We were thrilled to be nominated by our friends at Scope a few months back for an award in the business category and equally delighted to hear news that we were finalists. Attending the ceremony today Kiff and our easy access basket partners Burt & Davies were humbled and inspired to be announced as winners of the ‘Business and Community Supporting Disability’ category.
In the presence of unsung, selfless heroes the message becomes clearer and louder. Accessibility is about basic human rights. Accessibility is about inclusion. Accessibility is all of our business. Outside of no tourism representation in the room there was very little private business presence. We can change this.
People living with disability do not have the same basic privileges as their able-bodied family and friends. Even the simplest of acts like going out to enjoy a coffee requires significant research and planning. The same goes for planning a holiday or a weekend away. Living with a disability means one cannot be spontaneous in their travel arrangements and requires clear information on the type of access (or access at all) and facilities.
Like most industries the disability sector relies heavily on partnerships and a collaborative approach. Our easy access basket was born under exactly the same principal.
Thinking laterally in our businesses we can tap into creativity and innovation – make the impossible possible to create tourism products that are inclusive to all.
So next time you get in a room with other operators or catch up with colleagues at a tourism networking function put this question on your agenda:
How can we do more in the community? Entertaining guests during the intermission the Imagine Choir made up of six teenagers living with disability put it best when they performed their own lyrics to John Mayer’s song, ‘Waiting for the world to change’:
“This is our community we want it to be safe and fair, we want to live in a world that really shows they care”.
What do we want? A safe and fair community in a world that really cares.
When do we want it? Now.
