Being ThereGetting there, getting home
Getting to and from your venue or activity can provide a barrier to participation for many
people. For some services finding alternative ways of getting people to their venue may be an integral element of including people from a diverse range of backgrounds and abilities (e.g. on-line stores, wheelchair accessible courtesy buses, car pooling). In addition it is important to consider the following:

• Carparks.
Check whether there is a clearly signed
designated accessible parking spot near your premises or lobby the local council to get one allocated. Think about making at least one customer car space wider for a person with a disability to use.

• Pathways.
Make sure the path from the car park
to your entrance is accessible for a person using a wheelchair (e.g. wider and more even) and less slippery for someone older or using walking aids.

• Hazards.
Make sure overhanging trees or
signage do not cause a hazard to a person who is vision impaired.

• Lighting.
Would better lighting make car parks and
pathways safer?

• Public Transport.
Be aware of your surrounding
public transport facilities.

Being ThereAlan Parsons

A lot of people in Caboolture have been volunteering for years. Me personally, I have been involved in the community for 12 years but I have lived in Caboolture since 1962 - that’s a few years now. With that
people come to know and respect that you are having a go, that you are part of the community, that you are involved with the community, and that you care about the community and that you would like to see the community be more inclusive of all people that are out there.

When you are a member of a community there is a personal touch that comes into things. The personal touch is about getting to know someone on a first name basis, getting to know the person’s likes and dislikes, their capabilities and their needs. One of the big things is to try and look beyond the image. Too often the image is what is promoted and advertised through glossy magazines and so forth.

If you take the time to look beyond the image you will most probably discover that people are capable of a lot more than you thought they were. It is about respect. Respect is something that develops over time. Whether it’s a personal thing or a business thing, you need to acknowledge people’s differences and treat them like you would like to be treated. The differences we all have make up the value we can give to the community; often that value is not recognised or simply not valued at all.