparalleled healthcare equipment solutions for the acute, community, and residential care sectors. They take pride in offering clinically proven pressure

care solutions accompanied by a premium selection of hospital beds and supplementary equipment, meticulously crafted to cater to the diverse demands of healthcare environments, spanning from general ward and critical care settings to the Community Home Care sector. They are dedicated to providing a comprehensive portfolio of quality-assured services that go beyond expectations. Their services include a 24/7 rental service, expert training and education, efficient equipment management solutions, and an exceptional level of customer support, all aimed at empowering better health outcomes for every individual they serve.

pegasushealth.com.au

PERFORMANCE HEALTH

Stand 70

Performance Health - live life to the fullest. Manufacturer and distributor of leading mobility and ADL brands Days and Homecraft. Days has empowered personal mobility for over half a century and Homecraft, established in the 1940s offers the most extensive selection of daily living aids including bathing, toileting, kitchen & homecare aids available. Days and Homecraft were built with the spirit and belief that each carefully crafted product will empower you to lead your own life. Performance Health also represents some of the world’s leading Neurological Rehabilitation assistive technology brands including Saebo, AbleX and Rehabtronics, ELink and Tactee.

performancehealth.com.au

PERMOBIL AUSTRALIA

Stand 104

Permobil is a leading manufacturer of power and manual wheelchairs, who have continued to innovate for individuals for over 50 years. Be sure to speak with one of their experts on stand 104 to have a demonstration or test drive a Permobil wheelchair or power assist device. permobil.com.au

QUANTUM REHAB Stand 40

Quantum Rehab is a top Australian leader in complex power wheelchairs. Their products are expertly built in Australia by highly trained technicians. Since 2002, they’ve been part of the Pride Mobility family of brands, committed to excellence and innovation. They are dedicated to being the premier global innovator of consumer-inspired complex rehab mobility technologies that not only deliver medical comfort, but also the features needed toward overall wellbeing, serving the entirety of users’ activities of daily living.

quantumrehab.com

QUANTUM RLV Stand 66

Since the early 1980’s, Quantum has been providing services and products to people who have Low Vision or Blindness. They have grown to be the largest supplier of Assistive Technology in Australia through a dedication to finding the right solution for every individual and providing the support and training services needed to make them successful. Quantum supplies Assistive Technology solutions to the education, corporate and government sectors, as well as to the growing population of older Australians who are losing their vision due to conditions such as Macular Degeneration, Cataracts and Glaucoma etc.

quantumrlv.com.au

SCANNING PENS

Stand 12

Scanning Pens is the exclusive supplier of the C-Pen range of reader pens. These smart pens scan printed text and converts the text

to speech, reading the words out to the user. The pens help those with reading difficulties such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD, processing issues etc and those with a low reading or literacy level. The pens are used in schools, libraries and workplaces and recommended by speech pathologists and OT’s. In 2022 the ReaderPen was named Australia’s Best Assistive Technology Product of the Year in the Australian Disability Service Awards.

scanningpens.com

SEATING MATTERS

Stand 36

Seating Matters design and manufacture therapeutic seating for adults and children. They care passionately about improving lives through innovative healthcare seating and every team member across their company is dedicated to that goal. Seating Matters was established to improve patients’ lives and to influence clinical best practice. They set out to create chairs that would cater to the holistic needs of patients – providing comfort, postural support and pressure management. Seating Matters chairs have been designed by therapists and clinicians and are supported by independent clinical evidence, proving their ability in helping to solve a range of clinical problems through seating.

seatingmatters.com.au

SLEEPTIME Stand

198

Sleeptime is an Australian owned and operated, family orientated company. They pride themselves on providing the highest quality bedtime products in all of Australia. From adjustable beds, to naturally permeable sheets and pillows, they have got you all tucked in. The Sleeptime Mattress was developed with one purpose in mind, to ensure a great nights sleep. Each and every Sleeptime product is carefully designed and manufactured to their stringent quality standards. They pride themselves on having the highest quality adjustable beds & mattresses in all of Australia.

sleeptime.com.au

Exhibitors

SPECIALISED WHEELCHAIR COMPANY Stand

186

Big enough to make a difference, small enough to care. At Specialised Wheelchair Company, they are dedicated to providing solutions for mobility, seating, and functional needs in the Sydney Metro, Hunter New England, ACT, and South Coast areas. Their focus is on their clients and their individual needs, and they offer a wide range of customisable product options from trusted manufacturers to accommodate these individual requirements. In some cases, they may need to create custom seating or positioning solutions to meet specific conditions. These custom solutions are created by their experienced team at our workshop in Sydney.

swco.com.au

SUNRISE MEDICAL Stand

110

Improving people’s lives is part of Sunrise Medical’s DNA. Since 1983, they’ve pioneered the era of the high-performance wheelchair, challenged conventions and led innovation. Today, Sunrise Medical is one of the most globally well-known and recognisable industry leaders in the design, manufacture and distribution of mobility products. sunrisemedical.com.au

dispensers, vibrating watches & clocks, talking watches & talking clocks, doorbell signallers, alerting devices, designed to help people remember medicines, personal care tasks, or assist with daily living requirements. tabtimer.com.au

THE SPOT SENSORY SHOP Stand 4

The SPOT Sensory Shop located in Deakin Canberra offers a safe and inclusive sensory space for the neurodiverse community. This innovative new shop aims to provide a supportive environment where individuals of all ages and abilities can explore, engage, and thrive. It is designed to create a sensoryfriendly experience that promotes comfort, relaxation, and engagement for visitors. The SPOT Sensory Shop offers a wide selection of sensory products carefully chosen to support various sensory needs. From tactile toys and fidget tools to weighted blankets and visual aids, visitors can discover a range of items that contribute to their sensory well-being and development.

spotsensoryshop.com.au

TRIONIC Stand 16

TAB TIMER Stand

192

TabTimer™ supplies over 100 reminder devices to help people keep medicines, nutrition, hydration, toileting & personal care tasks on-time using assistive technology & assisted listening devices. TabTimer supplies; timers, electronic pill boxes, automated pill

TRIONIC AUSTRALIA is a NDIS registered provider supplying premium Swedish outdoor walkers with 9-inch supersoft tyres or large 12 or 14-inch air-filled tyres. Free AT Advisor trials are available Australia-wide. Trionic products promote safe, secure outdoor exercise and enjoyment. The Trionic Walker models have a synchronised steering system and torsional frame flexibility to ensure all wheels maintain connection with the ground. The off-road capable Trionic Veloped has a patented front climbing wheel. All models have all-terrain hub brakes and a frame made from oversized 6061-T6 aluminium. Trionic Australia offer a 10-year guarantee (parts subject to normal wear excluded).

trionic.com.au

TYREX SOLUTIONS

Stand 58

Tyrex manufactures a range of disability access products that are Australian made and are environmentally friendly. Tyrex ramps use recycled rubber and are an innovative access product that are ideal for indoor and outdoor use. Their diverse range of off the shelf Standard, Made to Order or Custom Ramps have been designed to be safe, practical and cost effective. The ramps are anti-slip, antitrip, highly durable and can be customised as required to suit most applications.

tyrex.com.au

VERVE OT

Stand T8

Verve OT is a boutique provider of Occupational Therapy clinical and training services. As they only provide Occupational Therapy services, they have a high performing team of therapists with expertise across a wide range of clinical offerings. Verve OT delivers training webinars and workshops for OT’s Australia wide on all things NDIS and clinical. They are highly regarded for their knowledge and expertise in the NDIS space, assisting other OT providers to provide quality and robust occupational therapy services. verveot.com.au

WHOLESALE MOBILITY Stand

78

Wholesale Mobility are an Australian owned and operated mobility equipment distributor that offers an extensive range of mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and more. With exclusive rights to the mobility industry’s most reputable brands, including Solax, Quingo, Kymco and E-Traveller.

wholesalemobility.com.au

WILA INNOVATIONS

Stand 114

Visit the team of WILA Innovations to see the VICAIR pressure care range including the unique VICAIR O2 cushions, the first fully machine washable wheelchair cushions in the world. Also, on display; OBI the first dining robot of its kind. The full range of VELA Tango Office and Active chairs, the FOCAL Dynamic Arm Supports and TiPY the onehanded keyboard with integrated mouse. They look forward to meeting you and demonstrating the clinical benefits of their products for you.

wila-products.com.au

Seminar Program

WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2023

8.159.00am 45 mins

BREAKFAST SESSION - ROOM 3

The future of OT and AT: Should OTs be embracing technology or shying away from it? A panel discussion facilitated by Occupational Therapy Australia. Light breakfast provided. Limited numbers.

