Chipmunks argument highlights disability issues

Disability debates are no longer restricted to arguments about parking and toilets, writes Jonny Wilkinson

DISABILITY ISSUES used to be heavily dominated by either toilets or parking.

However, as the disability movement gradually takes shape, our voices are heard more, as a result greater inclusiveness becomes the catch-all for a range of all issues related to disability, including toilets and parking.

Now don't get me wrong, toilets are important; they are a necessity, when you need to go, you need to go.

For example, when a colleague declared to me on Friday that she had a sore stomach the previous day and was up all night that night, my bowel instantly cringed.

Then, after the half hour drive home to Ruakaka, my usual weekly visit to the local supermarket to get Friday night supplies was cancelled.

To the Friday night catchcry, "Did you go to the shop hun?", all I could reply was a strangled "no" as the whites of my eyes flashed and I careered towards the toilet.

There has been a gastro bug going around Whangarei lately.

We should, however, be thankful that we are not in Havelock North with the outbreak of campylobacter in their water supply.

By all accounts the local council was not that inclusive of the wider public when they took a lengthy amount of time before making a public announcement warning people to boil all water.

The rationale for this delay seems to have been that they were waiting for the second test to rule out any false positives.

This is despite the fact they already had the first test results back of the water, coinciding with a raft of people coming down with serious stomach complaints.

Sometimes being inclusive takes some understanding, good communication and a little goodwill on all sides.

This week social media went wild over what sounds like a horrible scene between a young family and a local children's entertainment centre.

A father who was taking his disabled daughter down a giant slide was told adults aren't allowed on the slide.

Instead of reasonable conversation about how the daughter could be accommodated, emotions from both sides quickly escalated.

The result sounded awful - the owner citing health and safety issues while the parents were overwhelmed by what they say was insensitivity.

Apparently the whanau have been there before and other staff had let father and daughter on the slide.

Sometimes being inclusive requires a little more effort and level-headed thinking about enabling participation for all the people you are serving.

I love the concept of manaakitanga. The art of respecting every individual's mana, and the mana of giving great service.

Inclusive playgrounds aren't insurmountable. In the Town Basin we have a swing that wheelchair users can use.

TV One recently filmed a story about a brand new inclusive playground with various accessible play equipment being opened in Takapuna.

The more inclusive we plan the environment in our community, the more our children will grow up with an understanding of how to include each other and respect each other's mana.

Do we need more accessible playgrounds in Northland? With the local body elections coming up, I encourage you all to give those who are working towards a more inclusive environment for all a big tick.

Jonny Wilkinson is the CEO of Tiaho Trust - Disability A Matter of Perception, a Whangarei-based disability advocacy organisation.