Queensland has unveiled an accessible tourism podcast, designed to educate the tourism industry about the specific needs of people living with disability.
Called Accessed That, the podcast explores what it’s like to travel with a disability and spans 11 episodes that encourages travellers with a range of disabilities to share their own insights of ‘having been there, accessed that’.
Helping to drive the conversation each week is comedian Oliver Hunter, who has cerebral palsy and Paralympic swimmer and TV presenter Karni Liddell. The duo deliver informal chats with guests, drilling down into the challenges as well as the uplifting moments that come with travelling with disability.
Speaking about the podcast Hunter said he wants to spread the word about accessible tourism and share stories of those who travel with disability. Hunter who uses a wheelchair said the main barrier he faces is the limited information available about accessible accommodation and activities. “For people with a disability, the best resource to prepare for anything, especially travel, is to hear directly from others with lived experiences and firsthand reviews are what Accessed That offers.”
Steph Agnew who is blind, is one of the guests appearing on Accessed That, who recently took a trip to North Queensland.
“I would recommend Kuranda Scenic Railway to travellers who may be blind or have low vision,” she said. “Even though I couldn’t see the vistas, I was able to tap into my other senses, like smell and hearing, to experience the rainforest. I could feel the cool air on my skin as we ascended the mountain, while the audio aids onboard helped me understand the scenery we were passing and the history of the railway.”
Other examples of accessible experiences include the Brisbane Powerhouse which schedules regular Auslan performances for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing. The venue also offers reserved wheelchair seating space in front of the stage for select standing flat floor shows.
Sea World at the Gold Coast provides wheelchair friendly access to many of the park’s shows and exhibits as well as a pool hoist for people with mobility restrictions to access the dolphin pool and get close to other friendly creatures. The All Abilities Events, are custom designed for people with physical and cognitive challenges, creating a social and supportive environment to experience the joy of floating weightless in the air.
The Accessed That podcast is streamed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts with new episodes released weekly or go to: queensland.com/accessedthatpodcast.
For more information on accessible holidays visit: queensland.com/foreveryone.
Photo: Daintree Rain Forest – Queensland Tourism