Access to participation in society comes in many forms – this is not one of them. If we are to be an inclusive society we need to make sure this does not happen.
If our society can recognise that steps prohibit access for so many people, then it may be possible to discuss access in all its forms and the societal benefits of inclusion.
The WIN News Illawarra video, above, is distressing, but, unfortunately, it’s not surprising.
We also live in a society where access and inclusion remain aspirations for some, and foreign concepts, let alone practices, for most.
For example, it is seemingly OK to limit a person who uses a wheelchair to attending the football or a live show with just one friend, relative or assistant. Our stadiums allow the person using the wheelchair to sit with only one other person.
Below is a photo of our son, Mac, and a mate at an AFL football match in Sydney. Gina has grabbed a vacant seat of the far right, but it wasn’t really ours to take. The standard operating procedure is one spot for the person using the wheelchair, once spot for whoever they are with.
God forbid a person who uses a wheelchair to access society has more than one friend, or more than one family member they want to share the experience.
Inclusion needs to move beyond concept and be put into practice. However, if a Unanderra man needs to campaign for 20 years just to be able to access public transport, it is fair to question government and broader society’s understanding of access and inclusion.
As Australia heads towards the nationwide implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and hopefully greater understanding of the societal benefits of people with disability being active and productive members of our community, there is hope things will change for people with disability. The NDIS, at its heart, is about access, it is about inclusion. While it will not ban steps at railways stations, or provide more seating at football stadiums, it will shine a long overdue light on the role people with disability can play in society when the barriers are removed.