Establish your own Disability Accessibility Learning Circle

Paul Wildman

Action Learning Circles as developed, configured below and applied by myself over the past decade are, if not new, at least, I argue, an innovation in the dual fields of Andragogy (Adult Learning) and Action Learning and offer substantial potential for application in Adult Learning in general.

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“We do not discover who we are, we do not reach true humanness, in a solitary state; we discover it through mutual dependency, in weakness, in learning through belonging.” (Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, French for Noah’s Ark) a network of communities for people with intellectual disabilities)

I’ve been reading a book called Searching for Dignity: Conversations on human dignity, theology and disability. The chapter I’ve just finished was by a man called Thomas Reynolds. In it, he talks about the way disability can unsettle us, how it can be viewed as the way some people are seen tobe “lacking something basic to what is understood as human”, how it can be seen as something which has gone wrong. His proposal is to change the way disability is thought about – to completely shift the conversation.

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Systems of Policy Making and Implementation

Neil Davidson

Norms (ethics) of the whole system influence all other levels of societal attitudes and actions. You might have experienced that people differ in their opinions based on what they think they are trying to achieve, and the ‘level of role playing’ they perform. In my experience, often people rewarded (e.g. paid) to act at one level are incentivised not to consider higher whole systems’ ethics

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Brave new world or more of the same?

Written by Prof. Lesley Chenoweth

Old models die hard.

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Speaking of psychological accessibility, one needs to be surrounded by people who encourage and believe in you. Don’t worry about what they can’t do – think of what they can do! You don’t necessarily need a disability to have psychological access – you just need to be frail or elderly or a parent with small children.

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I can’t recommend getting involved with your local community enough. I live in the Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Deagon area and I’m often called upon by council to give my opinion on access. Get to know your local member of State Parliament, your local councillor and make sure they know you!

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A good friend of mine, Margaret Ward, gave an excellent speech a few months ago and has given me permission to use it as it explains some of the issues about accessibility – both psychological and physical. Margaret is co-convenor of Queensland Action for Universal Housing Design. Robert Jones was consummate networker for accessible public transport and a wheelchair user.

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Low Vision Disability Accessibility champion: Maureen Davenport

Jean Weaver Nundah Low Vision Group: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 08-2014

Dear Reader: The body of this exhibit was written before Maureen died and is therefore in the present tense, further the Nundah Low Vision group she helped found is continuing.

Having a disability has really opened my eyes to so much access discrimination not just for a person with disability but the aged, mothersand fathers with young families, yes ordinary folk – it is my disability that has shown me a better way. I have learnt to pick my battles and myultimate goal is to improve life/accessibility for all. I personally have a criteria for any issues I pursue – I always have a solution or create a conversation to help towards a solution, I try to consider cost and explain that it is more economical to do something right in the first place than tryto retro fit and finally do everything out of love!

Notes to the hotel to improve their accessibility

I always mentally take notes (I am unable to write notes – my handwriting looks like I have used my left foot!), when I get home I write to the manager and I would have to say that 100% of my letters have been taken in the spirit that they were meant.