ROOM 1

9.00am 45 mins

NDIS Presenter Dr Lloyd Walker

ROOM 2

Managing behaviours of concern through wheelchair interventions that allow for sensory expression and enhance participation.

Lauren Hunter, Director of Clinical Services, Linds Rehabilitation Equipment

10.15am 45 mins

To Get Around On Any Ground: What’s the methodology when scripting assistive technology?

Tracee-lee Maginnity, Clinical Services SpecialistPermobil APAC

11.15am 45 mins

Overcoming Pain Barriers: Maximising Participation and Achieving Lifestyle Goals for Wheelchair Users

Kate Pain - Clinical Educator (OT), GTK and Romi RussekAssistive Technology Consultant (OT), GTK

1.00pm 30 mins

Considerations for the Bariatric Client

Silvia Gonzalez - Product Specialist, Occupational Therapist & Bianca BradyClinical Educator, Occupational Therapist, Astris PME

1.45pm 45 mins

ROOM 3

3.15pm 45 mins

Successful Manual Wheelchair Delivery! You’ve chosen the frame (and the colour ...) but Don’t Stop There!!! Configuration to maximise long term comfort and success

Amy Bjornson - Clinical Director, Sunrise Medical

Improving AT Outcomes by strengthening the collaboration of the AT Supplier and Therapist

Lois Brown - National Clinical Education Manager, ILS

Vehicle Transport for Children

Amin Akbarian - CEO, Mobility Engineering and Jamie CockleClinical Educator, Medifab

Paediatric Panel

MODERATOR: Robert Norman –National Educator, RTD

PANELISTS:

Amin Akbarian – CEO Mobility Engineering, Jamie Cockle –Medifab Clinical Educator, Ali Gebhardt - Clinical Director NAPA

Ages and stages – positioning throughout the day in the real world

Jacinta Maurin - Postural Care and Paediatric Unit Manager, Sunrise Medical

Take a seat: Customising off the shelf wheelchairs and cushions

Elissa CoatesNational Clinical Education Manager, Novis Healthcare

A proactive approach to facilitate and maintain occupational engagement with a power assist device.

Bianca Brady - Clinical Education Co-Ordinator, Astris PME

Creating safe spaces for Autistic and Neurodivergent women

Anita Aherne, Living on the Spectrum

Driving advancements in safe and accessible transport for children with disabilities

Helen Lindner, MACA

Power functions that create unique client centered solutionS

Lauren Hunter, Director of Clinical Services, Linds Rehabilitation Equipment

Wheels Up - Travelling with a wheelchair

Mitchell Stone, wheelchair user

THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2023

ROOM 1

8.00am 45 mins

Navigating Autism, Self-Harm, and Problematic Behaviour

Anita Aherne, Living on the Spectrum and Joanne Seymon, Kaiko Fidgets

9.00am 45 mins

What Are My Options - Clinical Reasoning Power

Add-On and Power Assist Products

Amy Bjornson - Clinical Director, Sunrise Medical

10.00AM 30 mins Regulation Basics for Assistive Technology

Rebecca Bateson, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

11.00am 45 mins

Getting out and About – The Importance of Teaching Wheelchair Skills

Silvia Gonzalez - Product Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Astris PME & Patrick Will - Community Peer and Family Support Team Leader, SCIA

1.00pm 45 mins

2.00pm 30 mins

What do I do with my equipment now I have it?

Ali Gebhardt - Clinical Director NAPA & Robert Norman - National Educator, RTD

When manual is no longer enough –PAD Considerations

Tracee-lee Maginnity, Clinical Services SpecialistPermobil APAC

ROOM 2

Reaching New Heights: How Power Seat Elevation can Maximise Participation and Independence

Kate Pain - Clinical Education (OT) and Romi Russek - Assistive Technology Consultant (OT), GTK

TD Pilot: Eye control for the iPad

Loren ApokourastosAssistive Technology Consultant, Link Assistive

An OT’s Field Guide to working in the NDIS

Sarah Collison - Director, Verve OT

The only way is up: The possibilities of Ceiling Lifter design and function

Elissa Coates - National Clinical Education Manager, Novis Health

Risk assessment: prescribing an appropriate alternating surface

Jemma CookeOccupational Therapist, Pegasus Healthcare

Connect with someone that gets you on Mable.

Mable is where people looking for disability support connect to independent support workers in their community.

Search to find someone based on your interests, hobbies and skills.

VDWC: on a mission to raise the standards and quality of disability support

diverse backgrounds, who draw from extensive expertise in the fields of human services, legal aid, family violence, and youth justice.

The Victorian Disability Worker Commission is overseen by Commissioner, Dan Stubbs, who has a disability, (Dan is blind). His personal experience reinforces the importance of trust between individuals and their support workers, emphasising the commitment of the Commission to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behaviour.

The Commission fulfills several essential functions to improve standards in Victoria’s disability sector, including:

Independent Disability Worker Registration:

VDWC about any worker who puts someone with disability at risk. By making a notification, disability workers contribute to building a safer quality sector.

Complaints:

• To ensure consistency across the disability sector, all disability workers and practitioners in Victoria are required to comply with the Code of Conduct. The Code refers to the behaviours that are expected of all disability workers. It ensures the respect for, self-determination, integrity, safety, and quality of services for people with disability

• Through its "no wrong door" anyone in the community has an avenue to voice their concerns regarding the conduct and professionalism of a disability worker.

In the pursuit of workforce quality and improved safeguarding, the Victorian Disability Worker Commission has a vital leadership role, fostering highly skilled, safe, and experienced disability workers.

Distinguished as the first organisation of its kind in Australia, the Commission was established in response to the 2016 Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Abuse in Disability Services.

This inquiry uncovered a distressing history of widespread abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities, prompting a prioritisation of the quality, safety, and overall experience of disability workers and the individuals they support.

At the core of the Commission is a dedicated team of individuals with

• Oversees a voluntary registration process for disability workers who are independently assessed by the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria.

• Registration goes beyond the NDIS Worker Screening Check by recognising workers' skills, experience, and their personal commitment to ongoing professional development.

• The Commission maintains a public register of workers, enabling people to check whether a worker is registered and meets the scheme’s standards and values.

Notifying VDWC if another worker does something that’s not right:

• With Victoria’s zero-tolerance approach towards abuse and neglect, particularly within the disability sector, the Commission operates a notification service where workers can notify the

While the Commission may not be able to address every concern directly, it will help to navigate the system and connect individuals with the appropriate channels for assistance, ensuring that their issues are taken seriously.

By supporting and encouraging voluntary registration, upholding the Code of Conduct, and maintaining an effective complaint service, the Commission places the wellbeing and rights of individuals with disabilities at the forefront.

As Victoria continues its commitment to improving the disability services sector, the Commission provides important protections for the disability sector and broader community.

Find out more about the Victorian Disability Worker Commission and Victoria’s voluntary disability worker registration at: www.vdwc.vic.gov.au

Dan Stubbs

Vital skills for online safety

With the internet being such a big part of our lives, it is vital that people with disability are empowered to understand the risks and challenges that go hand in hand with going online.

Interaction Disability Services has launched free Online Safety Training to empower people with intellectual disability and their support networks to adopt safe online practices.

