I had a painful and shitty weekend And I am sharing it with you. Why? Before I acquired a spinal cord injury in 2009, I thought people in wheelchairs in general, had only one problem. They couldn’t walk. I knew little and quickly learned there are multiple issues. I want to share a few of the issues that occurred to be on the weekend. The goal is to increase understanding of people who don’t know what it is like living…
The Eighteen Point Five starts. As I was thinking (and multitasking) on my toilet, I pondered the thought. ‘Why do only famous people get their memoir published?’ I read twenty-five memoirs about people living with a disability and found many to be boring. I wanted to publish a compilation of memoirs of 25 people who had interesting stories. The project I gathered a team of over 40 people from South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, as well as international…
In remembrance of Joyce Dorothy Duthie My mother, Joyce Dorothy Duthie, sadly passed away on Monday 4th of May 2020 at age 96. This blog shares memories of her life, taken from the funeral held on Wednesday 13th May 2020. This blog shares the memorial card Photos and video of Joyce welcome – Doug Oakley the life of Joyce Doroth Duthie – Doug Oakley eulogy for the Mc Ainsh family – John Duthie eulogy for Mum – John Duthie song by Jasmine…
Introduction to Prospect Council Accessibility Prospect Council accessibility is essential to my life. I moved into the Prospect Council area during October 2019. It is a custom-built home that has a focus on safety – I acquired an SCI – Spinal Cord Injury in 2009 because an organisation didn’t value my safety. I avoid dangerous situations at home and in the community. accessibility – My manual and powered wheelchairs, and shower chair need to move around, and I need to…
Man Up 2016 – promising to help men The event ‘Man Up 2016’ at Life Church, Ingle Farm, promised to help men learn how to be a Christian man in today’s world. After parking my van, I jumped into my wheelchair and couldn’t find a suitable entrance. A church member opened a set of blinds, and I rolled up a ramp. ‘Does anyone in a wheelchair worship here?’ I asked, already knowing the answer. Locating an accessible toilet shouldn’t be…
Australia Post Accessibility – an introduction I use a wheelchair for mobility purposes and this blog is about Australia Post accessibility. I rent a post office box at Prospect East. The post office is in the North Park shopping centre and surrounded by shops. It takes me only four minutes to get there in my powered chair. Australia Postboxes at Prospect The PO Box area wasn’t designed for people in wheelchairs the door is heavy the door is at an…
Scentre Group accessibility – introduction to the audit This blog concerns Scentre Group accessibility, and in particular, the Westfield Tea Tree Plaza store. Please see my previous post about accessibility at the centre. The Scentre Group asked me to conduct an audit, and I’ve shared my results with them some time ago. Now I share the accessibility issues affecting people in wheelchairs. The Car Parking The Australian standard for accessible parking can be read here. Many PWD require a space…
Westfield accessibility – introduction This blog concerns wheelchair accessibility in the Westfield Tea Tree Plaza store. As I’ve been taking my powered chair there since 2013, I’ve not experienced problems until recently. The Scentre Group has interests in and operates the Westfield shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand. A total of 41 centres with over 11,500 retailers. My closest centre is Tea Tree Plaza at Modbury, South Australia. Ever since I received my Malvern Star dragster bicycle, I have…
Introduction Every four weeks I visit my local GP to get prescriptions for the multitude of medications I take. I’ve had the same Doctor for over a decade, and he has helped me in many ways. I visited the Doctor in an alternative location, rather than where I normally visit. By the time I got back into my van, my wheelchair was damaged, both my hands were hurting, and I felt stressed and angry. Shouldn’t a visit to the Doctor…
RAA wheelchair road service – an introduction Fortunately, my seven-year-old Pride Quantum 6000Z powered wheelchair, has broken down infrequently. Two flat tyres and twice the battery was disconnected, once by Qantas baggage handlers and the other time by me. I exited the footpath and onto the road, and the asphalt was laid too high and caught my footplate. After tilting forward and lifting the drive wheels off the ground, the chair crashed back down, it turned off and wouldn’t turn…
