Social Inclusion Starts with Accessible Spaces
Vinnies’ Ability Links is using Social Inclusion Week to highlight the importance of inclusion for people with disability.
Vinnies will sponsor free community events across south and central Sydney, a state-wide coffee cup campaign featuring quotes from people with disability, and a joint approach with the NSW Business Chambers to emphasise the importance of making businesses accessible.
Vinnies’ Ability Links works with businesses and organisations to help make community spaces physically and socially accessible.
“Most businesses are already accessible in some way. We help promote those features and suggest simple ways to become even more inclusive,” said Andrew Grant, Inclusion Champion with Ability Links.
“There are a number of projects run by Ability Links to help businesses accommodate the 25% of Australians who have some form of disability.
“The Inclusion Champion project involves a person with disability having a round-table conversation with café staff about what makes a great customer experience for them.
“We also provide stickers to be displayed in shopfronts which represent the accessible features of a business,” said Andrew.
“Additionally, Ability Links has worked with two cinemas to introduce regular captioned screenings so that Deaf community members, as well as those learning English, can enjoy movies,” said Andrew.
“During Social Inclusion Week, two of our five events will include free or discounted tickets to captioned screenings of ‘Wonder’ starring Julia Roberts at these cinemas. An additional two events include a free Access All Areas Film Festival.
“All of the events will offer complimentary refreshments and activities, and most importantly the opportunity to ‘connect, collaborate and celebrate’ in line with the theme of the week,” said Andrew.
Vinnies’ Ability Links will host Social Inclusion Week events in Camden on 27 November, Cronulla on 30 November, Randwick on 1 December, Newtown on 1 December, and Redfern on 2 December.
Social Inclusion Week runs from 25 November to 3 December 2017 and encourages communities to reconnect and be inclusive of all community members, including people experiencing disadvantage and individuals from diverse cultural and social groups, ages and abilities.
For more information: Amelia.Mccormack@vinnies.org.au or 0428 777 831
Media Contact: Felicity Moody | felicity.moody@vinnies.org.au | 0417 446 430