With this training, people with disability can participate in the rich, expansive world of the internet while better protecting themselves against the online risks that disproportionately harm them.

Developed in collaboration with ySafe, leading experts in cyber safety training, Interaction's Online Safety Training is available for free on a custom-built learning platform which includes accessibility features such as Auslan interpretation, closed captioning and audio-visual media to help users navigate and control their experience to suit their needs.

The program was developed with sector experts to create tailored content and practical resources for

people with intellectual disability to safely use and access the internet. Members of the disability community were consulted throughout the development of the training, enabling the voices of those with lived experience to help shape the learning outcomes every step of the way.

Topics for people with intellectual disability include:

• Recognising and managing cyberbullying

• How to have safe online relationships

• Protecting personal and private information

• Understanding image-based abuse

• How to improve your digital wellbeing.

To equip parents, carers and educators, the training also provides information on:

• Understanding current online safety risks

• Enhancing connection, trust and partnerships with your child

• How to set up a cyber safe home.

The project, Online Safety Training for Young People with Disability and Their Support Networks, was funded

and supported by The Office of the eSafety Commissioner.

Interaction's Online Safety Training is self-paced and freely accessible on Interaction’s website at: www. interactionservices.org/online-safety.

Interaction Disability Services is a not-for-profit, NDIS-registered organisation committed to supporting and empowering people living with intellectual disability.

Interaction works with individuals and families across NSW including participants with intellectual and/or physical disability, and families and carers of people with disability. Our support services are available to people of any age, ability, need or background. We value diversity and understand that no two people are the same.

Interaction offers supported accommodation programs, Support Coordination, Behavioural and Allied Health Services including behaviour support and psychology, as well as Community Access and Self Care Supports. For information on how our team can support you to achieve your goals, call: 1300 668 123 or visit the website: www.interactionservices.org

Jayden’s embracing independence and enjoying the nightlife

he said. “I like going out to the valley because of the nightlife.”

Jamie plays a supportive role in Jayden's life, providing assistance with essential tasks such as meal planning, grocery shopping, and getting out and about.

“I like supporting him to do the things that he likes to do. Most people wouldn't think that people with disability go clubbing but anyone can like going clubbing, and Jayden’s young,” Jamie said.

Jayden said his favourite thing about clubbing is the music.

“The music makes me feel pumped up. I like dancing.”

For Jayden, clubbing provides an opportunity to express himself through dance. The music fuels his excitement and helps him feel immersed in the moment.

Jamie has noticed many positive changes in Jayden since beginning individualised support.

Jayden knew he wanted to further his life experiences and develop new skills, so when he learned about individualised support, he jumped at the opportunity.

Public transport holds an undeniable allure to Jayden, it allows him to explore new places and experience the excitement of locations like South Bank and Brisbane city.

One of his favourite activities is venturing out into the community on public transport.

“I like getting the bus, trains, and ferries,” Jayden said.

With the support of Jamie, Jayden enjoys accessing the community while playing Pokemon Go! and going out clubbing.

Jayden smiled when talking about going out on a Saturday night with his support worker, Jamie.

“We go clubbing. We go out, catch the ferry to the city. That's what we did last week. It was all good fun,”

“I find we’re making some different foods. I remember when I first started with Jayden, we were always making fish tacos, which are delicious but last week we made meatballs and today, risotto,” Jamie said.

When asked about individualised support, Jayden encourages others to pursue it without hesitation.

“Go on, if you want individualised support, nothing's going to stop you.”

Want to do more of the things you love? Learn more about individualised support at: endeavour.com.au or call: 1800 112 112

Jayden with support worker Jamie

Designing homes for everyone through universal design

VIP Access designs and creates universal designs (UD) to create spaces that are accessible to as many individuals as possible, regardless of age, disability, background, or any other factors. By incorporating UD principles, the concept allows us to consider the needs of everyone. UD is an approach that strives to make buildings, technology, and environments accessible to diverse populations. It goes beyond mere compliance with accessibility regulations and seeks to accommodate a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. UD is not limited to physical accessibility but also considers sensory and cognitive aspects.

When applying UD thinking, we can modify homes that adapt and accommodate the needs of everyone. These inclusive homes can respond to the changing circumstances of people with disabilities and evolving

technology. UD principles can be applied to various aspects, such as architecture, buildings, playgrounds, and fixtures like door handles, furniture and equipment.

At its core, UD is about prioritising people's needs and experiences. It shifts the focus from merely providing access to a space to ensuring a fulfilling and enjoyable user experience. Inclusive design considers diverse requirements, promoting flexibility and accessibility for all individuals.

Designing for all, especially those with disabilities, benefits everyone. Temporary disabilities, such as injuries, are common occurrences in life, and UD can make spaces easier to navigate and use during such times. By employing UD thinking, we can create spaces that are user-friendly, easy to navigate, and inviting.

In conclusion, UD is a powerful approach to modify homes that cater to the needs of diverse populations. By prioritising inclusivity and considering various factors that affect individuals, we can make environments that are welcoming, accommodating, and enriching for all.

Contact VIP Access today to discuss UD and more.

Aesthetics Healthcare for life enhancing mobility solutions

Aesthetics Healthcare is an Australian-owned and operated healthcare and mobility company that exists to provide every individual access to quality mobility and healthcare equipment that meets their needs while setting a new standard for what it should look and function like.

“Our health and mobility products sourced are inclusive, innovative, and finely crafted to empower our customers and help them regain their independence,” founder and occupational therapist Michael Ranger said.

Aesthetics Healthcare products are available online and they also offer an exclusive mobile showroom service in Sydney, with the view of expanding to other states. The mobile showroom is equipped with a Hi-Low adjustable

hospital bed from icare and selected mobility equipment based on your preferences. Aesthetics Healthcare offers a free trial and demonstration by their OTs who will assist you in making the perfect choice.

Aesthetics Healthcare offers disability care equipment that is based on client feedback over the past decade, further shaping healthcare equipment. “Person-centered practice and commitment to aesthetics inspires me to source the most aesthetically pleasing and innovative equipment while never compromising quality or functionality,” Ranger said. Some of the products include non-slip socks, scooters, wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers.

Ranger’s passion and commitment to offering the best equipment on the market have been the driving force

behind Aesthetics Healthcare. “I take your satisfaction to heart and am devoted to providing excellent mobility equipment and a fantastic customer experience,” he said.

For more information on mobility sales, hire options, mobile showroom and OT advice visit: www.ahealthcare.com.au

or PH: 1300 AE CARE (232273)

Michael Ranger

There are disability service providers and there’s Aruma

Committed and skilled staff? Tick and tick. Quality disability support services such as Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation? Yes, and many more. A proud history with decades of experience? Also in the bag!

It’s easy to see why Aruma is one of Australia’s leading disability service providers. But what makes them truly like no other is that they live by the words ‘You. First’. It’s a simple, and powerful, philosophy. No matter what, their customers always come first.

Some of Aruma’s Home & Living services:

Supported Independent Living (SIL) SIL is an NDIS support you receive in your home of choice. It’s available 24 hours a day and can be shared with other housemates. We give you a hand

with day-to-day tasks like cleaning, cooking, personal care, going to appointments, taking medication, learning new hobbies, and catching public transport.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

SDA is NDIS funding for people with very high needs who need specialist housing.

While SIL funds cover support in a customer’s home from someone like their Support Worker, SDA funds the physical home in which their services happen. All SDA homes have been carefully designed with your accessibility, comfort and care in mind. This includes accessible features to help you live more independently and have better access to supports in your own home.

Aruma is working closely with local innovative SDA developers and

providers to offer accessible, highphysical support properties across multiple locations in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

These properties are brand new and fitted with the latest in assistive technology, a fully electric adjustable kitchen bench with integrated cooktop, zone-controlled air conditioning, backup battery power and a state-ofthe-art emergency response system and more.

Aruma is one of Australia’s leading NDIS service providers. They are the trusted partner and mentor to over 5000 adults and children with a disability throughout the east coast of Australia.

