Letter to the Editor: Spinal cord injury

Dear Editor,

Most people wouldn’t know how a spinal cord injury affects someone unless they happen to know one of the 15,000 Australians living with the injury.

Many people see someone using a wheelchair and assume that having paraplegia or quadriplegia means ‘game over’ in terms of living a fulfilling life.

Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week (5-11 September 2016) is here to show the public that this could not be further from the truth.

While a spinal cord injury is a life-long disability, with the right equipment, services, support and a society that is inclusive and accessible, people can overcome barriers to achieve their goals. This week, the Australian Spinal Injury Alliance is asking you to consider how you can make a positive impact on the lives of people who have a spinal cord injury, by ensuring your community is accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Simple things like always referring to a person first, not their disability; making sure accessible bathrooms in your business aren’t used as storage areas; and speaking directly to the person using a wheelchair, not to someone who is with them, can all make a big difference in promoting inclusiveness.

www.sciaw.com.au

ParaQuad Association of Tasmania Inc. is a member of the Australian Spinal Injury Alliance, which leads Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week each year.
Greg Perry, Chief Executive Officer, ParaQuad Association of Tasmania Inc.