International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Dunedin (Tuesday, 4 December 2012) - The DCC is working to raise awareness amongst planners and contractors about the realities of mobility access.

On Wednesday 5 December from 12.30 to 1.30pm, DCC staff, with representatives from CCS Disability Action, IDEA Service, DIS, Fulton Hogan and Opus, are holding an ‘Amazing Race’ to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The theme of the Amazing Race is ‘Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all’.

DCC Safe and Sustainable Travel Co-ordinator Charlotte Flaherty says, “We wanted to find a way to celebrate the work that has already been done to create an inclusive and accessible society as well as highlighting any deficiencies.”

Three teams of four will undertake tasks and finish at the Wall Street Mall. Each member of the team will be allocated a disability and will have to negotiate the task in character. For example, if they are to enter a shop and try on pair of jeans as a paraplegic, they may not use their legs while performing the task.

The DCC team includes staff from the Transportation Operations, Planning and Parks and Recreation departments, as well as participants from Fulton Hogan and Opus, organisations which work with the DCC to build facilities for mobility access.

Mrs Flaherty says, “The organisations taking part are closely involved in the development of infrastructure and facilities so this is a fun but meaningful way to experience difficulties that some members of our society experience every day so we can create thoughtful infrastructure that works.”

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