Reach out to the Aruma team on 1300 538 746 or enquiries@aruma. com.au. You can also head to Aruma’s website at: www.aruma.com.au

https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/_i6VCOMKRESNqB2tv_LrH?domain=aruma.com.au

Disability Summit points to progress

The NDIS was a key topic for delegates at a recent national summit, as speakers shared their visions for the future for people with disability. Danielle Kutchel was there.

The minister cited fewer cases in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), fewer people with disability stuck in hospital, and an increase in the number of people with disability working at the higher levels of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), as evidence of the progress that has been made.

He said investment in the NDIA had been increased to improve the scheme’s integrity. And while fraud does continue to exist within the NDIS, Shorten said the Fraud Fusion Taskforce established late last year, is working hard to reduce it.

But he said he understood that the investments made over the past year are the “start of a journey”, and that all those involved in the scheme’s implementation need to seize the opportunity to make it better.

There have been more positives than negatives for the NDIS over the past 12 months, and momentum for change is gathering.

That’s the message from NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, who gave a keynote at the National Disability Summit, held in Melbourne, pictured.

Returning for its 14th year, the summit boasted a jam-packed schedule and attracted delegates from across the country and the sector for an

ImageCredit:Informa Australia

exploration of the key issues facing people with disability today.

Choice and control were the words of the summit, with sessions focusing on how to enable people with disability to live independent and fulfilling lives. From employment to education, NDIS funding to sport, the summit was a comprehensive discussion of progress for the disability community.

According to Minister Shorten, progress is taking place throughout the NDIS.

The minister told delegates he wants the NDIS to put the best interests of participants first. He acknowledged that the NDIS needs reform to further reduce incidences of fraud and unethical conduct and added that services for people with disability outside of the NDIS also need to be considered when discussing the issues faced by the disability sector.

Later in the summit, Shorten was followed by Greens’ disability spokesperson Jordon Steele-John, who delivered a presentation on what the current reviews in the sector could mean for people with disability.

Steele-John said the NDIS Review, due to be finalised in October, is an opportunity for the sector and the disability community to come together and implement recommendations to make the NDIS fit for purpose and for participants.

Sharing stories of his lived experience and the barriers he has butted up against as a person living with a disability, Steele-John expressed hope for the outcomes of both the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review.

He said he also wants to improve the experience of those within the disability community who are most marginalised and called on the community to push back on negativity and assumptions about the NDIS, including that there are too many participants in the lifechanging scheme.

Sessions keep crowds enthralled

Many of those presenting at the conference were people with disability who were able to share their lived experience to highlight the barriers that people with disability still face in Australia and how these can be tackled and dismantled.

Several sessions focused on employment for people with disability. Big names, including Australia Post and JobAccess, shared insights from their own experiences hiring people with disability and how to make adjustments within the workplace to ensure the success of employees with disability as part of a panel discussion held on day one.

Australia Post diversity & inclusion partner, Sharon Carroll noted how important it is for businesses to ask their staff for feedback on how to make organisational practices more accessible and inclusive. Other panel members said staff should be given the space to feel allowed to express their disability and ask for support when needed.

Other presentations looked at everyday issues like accessing healthcare. In another panel presentation, Dr Dinesh Palipana spoke about his own experiences navigating the healthcare

system. He encouraged healthcare professionals to empower people with disability and those around them to feel comfortable and ensure their services are accessible. A key takeaway from this panel was that healthcare staff need to remember their purpose: to support the human in front of them in a time of need.

Intersectionality was also up for discussion in a panel on building community inclusion. Delegates heard from Aunty June Riemer, Dunghutti woman and deputy CEO of the First Peoples Disability Network, who reminded them that many people with disability, including First Nations’ people, face intersectional disadvantages that create power imbalances. True understanding and co-design brought about by deep listening to people with disability can bring about a shift that will empower people with disability to feel safe and included, she said.

Recommendations and reform – where to from here?

By Natalie Wade

Whether it has been a long time coming in the case of the report from the Royal Commission into the Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability or a shorter time as is so for the NDIS Review, recommendations made by these transformative inquiries will no doubt change the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

But for everyday Australians, it can be difficult to connect how these sweeping reforms and recommendations translate into lives and bring about change so often desperately needed.

In Australia, many laws, public policies, and funding structures have been designed without people with disability in mind or have created barriers to inclusion such as in areas of education,

employment and housing where the use of segregated settings are commonplace.

It is easy to forget that the way we think about people with disabilities and the way they have been treated for generations is in large part because of these structures and systems. It is just the way it has always been. Or, more perversely, Australians without lived experience of disability might think that people with disability have to be treated that way for their benefit.

Reforms and recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review will propose to shift current laws, public policies and systems to be aligned with modern thinking of disability and reflect the expectation that disability rights are human rights. These changes

should, hopefully, lead the country toward an inclusive future. Building structural and systemic inclusion will then translate into people’s lives, ending disadvantage and inequity currently faced.

While this will take generations, change starts with this somewhat procedural step of recommendations and proposed reforms to be considered by the government and to advance the rights of all Australians with disabilities.

It is an important time, and the broader community should take great interest in what the recommendations are to better understand what is needed to create an inclusive Australia.

Natalie Wade Equality Lawyers –founder and director: 08 7084 1190 or natalie@equalitylawyers.com.au

Country pub takes out All Abilities Award

to further cater for people with a disability or those with a vision or hearing impairment.

As to why the hotel chose to deliver such an accessible environment Appleby was candid. “Why wouldn't we? We have so many customers who choose our venue due to the facilities. It allows a family to catch up stress-free knowing our venue can be accessed easily. We like all our customers to enjoy their social outings, and business wise it’s an awesome point of difference we offer compared to other venues locally.

The Drouin Family Hotel in Victoria has won an inaugural All Abilities Hotel Award that has been introduced into Australian Hotels Association (AHA) awards category for 2023.

The hotel seems to tick all the boxes when it comes to disability inclusion. It employs people with a disability, is wheelchair accessible with a raft of accessible features, a special menu and table services with more plans in the pipeline catering for people with disability.

And it all started in 2015 when the hotel installed a lift, to ensure that all patrons could enter and exit the venue safely with ease, hotel manager Simon Appleby told Link. “The lift takes anyone who needs it directly to a ramp which leads to the bistro. Once inside every area is accessible.”

The hotel currently has two staff with a disability working in the kitchen. “Both are kitchen hands and we have just offered them an apprenticeship. We also have a staff member working several shifts in our bistro. He has reached the point to be comfortable enough to greet customers, serve meals and when the hotel is not too busy, serve on the food till taking customer orders. We are a busy 300-

seat bistro, and these guys definitely complement our team,” Appleby said.

The kitchen also vitamises food for customers who are unable to eat wholefood. “They can have a day out and order what they want, and our chefs are only too happy to prepare the dish and serve it in a consistency they enjoy. We have a customer who loves schnitzel and vegetables and comes in on a regular basis. For others it means being included in a group outing knowing they can be catered for.”

“We feel we are the heart of the community. Customers choose us to have their special celebrations, catchups, team breakups and their nights out. It’s a social responsibility to ensure we don't discriminate with facilities and ensure that everyone is able to enjoy themselves where possible. We love it that some disability groups and other customers are becoming regular visitors to our establishment, and we can only put this down to the fact that they are comfortable and well catered for at our venue,” he said.

The hotel, which is located in the East Gippsland region, goes into the finals for the AHA National Awards for Excellence that will be held in Adelaide in November.

The hotel is designed with a wide hallway that allows patrons to easily access restrooms that include a large toilet with rails, sink and dryer. There are two disability parking spots that are located directly at the front of the hotel with a ramp for easy access.

Plans include liaising with disability groups to see what changes or enhancements the hotel can make

Other finalists are Crown Perth Hotels, Darwin Trailer Boat Club and Rydges Resort Hunter Valley.

