WDC Disability advisory group

Glen from Central Whangarei

On Monday our WDC local council disability advisory group will be meeting with one of the top people in events management after I pointed out some issues to them over accessibility at public events. Public events such as fritter festival, Christmas events public gatherings.

I recently went to fritter festival 2019 at toll stadium Whangarei the accessibility planning was really bad. Apparently, accessibility had been accidentally left off the checklist so no consideration was given to accessibility.

This is the solution I do not know what year but certainly in the last 3 years the annual Christmas event was held at Toll stadium Whangarei. On this year Santa and his elves about 7 of them arrived on segways.

For those that do not know segways are two-wheeled mobility devices for standing people, they are similar to wheelchairs and mobility scooters but differ because the riders tend not to be disabled.

Now the accessibility planning for the segways was really good.

This tells me that Santa and his eves carry far more importance than Northlands disabled. This is the message to the council disability advisory group when we get to talk to the events planner please ask that the disabled are given the accessibility planning is done for Santa and his young elves

Glen McMillan
Chairman DPA Northland