Spinal Network News - December 2017

ACCESS AWARE APP - DISABILITY SERVICE
CCS Disability Action, the Wellington City Council, and
Thundermaps, have signed a partnership agreement which
cements a collaboration to revolutionise the reporting and
enforcement of mobility-parking abuse. The revolutionary
Access Aware app will connect people who encounter
mobility-parking misuse directly with the Wellington City
Council’s Parking Enforcement Teams.
This initiative will prove life-changing for Wellington residents
with access issues. “Our research shows that levels of parking
abuse have not improved in ten years, with abuse rates still
unacceptably high, despite increases in fines and attempts to
grow awareness of the problem. Using a mobility-parking
space without a permit, even “for just a minute”, can block a
disabled person’s opportunity to live life freely,” explained CCS
Disability Action Chief Executive, David Matthews.
Users can make a report of any parking misuse they observe.
These parking misuse reports can be shared with the
Wellington City Council’s Parking Enforcement Team so that
they can monitor the use and abuse of carparks. “Misuse of
mobility carparks in New Zealand is a big issue, and a real
concern for those with disabilities who have a genuine need for
these parking spaces,’’ said the Council’s Transport Strategy and
Operations Portfolio Leader, Councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman.
“With this project, we hope to begin solving the problem
of mobility-parking abuse and make it easier for those with
disabilities to find carparks.”
By downloading and using the Access Aware app on their
smartphone or tablet, users can make a real difference to the
disabled community by actively creating social change. “We
believe that the data collected on parking abuse can influence
the ways councils provide mobility carparks and enforce them.
Eventually, we hope that this data can be used to advocate for a
successful change to legislation so that both private and public
mobility carparks are enforced equally and consistently across
the board,” said Mr Matthews.
This is a bold vision, but a wholly worthwhile one totally in
line with CCS Disability Action’s organisational values and
commitments to disabled people and the creation of more
inclusive communities. The app was launched in Christchurch
on 1 October and has already had 288 downloads and 116
reports made. In 2018, CCS Disability Action will roll out this
technology successively to their membership, networks, and
via their Mobility Parking-Permit-holders’ database, as well as
across the councils and businesses of Aotearoa-New Zealand.
The Access Aware app also allows users to see the locations
of known mobility-carpark locations on a map in real time so
they can find a carpark when they need it. They can also add
locations and descriptions of carparks not already mapped.
The purpose of Access Aware is to drive change, not just
for mobility-carpark locations, but also for other accessibility
issues that our communities face. Currently, there is no single
place where you can easily access reliable data for accessibilityrelated
information New Zealand-wide. Access Aware aims to
change that with world-first technology offering pre-mapped
locations and information that will make accessing carparking,
communities, walkways, businesses, utilities, public toilets, and
accommodation simple and easy. The app won’t just provide
information, it will also allow users to upload reports and to
map relevant information themselves.
Access Aware has the potential to be very useful for all
disabled people, their families and whanau. Access Aware
can significantly improve everyday access issues that prevent
many people from fully participating in their communities. It’s
free; it’s easy to use, and it could help change the accessibility
landscape of New Zealand.
People interested in taking part in the pilot are invited to
download the free app on Google Play or Apple store by
searching for “Access Aware”.
For more information visit: www.ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz/
AccessAware
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