“We love it that disability groups and other customers are becoming regular visitors”

Respite care program delivers many travel options

Leisure Options has pivoted their travel business and are still offering support to people with disabilities through their newly introduced Respite program.

As a specialist in supported travel, Leisure Options understands that the current restrictions mean much more than simply being unable to take a holiday and that many people have had their daily routines disrupted as standard supports temporarily close.

As a registered NDIS service provider Leisure Options looked at ways to diversify their business so they could continue to assist those in need. Utilising all their assets a Respite program was conceived in March 2020 and has progressively grown to become an important offering to support individuals with disabilities and their families.

With access to purpose-built accommodation in Anglesea, Leisure Options is able to offer a variety of Respite options with flexible, individually customised packages. Respite stays can be as active or relaxing as required, short or long term, while always adhering to current government mandated guidelines.

Respite offers a multitude of benefits to people with disabilities, as well as family members and support staff, and can be an alternative to employment or day programs that are currently unavailable. Leisure Options can also offer emergency accommodation if urgent relocation is required.

Due to the additional health considerations that the pandemic has necessitated Leisure Options has been extremely proactive in updating and implementing suitable protocols that

focus on health and wellbeing. The business adheres to all government recommendations and has upskilled their team with additional Covid training.

The accommodation and vehicles are used exclusively for the Respite program enabling full control of cleaning and sanitation procedures. Importantly, their dedicated support team work exclusively for Leisure Options rather than working at multiple locations within the community.

To discuss your Respite options contact Leisure Options on: 03 9646 0666 or email: mail@leisureoptions.com.au

Great holidays and travel for people with disabilities

With more than 30 years’ experience in both the travel and disability industries, Leisure Options is Australia’s only national award-winning, accredited travel agent specialising in supported travel for the disability sector.

Focus on providing holidays that allow maximum choice, loads of fun, high staffing ratios, commitment to individual needs, and a supportive holiday environment

• Choice of either group or individualised touring

• Respite care offered in a stimulating and fun-filled environment

• Over 80 departures annually to local, national and international destinations

• Passionate, energetic, and professional tour leaders with extensive qualifications and a world of experience

• Registered service provider with the NDIS

We support the

For more information call 1300 363 713 or visit our website www.leisureoptions.com.au

Purpose-built accommodation in Anglesea

Gold Coast Shines with their new Accessible Visitor Guide

By Michelle Massey*

Boundless sunshine, curling waves, golden beaches as far as you can see and as soon as you thought it couldn’t get better, the volunteers and lifeguards roll out the blue carpet – otherwise known as beach access mats.

The glistening Gold Coast has always celebrated being Australia’s favourite playground but now the city is acclaiming a new title – Australia’s most ‘Accessible and Inclusive Holiday Destination’ with the embodiment of this acclaim sitting with the cities newly introduced Accessible Visitor Guide.

The guide highlights some of the 450+ accommodation venues stretching

the 57km coastline, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest concentration of theme parks, over 100,000 HA of world-famous heritage listed rainforest, world famous surf breaks, more canals than Venice and Amsterdam combined, and did we mention the 22 hatted restaurants…you are spoilt for choice. But sometimes too much choice can be daunting. So, the City of Gold Coast, in partnership with Destination Gold Coast, engaged Inclusive Tourism Australia and The Access Agency to produce a guide that showcases just a selection of the accommodation, transportation and attractions offering support for all ages, abilities and budgets - no matter what type of experience you may wish to enjoy.

When planning to travel with a disability research is key and this guide is just the latest resource on offer in conjunction with the City of Gold Coast’s Mobility Maps, Changing Places Toilet locations, Gold Coast Accessible Beaches Program, and more recently, the VaycayIt App, where you will hear a series of over 20 Accessible Audio Guides painting the picture for over 100 attractions, experiences and accommodation offerings across the Gold Coast. This vibrant city truly has stepped it up to make a difference for all and it wouldn’t be possible without the support and funding of the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and the focus of QLD’s Year of Accessible Tourism.

The excitement lies in your opportunity to review and imagine what a Gold Coast escape looks like to you. Do you head north to the BIG4 Holiday Park with your family for greater access to the Theme Parks, or do you slip away to the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove for a romantic weekend relishing in their pristine lagoon pool, stunning restaurants and nearby village? Or are you more of a city adventure type opting for endless dining and shopping options all within easy access on the G:link. If the kids are in tow, Paradise Resort is a must stay venue known as a

‘cruise ship on land’. Alternatively, with or without kids, the Accor and Mantra Group have many choices for everyone ranging from luxury hotel stays, to multi-room apartments.

Heading further south, you will hit more of the beach culture and surfing scene, as well as some of the most pristine nature reserves and wildlife parks such as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Keep it simple and budget friendly at Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park or splash out at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat for a wellness package to

sooth your soul and inspire a healthy lifestyle. The choices are endless, and the guide serves as a testament to the Gold Coast’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, offering an array of options for visitors of all backgrounds and abilities. The venues are ready for you.

So, what are you waiting for, scan the guide QR Code and start planning your next Gold Coast supported escape.

Michelle Massey, Amplify - Accessible Travel Specialists

Using your NDIS funding to get fitter

By Tommy Trout

Something I’ve noticed in the NDIS space is how every year participants and their support network are getting savvier around using their funding.

Working in this space for a few years now, I’m hearing a lot less ‘you can’t do that’ and a lot more ‘this is how you do that’. Which means that families are learning how to get their needs met and working within the guidelines of a very large and complicated system.

It's awesome, the more flexibility families have, the better the outcomes.

Something I wish I knew when I started out with WeFlex!

It was three days after starting WeFlex, a company that provides personal training services to people with a disability on the NDIS – that it was explained to me that NOBODY has personal training in their NDIS plan. As in, statistically it was less than one per cent.

I was off to a great start…

…However, after a lot of time working with NDIS professionals and consultants, I realised participants don’t need personal training in their NDIS plan to access these services. We have over 150 clients and I can count on one hand the number of our clients using that line item.

As it stands the personal training price guide is a single line item standing on its own, in its own little category along with exercise physiology.

This makes it seem like it's a specific function with a specific outcome for specific goals, but the truth is the benefits of personal training are so varied that it does contribute to all types of goals and people.

So, how does it work?

I wish this was simpler, but we’re talking about a $30+ billion national government scheme supporting over half a million people with a wide spectrum of needs and disabilities. But, once you get started the rewards of working on the scheme and its participants are immense and utterly worth it.

If you’re looking to access the clients and opportunity without the paperwork headache, reach out to us here at WeFlex. We eat this bureaucracy for breakfast.

Together, WeFlex

WeFlex trainer works as an allied health assistant to provide personal training under the recommendation of the participants allied health therapist and therapy plan, to improve daily living goals.

Have powerchair will travel

As any experienced powerchair user will tell you, it’s not much use having a portable folding powerchair to put in your car if you can’t lift it because it’s too heavy. Portable Mobility as the name suggests, might have a solution for you.

The Freedom Chair powerchair range comprises nine models, each designed to meet specific user needs.

All models fold compactly in a second or two making them ideal for travel. But the two optional split models are by far the most popular for users requiring easy lifting of the powerchair into the car. These are the DE08 Premium Lite and DE08L Premium Lite Sport, which have been purpose designed to quickly split into two lightweight segments, making the task of loading into the car that much easier.

All Freedom Chairs come standard with powerful motors, and suspension ensures a comfortable ride.

Extra lithium batteries can be added to run in parallel to extend the range for longer trips. There’s a choice of solid, or pneumatic wheels depending on the model you choose.

A host of accessories is available for Freedom Chairs. Like a carer attendant control so your powerchair can be operated by a carer from behind, headrest, armrest widening kit, travel bag, and much more.

Freedom Chair is TGA registered and complies with Australian standard: AS 3695.2:2019. Most Freedom Chair models are available for trial with your occupational therapist.

Contact Portable Mobility on: 1300 760 071 for details regarding your local dealer. (And mention Link).

