Inform issue 26 – Summer 2019

Summer
informonline.org.au
21
What are accessible beaches?
Accessible beaches have been made
more accessible for people with wheels
– whether you’re in a wheelchair, using a
mobility scooter or even pushing a pram.
There are usually a few considerations when
making a beach accessible. Accessible
beaches offer ramps or stair-free access to
the sand. They also have beach matting, to
make rolling across the sand possible in a
standard wheelchair. Many also offer beach
wheelchairs for hire. Beach wheelchairs
have buoyant armrests and wheels that
allow the chair to float in the water. They
also have straps to secure the rider. Beach
wheelchairs are designed to enter the water,
up to the waist height of a support person,
so that everyone can enjoy the beach and
have a dip. Finally, some accessible beaches
may offer access to Changing Places
facilities.
Changing Places
Changing Places is a project to advocate for
public toilets with full sized change tables
and hoists in major public spaces across
Australia to meet the needs of people with
disabilities. If you are looking to hire a beach
wheelchair, but will need the help of a hoist
to transfer from a standard wheelchair to
a beach wheelchair, then looking for an
accessible beach that also has a Changing
Place is going to make the process much
easier. Not all accessible beaches have a
Changing Place.
Where can I find my nearest
accessible beach?
The Accessible Beaches Australia website
has a good list of accessible beaches.
You should also check in with your local
city council. And, if you are looking for a
beach with access to a Changing Place,
the Changing Places website offers a
searchable map of accredited facilities.
Beach wheelchairs are
designed to enter the water,
up to the waist height of
a support person, so that
everyone can enjoy the
beach and have a dip.
How can I get my local beach made
accessible?
Although Accessible Beaches Australia has
a vision to make most patrolled beaches
accessible by 2020, local councils need
to know there is a demand for this service.
When they are presented with the idea of
making a beach accessible, most councils
are concerned about the work and the cost
involved. To counteract this, Accessible
Beaches Australia hosts accessible beach
days, where they demonstrate to local
councils both how easy it is to make
beaches accessible, and how high the
demand is in the local community. Councils
can contact Accessible Beaches Australia
through their website to request a trial
accessible beach day. In many cases, the
trial can be provided free of charge. As a
local resident you can always contact your
local council to let them know that services
like these exist – the fact that they can be
tried risk (and cost) free makes it a much
more appealing proposal!
To find out more, visit
accessiblebeaches.com and changingplaces.org.au