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A professional services company has teamed up with not-for-profit organization Accessible Beaches Australia to launch a new online guide detailing the country’s disabled-friendly beaches.
The platform, which was co-developed with branding in collaboration with Deloitte Digital (the digital and technology arm of Deloitte), has been described as an Australian first and provides a range of information on different levels of accessibility.
“We understand that information empowers people,” said Shane Hryhorec, founder and chairman of Accessible Beaches Australia. “The more information we can provide about the accessibility of Australia’s beaches for people with disabilities, the better equipped these people will be to know whether the beach is suitable for them or not. Information is power. They won’t go if they don’t have it or don’t know it.’
Hryhorec has been wheelchair-bound since sustaining a serious spinal injury in an accident in 2007 and founded Accessible Beaches in 2016 to lobby and work with councils, surf lifesaving clubs and other organizations to make Australian beaches more inclusive for people with disabilities . Mobi-mats, designed to create a stable surface on the sand, have since appeared on beaches across the country.
Users of the new database can find a beach on a map and check if it has barrier-free mats, along with other information such as barrier-free bathrooms and parking, driveways or retail options within 150 meters.
Bondi Beach has all of the above, for example, along with wheelchair accessible beach access that garners four stars. Clicking will inform you about the current conditions and provide a more detailed overview.
“There are many considerations for people with disabilities when traveling to the beach. You don’t just have to think about towels and sunscreen and the best beach with the best surf, you also have to think about getting to that beach and what equipment and tools you’ll need. If it’s too hard, then inclusivity on the beach simply won’t happen,” commented Hryhorec, appreciating Deloitte’s contribution.
“Australians love their beaches and we believe beaches should be for everyone,” said Jason Hutchison, Senior Partner, Core Business Operations, Deloitte. “We’re really proud to have worked with Shane and the team at Accessible Beaches to develop their brand and website to support their mission to improve the quality of life of Australians living with a disability by getting them back to the beach.”
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