Check out www.portablemobility.com.au for information and videos on the Freedom Chair range, and portable folding mobility scooters.

New training program gives accessible tourism a boost in Queensland

Cross said training comprises a fourstage process, starting with immersivestyle disability awareness training that sees participant undertake a series of challenges, all while experiencing a simulated disability condition, e.g., using a wheelchair or blindfold and vision cane. The training is intended to give participants an understanding and experience of the requirements of people with disability.

“Next is the adoption of award-winning inclusive technology from Cérge that involves setting participating businesses up on its digital communication platform. Once the business is signed up and registered with Cérge they are recognised as an inclusive business for people with a disability.

“Following the adoption of Cérge, businesses will then be guided through the development of their own Disability Action Plan, a roadmap that helps them to continue on their journey of inclusion in a planned and prioritised manner,” he said.

To accommodate business operations staff can attend any one of the scheduled awareness training workshops, followed by the inclusion planning workshop, which is typically delivered a few weeks later. During this time Cérge will go into the business and set up what is needed.

According to Cross, the program will initially be delivered to tourism operators such as accommodation providers like hotels, with big Queensland attractions Australia Zoo and Sea Life expected to come on board.

He said the Expression of Interest process, where businesses are accepted onto the program, is based on a set of selection criteria, that ensures those businesses who take up the program are committed to it for the duration and have shown a willingness to cater to the accessible tourism market.

Spinal Life Australia, in partnership with technology group Cérge, has developed the Access Accelerator program for tourism operators in Queensland, to make them more accessible and inclusive for travelers with diverse accessibility needs.

The program is launching this month starting with the Sunshine and Fraser Coast regions with a series of workshops and training sessions for participating businesses that includes hotels and major tourist attractions. In an interview with Link, SLA senior advisor for access and advocacy Dane

“Once the business has been through those three stages, we then develop what we call the ‘Story of Inclusion’, profiling a case study on a customer going into the organisation to experience for themselves what the operator has achieved from participating in the program. That story is then promoted amongst the disability community and the tourism sector, demonstrating what you can expect from the tourism operator.”

Comprehensive workshop program

The workshops are spread over two, non-consecutive days and take around seven hours in total to complete.

“Businesses are being accepted in three tranches, with the first commencing in October with the aim of being ready for Christmas, followed by a second intake in February and a third in April 2024. “We believe this is a first accelerator program for tourism inclusion in Australia and possibly the world.”

One of the main drivers for access and inclusion in tourism in Queensland is that funding is there to pilot these types of initiatives and once the business is up and running, they can stake claim to being a genuinely inclusive destination, Cross said.

“Once we’ve implemented the Access Accelerator, people with a disability from across Australia and overseas, can be assured that when they travel to the pilot regions, they will get an itinerary of things to do and places to see that will be accessible and inclusive.”

Photo Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland

The Tesla before the Tesla

Before Elon Musk ever set his sights on distant Australia, Teslas had already been cruising the streets for years. These Teslas also sported a different look, were electric vehicles, and changed the way people thought about a product. Or, so some claim.

“Up until Teslas, most scooters were a bit clunky and old fashioned,” local importer Peter Fraser said.

Fraser sold part of the trademark to Tesla in 2011, when they were looking to expand operations into the country. But the mobility scooters are still here, over a decade later, now in their fourth iteration and they are still Scooters Australia’s best-selling large scooter.

“They are a very good all-round product,” he said. “Mobility aids can be tricky, because everyone has specific needs. But the Tesla hits a sweet spot for size, range, comfort, and price.”

The latest model includes an optional canopy, which enables the more determined traveller to make it to their destination no matter the weather.

Gary, who has owned a Telsa for years, is a typical user. He goes to the shops, grabs a bite to eat, and visits his daughter. With the Tesla’s battery range of upwards of 40 kilometres and a speed of 10km/h, he can make good

Unfold

time across his native Port Macquarie. In short, the day-to-day tasks of living were made possible again, even years after he started to struggle with his mobility.

He just does it all in a little extra style and comfort. In addition to its state-ofthe-art suspension and contoured seat, the Tesla boasts gyroscopic corner speed-reduction technology to ensure a smooth ride and prevent instability.

According to Fraser there are a lot of

Go

good products on the market now, but the Tesla is still firmly ahead of the pack.

He thinks fondly of the time Elon’s now juggernaut car manufacturer came asking and not unsurprisingly, he stays mum on the size of the cheque. (Next time we catch up I will ask: Ed)

Scooters Australia is the national distributor of the Tesla and other Monarch scooters. Get in touch on: 1300 622 633

Legally Blind

South Australian rock band, The Visionaries

Ask lead guitarist Tim Haggis what music his group can play, and he does not hesitate: “We play pretty much anything from rock & roll, Top 40 and classical pieces like A Whiter Shade of Pale’ But rock and contemporary best describes us.”

‘Us’ is also drummer and percussionist Mike Russell and David Lee on keyboard, and all are legally blind. “If someone requests a 5-piece rock band we can put that together. I can call up to eight or nine musicians if needed, who are all legally blind. Want a solo artist? We can organise that too. While the guitar, drums and percussion are the main instruments, we use a keyboard that can replicate other equipment such as a trumpet or violin. The keyboard is the master behind everything.”

A music teacher helped to develop his love of music although he started young, playing a recorder when he was eight and then piano, but walked away

from music for a while eventually taking up the bass guitar when he turned 20. And it progressed from there, setting up his band four years ago.

“People think because you cannot see you are unable to play an instrument. For me the hearing takes over. One of the most exciting days of my life was getting my first transistor radio. I was about 5 years old and loved listening to music and ringing up for requests.

“When you listen to music you get to understand why we love it, which was exciting and drove me forward. Music makes people happy, way happier than most things.”

Music and family are priorities

Haggis is a keen tennis fan, playing Blind and Low Vision tennis regularly and was attending the Blind Tennis Championships in Adelaide when he spoke to Link

He runs a small business, Sky’s the Limit Disability Services, to assist people who lose their sight and need advice when it comes to NDIS support to help them put all the pieces together. “A lot of people in their late teens or 20s might discover they have a degenerative eye condition and often are not sure where to go for assistance. All of us at some time will need support when there is grief or transition…you need people around you.”

The 58-year-old is a NDIS participant, that has allowed him to lead a full life. “It is a vehicle to do things that were previously difficult such as community activities.”

Life is busy with his wife and four stepchildren, music, tennis and his business. “My life is 50 per cent music and 50 per cent family.”

Haggis was born blind after his mother got German measles. “I say to my

TimHaggis

family now, as they do carry a bit of guilt around it, I would not have all that I have in my life or be the person I am today and would not change a thing. That’s the main message I tell people…I am happy, with the things I do, the people I meet and the places I get to, that I would not have done otherwise.”

He produces an interesting mix about musicians who have influenced him, from the beat music of the Beatles to the definitive heavy metal band, Metallica. And he is a John Lennon fan and not surprisingly his favourite song from Lennon is In My Life. Haggis mentions the group’s vocal harmonies, and while describing them as average singers said: “they make beautiful sounds with their voices by knowing their limits and working within them.” At another extreme is Metallica, a talented US band that Haggis reckons takes music to another level.

But his voice softens when he mentions singer Karen Carpenter who is clearly an emotional choice. “Purity of voice, you don’t learn the gift she had, you have to be lucky enough to be born with it. As a singer you’ve got to have feelings about what you are singing and find a way of delivering that song to make it your own.

“My dream gig would be performing at the MCG. Taylor Swift will fill the MCG twice with 100,000 at a time… what could be better than that! Doing music full time and make a living out of it would do it for me.”

Time to bring back live music

While Covid played havoc with the music industry his long-term plan is to take shows to NDIS participants and aged care facilities with daytime shows during the week, as most gigs happen at night and weekends, and “performing during the week makes a lot of sense”.

