Cross Family Adventures

Originally published as  Reservation for two please 1+ wheelchair on  25 June 2017 At the risk of “speaking out of school”, I’d like to pose a question: In Australia, in 2017, is it my responsibility to notify a business of my access needs or should it in fact be the responsibility of the business to cater for them regardless? I personally (and professionally) dream of the day!   Most people wouldn’t relate to this but I often dream about how nice it would be to make a reservation and not have to speak about my disability (or “special needs”). Unlike my able-bodied compatriots, when I make a reservation, whether I’m booking a table at restaurant, a hotel, a taxi, a plane fare (the worst), a concert ticket or even to see my local dentist, I don’t just get to part with just my name and best contact number. I’m also required to discuss my access needs, discuss my disability, discuss why I’m “special”. How’s this for a paradigm shift:...

Originally posted as " Your home is not a hospital " on 18 June 2017 We've tried making our bedroom both accessible and beautiful Hospitals. For some, they represent a place of healing. A place full of caring, well-meaning medical support staff that nurture you until you return to perfect health and walk out feeling 100%. For others, they represent a place of extreme misery, pain and, ultimately, death.  Having spent a 7-month stint in the Spinal Unit at the P.A. Hospital in Brisbane, for me, hospitals represent something in between. On 11 August 2001, I went into hospital having suffered a devastating spinal cord injury. On my third night in, when my diaphragm decided it had had enough of this whole breathing thing, I took (what I thought at the time to be) my last breath. I then passed out on account of sheer exhaustion and lack of oxygen and left my fate in the hands of the medical staff. There was absolutely nothing more that I could physically ...

  Holiday Apartment Review “Access Mudjimba Shores” My family and I have developed a pact; “Spend at least 3 nights away from home at least every 3 months.” This doesn’t seem like much but, for a family affected by disability, it’s a reasonable goal to have. I am a quadriplegic, completely reliant upon my trusty wheelchair and personal care for, well, my personal care! I can tell you though, I enjoy a break from the daily grind just as much as my beautiful wife and two sons (aged 5 and 1). So our little (and not so little) holidays are important. Not only for our own mental health and break in routine but to give our boys opportunities to explore and grow curious of the world around them. My wife and I agree that our favourite memories as kids were of our family holidays; exploring new places and returning to our old favourites. So, naturally, as a young family, we want to create those same memories for our own children. As a family affected by disability ...