During national Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week, 6-12 September 2021, ParaQuad Tasmania is joining a national campaign to highlight the issue of access. Our friends at Spinal Life Australia argue that Good Access = Good Business, and we agree.

ParaQuad Tasmania’s calling on all businesses and tourism operators to think about how people access their facilities – are they open for business to everyone?

People with disability make up almost 20% of Australia’s population (closer to 30% in Tasmania) and about 75% of those people travel regularly.*

ParaQuad promotes businesses that are accessible through its Wheelie Good Guide and would like to see more sign up to this free resource.

Access Officer Richard Jones, a wheelchair user himself, has visited many of the sites listed in the Guide.

“Making your business accessible isn’t hard,” Richard said.

“For an accommodations business it might just take just a few modifications and changes to layout.
For example, having ramps, enough space to access beds and kitchens, and a toilet and shower with handles and appropriate seating.”

ParaQuad Tasmania can share tips and advice to businesses about what makes a good accessible building.

We also work with people studying tourism at UTAS and TasTAFE, giving them insight
into how they could contribute to a more inclusive Tasmania.

“There is a desire in Tasmania to increase accessibility, which is fantastic,” ParaQuad Tasmania’s Accssible Tourism Officer Richard Witbruek said.

“Before the post-COVID tourism recovery begins, wouldn’t it be great if businesses thought seriously about accessibility and made changes that will see them open to business for everyone.”

Access is an issue that’s been identified as a priority in Tasmania’s Visitor Economy Strategy (T21).

ParaQuad Tasmania shares its goal of building industry capacity and awareness of inclusive tourism.

If good access equals good business, then it’s really a no-brainer.