According to Haggis, performing live brings an event to life, but he admitted

it has been hard post-Covid with venue owners and event organisers nervous about bookings.

“I want to encourage people who have events to make music a part of it. It can be as easy as sitting in the corner of the pub, playing the guitar and people will come. You can interact with the crowd, and the crowd can interact with you. It creates an atmosphere.”

Get in touch at tim@haggis.net.au if you want to talk about a gig. And “stay tuned for our Christmas calendar via The Visionaries Adelaide on Facebook”.

Take 5 with Tim Haggis

• Best holiday destination: Streaky Bay, SA.

• Favourite book: A Fortunate Life by Albert Facy

• Favourite Film: Ted Lasso TV series about a football coach

• Like to meet: Roger Federer

• Favourite dish: Lemon meringue trifle

“My dream gig would be performing at the MCG”

T im Haggis, Mike Russell and David Lee

Yarra View Nursery – planting the seeds for disability

Yarra View Bushland Nursery is the largest Social Enterprise Nursery in Australia, operating across three sites in Melbourne.

The seed for this social enterprise began over 40 years ago when local families and Rotary established a special school for children with disabilities. It progressed to an adult day service in the 1970s with over 100 programs for attendees. One of the programs was gardening which included propagating plants. The pioneering board members saw an opportunity to set this up as a nursery and offer genuine employment and it became a business in the early 1980s.

This flourishing enterprise now has 150 employees, 85 with disabilities, ranging in age from 18 to 50+ years, in roles including nursery workers, team leaders

and supervisors. And they are kept busy. The nursery produces over two million plants a year.

One of the employees is 49-year-old Grey Hay who has been working at the nursery for 23 years.

Among his work details are watering, moving stock and labelling/barcoding and crop maintenance that includes weeding, staking and cutting back plants along with tubing and hand potting.

As to what he likes most about working at the nursery: “driving the buggies, moving plants around and working with the team on the potting machine. I also enjoy making friends,” he told Link

As well as its large wholesale operation the nursery has a retail garden centre that is open to the public six days per

week that offers a broad selection of plants and garden care products including plants produced by the nursery.

There are regular promotions, especially throughout Spring which is a key period for the keen gardener and earlier this year held its first car park sale. All activities are advertised via social media.

Peggs - empowering NDIS participants with innovative Handy Lines

In the realm of NDIS support, Peggs continues to stand out as a beacon of innovation and dedication, offering a unique and seamless integration of Handy Lines into NDIS plans. As a NDIS Registered Provider, Peggs has made it a mission to enhance the daily living skills of and empower individuals facing mobility challenges or living with disabilities, a commitment that aligns with the core principles of the NDIS.

Streamlined Online Ordering.

Ordering a Handy Line with your NDIS funding has never been easier. Whether NDIA Managed or Plan Managed, NDIS participants and their support team can now place orders directly via our website by selecting ‘Pay with NDIS funds’ at checkout. This streamlined process ensures that participants receive the support they need promptly and efficiently,

alleviating administrative tasks, and ensuring a hassle-free experience. For self-managed individuals, Peggs can provide a paid invoice on request.

Choice in the Hands of Participants.

At Peggs, we firmly believe that the power to choose should rest with the individuals who matter most – the NDIS participants themselves. All Peggs Handy Lines and accessories can be conveniently ordered under either the Assistive Technology (Capital Supports budget) or Consumables (Core Supports budget) categories, and are classified as low-cost items, eliminating the requirement for approval from a medical professional. While funding constraints may influence the budget choice, our aim is to provide NDIS participants with options that align with their unique needs and promote autonomy and independence whenever possible.

Quality Beyond Compare.

At Peggs, quality is not just a word; it's a commitment. Occupational therapists, plan managers and support coordinators rely on the highest standards of quality and effectiveness when recommending equipment for their clients well-being. Handy Lines are designed to meet and exceed these standards, ensuring that every product enhances independence, promotes well-being, and seamlessly integrates into participants' daily routines.

Peggs Handy Lines are not just lightweight, durable, indoor/outdoor portable clotheslines, they are an invaluable tool to enhance the quality of life for individuals, enabling them to regain independence and control over their daily routines.

For more information about Handy Lines, visit: www.peggs.com.au or call: 1800 111 811

Greg Hay

Put pedestrians first

By Jane Bringolf

Exiting transport planning guides segregate pedestrians into different groups based on assumptions about their needs. A common collective term for all these groups is “vulnerable pedestrians”.

Transport guidelines single out older people, people with disability and children, but all pedestrians are vulnerable in the presence of motor vehicles – it is a matter of degree and of driver behaviour.

If we want people to walk and wheel for travel or recreation, we need more attention to pedestrian planning, and this is best done through a universal design lens.

Need to update transport guidelines

Similarly, children do more than go to school. A study on pedestrian crossings and schools found that what worked for children and parents was also regarded well by older citizens.

This moves planning concepts into universal design territory – what is good for both ends of the age spectrum is good for everyone. Instead of considering “vulnerable pedestrians” as the statistical outlier, transport planners and engineers should be considering them as the starting point.

Designing for slow walkers, includes faster walkers and designing for wheelchair users includes a pram pushers and people with shopping trolleys.

Transport planners, environmental groups, and health professionals want to see more people walking and using public transport rather than using cars to get around.

But this requires a change of emphasis from transport planning focused on motor vehicles to one focused on pedestrians.

Transport planners and engineers are familiar with the Safe System approach and the Movement and Place framework.

The Safe System approach is about keeping all road users protected from serious injury.

The Movement and Place framework aims to provide amenity for road users and at the same time create quality places. Pedestrians are also road users, but both approaches tend to be about vehicles.

The concept of mobility for transport planners is about traffic flows and transport demands. A pedestrian’s idea of mobility is the ability to get out and about easily.

The universal design approach takes an inclusive whole of population view and acknowledges that pedestrians are diverse with varying abilities in negotiating existing road and street infrastructure.

For example, level of capability is not age dependent and is more than the ability to walk or use a wheeled device.

Cognitive and psychosocial conditions such as dementia, autism and mental health conditions are rarely considered.

The benefits of walking for physical and mental health are well documented and it’s time to turn our attention to pedestrians in all their diversity. This means updating transport planning guidelines.

Guidance specific to locations near aged care facilities or schools assumes that all older people are in aged care and children only go to school.

However, most older people are living in the community and special arrangements recommended adjacent to aged care facilities are needed throughout the neighbourhood.

A survey of people with disability in New Zealand found several places were avoided because road crossings were perceived as unsafe. Consequently, these pedestrians were restricted to where they could go and what they could do.

Not only is there a social impact on individual pedestrians there is also an economic impact when some pedestrians are excluded from accessing high street shops and amenities.

A literature review by Lisa Stafford argues that the diversity of ages and abilities is not captured in current walkable neighbourhood research.

She recommends a universal design approach to pedestrian planning because statistical averages leave existing standards unchallenged.

If we are serious about encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk, then it's time to put pedestrians at the top of the road user hierarchy and ensure infrastructure is accessible for all.

Dr Jane Bringolf chair, Centre for Universal Design Australia

Blind chef launches braille cookbook

Craig Shanahan is a blind chef and avid foodie from Sydney, founder of the Blind Chef Café in Penrith, NSW. In partnership with Vision Australia, he has written a book, Cooking up a Storm

He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour, Rhabdomyosarcoma, as a child and lost an eye following chemotherapy. In 2014 a brain tumour was discovered that affected his optic nerve leaving him with six per cent vision.

He went to TAFE, gaining a non-trade certificate in commercial cooking and landed a job in an Italian restaurant for six months, where he did his apprenticeship.

A heart transplant operation was a turning point. He had to learn to walk with a cane and got his dog Rocco.

“It was a massive change at first, but you get to learn that life is about a

different way of doing things. And there are ways to achieve this if you want to do it,” he said.

Visiting other eating places, Shanahan soon realised how inaccessible these were when it came to catering for people with disability and getting wheelchairs through narrow doorways, reading menus or making room for a dog.

