Beaches are for everyone!

As a wheelchair user himself, going to the beach has been difficult or outright impossible for most of Shane’s adult life. From his frustrated lived-experience and knowing there was a better way, Shane was inspired to act to influence the overdue change he saw in Australia’s coastal landscape – better accessibility. In 2018, he started a charity – Accessible Beaches Australia – dedicated to making beaches more accessible for people living with disabilities, and their families (and dogs).

Accessible Beaches Australia is a charitable organisation advocating, educating, and committed to the belief that everyone deserves to enjoy the beach. Advocating for an inclusive experience for all Australians of all abilities, neurodiversity and age, Accessible Beaches Australia has partnered with individuals, organisations, communities and councils to make over 30 beaches across Australia more accessible, kicking off a wave of accessibility that has seen an additional 50 beaches become accessible all over Australia. – and they’re just getting started.

DID YOU KNOW?

Around 85% of the Australian population live within an hour’s drive to the beach. 1 in 4 Australians are living with a disability. If you do the maths, that’s over 4-million people living with a disability in Australia. Another 4-million over the age of 65, and getting to the beach is only half the battle.

Before you reach the sand, there are a myriad of environmental barriers creating obstacles and safety risks for people with both visible and invisible disabilities, as well as the physical challenges and limitations that can come with ageing.

Accessible parking, access points, footpaths, toilets, access to water and shade, the availability of equipment and trained supports such as life savers – these can all limit, prevent or enable the accessibility of a beach or waterway.

SO, WHAT DOES AN ACCESSIBLE BEACH LOOK LIKE?

With over 12,000 beaches around Australia, accessibility looks a little different everywhere you go. Accessibility can also mean different things for different people, depending upon their personal challenges and unique disabilities.

For some people with physical disabilities that limit or prohibit their mobility, an accessible beach can include special beach matting, a beach wheelchair, or beach walker. For someone with a disability impacting their ability to regulate body temperature, shade and access to drinking water can make a beach more accessible. For someone with low vision or blindness, Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSI) and contrasting colored surfaces would make a beach more accessible by providing warning or direction to safe and accessible areas. There are many components that improve the accessibility of a beach, and every component makes a beach a little more accessible for people in your community.

ACCESSIBLE BEACH SPOTLIGHT – SURF BEACH, EUROBODALLA SHIRE NSW

The Shire of Eurobodalla in NSW recently made 7 of their beaches accessible, one of which is Surf Beach. This is a great example of accessibility, boasting many components of an accessible beach including, accessible parking, beach matting, beach wheelchairs, accessible bathroom, accessible shade, accessible seating and access to fresh water.

It is important to remember, everyone’s beach experience is individual; it’s not always about getting into the water, surfing or getting a tan. Many people visit the beach to engage socially with family and friends, have a picnic, feel the fresh air, be in nature, or even improve their mental health and wellbeing.

You can access the free Accessible Beaches directory at https://accessiblebeaches.com/

Surf Beach listing: https:// accessiblebeaches.com/beach-directory/ abc-beach-template-3c3et

WHO CAN HELP MAKE A BEACH MORE ACCESSIBLE?

Staff in local councils such as diversity and disability inclusion officers, as well as council members and local MPs play important roles in enabling beach accessibility in their community in a variety of ways, such as infrastructure planning as well as action plans for improving access and inclusion in their local government areas (LGA). Members of the Public can advocate for their beach to be made accessible and Accessible Beaches Australia have helped countless people do just that.

The dedicated staff and volunteers at Accessible Beaches Australia have worked with dozens of local councils, government and surf liver savers around Australia to make beaches and waterways more accessible.

Through the provision of training, information and resources, Accessible Beaches Australia helps individuals and organisations gain an understanding of the challenges of people with disabilities, and how they can best assist them in their beach experience.

Many of the same principles, equipment and accessibility that makes beaches and waterways accessible can also be used to make community swimming pools more accessible as well.

WHY IS BEACH ACCESSIBILITY IMPORTANT?

Beach accessibility is important for many reasons. For people with a disability and older people, it means they can access more of their community, not just some of their community.

According to people with disabilities and mobility challenges, one of the most important reasons beach accessibility is important is to enable greater social inclusion for individuals and families. Accessing the beach should not be limited to the few, or available to some but, not others. Being able to access and participate in your community can give you a sense of belonging and connection, a way to deepen relationships with friends and family, create and foster social networks and reduce isolation. It can even help build greater confidence and the feeling of individual acceptance and safety in the community.

After struggling to navigate a wheelchair and the soft sand at many beaches for years, beach-lover Rochelle said she was finally able to access the beach for the first time in 10-years at Port Phillip beach, one of Melbourne’s accessible beaches.

“(I) loved today. You made a little miracle happen and because of what you did, it gave me a feeling of being normal.”–Rochelle---

With 40% of Australians either living with a disability or aged 65 or older, there is a good chance you know or will know someone who could benefit from better accessibility to beaches and waterways. Whether it’s to catch the morning sunrise, feel the ocean air, spend a full day out at the beach, or watch a beautiful sunset – beaches are for everyone, and everyone deserves the chance to go to the beach.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

There are many ways which you can get involved in making beaches more accessible for yourself, your friends, your family and your community. Find out how to get involved at https://accessiblebeaches.com/getinvolved

Author: Nick Warren, Accessible Beaches Australia