Dunedin, Southland and Lakes District Hospital promoted Accessibility Week, featuring interactive displays, braille sessions with ‘That Blind Woman’ Julie Woods, and an education session with Southern DHB Disability Working Group Chairperson John Marrable.
“By acknowledging this important day, we can take action to remove barriers for the 1.1 million New Zealanders with a disability and contribute to positive change in our workplace and the Southern community,” says Mr Marrable.
“We are just like everyone else and want to be treated with the same dignity.”
Along with foyer displays and educational sessions, one of the key focusses of Accessibility Week was ableism - the discrimination of disabled people based on the belief that able-bodied people are superior.
“Disability is not something individuals have, but it’s created by the barriers that are put before us,” says ‘That Blind Woman’ Julie Woods.
“Accessibility Week is so important because it provides us the opportunity to put the spotlight on the 24% of the New Zealand population who live with a disability. It also allows the able-bodied community a chance to see what is possible for people with disabilities.”
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