His Blind Chef Café has braille on menus which are also available on an iPad.

He employed a vision impaired woman who can take orders using voiceover on an iPad and an autistic person who clears tables and looks after coffee orders.

The biggest challenge was the café layout that took about a year to organise, such as the stove top, bench top and oven, designed together that eliminated carrying dishes around the

kitchen. And black chairs so he could easily identify if they had been moved.

The new book in Vision Australia’s Big Visions series, Cooking up a Storm, is one of the first to be available in braille and Shanahan hopes it will inspire people with disability to chase their dreams and not let their disability hold them back.

It is available in print from the Vision Australia store or through retailers. An audio version for members is available through the Vision Australia Library or purchase from the Vision Store or for embossed Braille.

It is free from Cape on request and through the Vision Australia Library. A Felix Kit is available on loan to library members.

Phone the Vision Australia library on: 1300 654 656 or visit: www. visionaustralia.org/services/library.

Vision Australia Radio is a national print disability audio content provider, offering accessible news and information via radio and podcast.

Stream our live radio services on your smart device or via varadio.org. Check out our range of disability focused podcasts on your favourite podcast app.

The Blind Chick series gets two sequels

Two-time Paralympic equestrian, cancer survivor and fundraiser Sue-Ellen Lovett has released two new books in her autobiographical The Blind Chick series, featuring her guide dog, Woody.

Lovett was born with a retinitis pigmentosa, also known as tunnel vision, that left her blind at birth and without sight for the last decade. She competed in the 1996 Paralympian Atlanta Games, the 1999 Paralympian World Equestrian Games in Denmark, and the 2000 Paralympian Sydney Games. She has also raised more than $3.2 million for charities close to her heart.

She has turned her life story into a “warts and all” account that doesn’t shy away from the challenges of living with vision impairment while celebrating her many milestones, including

overcoming cervical cancer, being happily married for more than 20 years, and her achievements as a Paralympic equestrian and beyond.

Guide Dog Woody and the Blind Chick: One Step at a Time is told from the perspective of Woody, a golden Labrador guide dog. He describes his adventures on the farm in Dubbo with his BFF, the Blind Chick (Sue-Ellen) and his larger-than-life gal pal Lola the horse. He also shares insights into the responsibility that comes with being the eyes for his BFF as well as what it takes to train for this important job.

“Woody has changed my life. Without him, just like the other guide dogs that came before him, and I wouldn’t be able to get to the stable every day to ride my horse,” Lovett said. “I wanted to share the enormous difference

he makes to my life, for which I am incredibly grateful.”

To purchase Guide Dog Woody and The Blind Chick (RRP $35), visit www.theblindchick.com.au

Guiding Kids Through the Tough Moments by Mark Le Messurier

Senior South Australian of the Year 2022, Mark Le Messurier has written a guide for parents, carers, teachers, educational leaders, and allied health professionals responsible for the wellbeing of young people, with and without disability.

This book centres around those tricky moments when we must get involved, or call a child out on an unsafe, careless, or selfish action. It provides guidance for navigating the commotion and the processes, as well as the grit required in the tougher moments. It's these moments that reveal what is really happening between children and their parents, educators, or carers.

The questions Le Messurier asks in the book is: “What about when one of your kids, or a student in the classroom, decides not to listen, challenges your request, is rude, or worse? What is your intrinsic response in these hot and heavy moments? Do you puff yourself

up, get louder, show anger, threaten to withdraw privileges, or even withdraw emotional connection?”

The book explores techniques to hold a child or teen accountable using an almost counterculture mindset. A skill set where they are more likely to want to make changes, rather than having their autonomy stolen and feeling gazumped by an adult yet again, he said. “Children today need adults in their lives who know how to be a positive influence.”

The book outlines a special set of attitudes and skills described as using our "soft eyes and warm hearts.” In this space, we hold a child or teen accountable, one that connects leadership and strength directly with kindness. "This humane approach is more likely to leave young people in a position where they might want to feel responsible, make amends and changes, rather than being forced to,” he said.

The book can be purchased at bookstores or: www.marklemessurier. com.au/main/products/book_gktttm. shtml

www.routledge.com/Guiding-KidsThrough-the-Tough-MomentsTechniques-to-Build-a-Space-Where/ Messurier/p/book/9781032386508

Kidz Fashion Week

Taking to the runway as part of Kidz fashion week was Angel, pictured, who has mild cerebral palsy and carries a feeding tube. She was among a group of children representing children’s charity Supertee at its Your Style show in Brisbane. The event featured the Supertee, a specially designed medical garment disguised as a superhero costume.

Cooee Art Leven opens country x Country exhibition

Australia’s oldest Indigenous gallery Cooee Art Leven held an inaugural exhibition to celebrate a new chapter, which will see exhibits of non-Indigenous art alongside First Nations artist, with specially curated projects.

The Future of Art

NSW arts and disability organisation, Accessible Arts, recently held its third Access and Ideas panel discussion at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Joining the Future of Art panel to discuss how artists and organisations are innovating access and inclusion with new technology were Thea Baumann, art director at the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, multidisciplinary artist Louise Zhang and artist Amy Mills with Art Gallery of New South Wales, director of public engagement, Miranda Carroll.

STEPS Grand Winter Ball

T he 2023 ball was a black and white themed event for young adults with autism and disabilities, held at the Sunshine Coast Function Centre in Caloundra, Queensland. It is a major fundraiser for STEPS Pathway College, an education and training institution and the first and only boarding college for students with autism and disability.

Photo Credit:ArtGallery of New SouthWales , MimStirling

Archibald finalis t Digby Webster

Dylan Alcott talking up accessible design

Harvey Norman Commercial Victoria recently hosted its first brand expo at its Selection Centre in Port Melbourne. HNCV BrandExpo 23 showcased the latest products and technology from Harvey Norman Commercial’s global brand supply partners to members of the building, architect and design community.

One of the guest speakers at the threeday event was Paralympian, Dylan Alcott who, in a Q&A session with Harvey Norman Commercial Victoria business development manager Mil Hanna, spoke about how the appliance and bath ware industries can be more inclusive through accessible design.

“When you build something, and you forget about accessibility, it doesn’t look good when you need to put it in later and it costs more. When accessibility is done from the start and lived experience is listened to, it looks cool, and you don’t even notice it most of the time”, Alcott said.

He gave Siri as one example, invented so a visually impaired person could use

their smartphone, and an automated door at the entry as another, “so someone like me doesn’t have to try and open it. When accessibility is done well, we all use it. The NDIS is great for funding us and giving us choices.”

“The number one thing everyone should do, and if you don’t know what to do, that’s okay and if you get it wrong, that’s okay too, but the best thing to do is listen to the lived

What’s On Calendar

OCTOBER: October 3-22: Melbourne Fringe Festival www.melbournefringe.com.au

October 5: Business Disability Awards info@tbda.net.au

October 6: Sunshine Butterflies Walk in Wings www.walkinwings.com.au

October 13-14: DAL Expo www.dalexpo.com.au

NOVEMBER:

November 4-5: - Sport & Fitness Festival www.sportsfitnessfestival.com

November 8-9: ATSA Canberra Expo www.atsaindependentlivingexpo.com.au

November 22: Australian Access Awards www.accessibility.com.au

November 23: Australian Disability Service Conference & Awards https://adsca.com.au

experience of people with a disability. Often our voices are spoken on behalf of the previous generation and it’s not what we need.

“So many people with a disability now feel empowered to speak up and be listened to. It’s about working together for the future to do things the right way and we are so lucky to live in a country that has the resources to do it,” Alcott said.

DECEMBER:

December 1: Gold Coast Volunteer Awards www.volunteeringgc.org.au

December 2: Freedom Wheels Inclusion Classic www.playandgo.com.au

December 3: National Awards for Disability Leadership engage@disabilityleaders.com.au

Dylan Alcott and Mil Hanna

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