Aleisha Grigg pleads for increased wheelchair access in Dalby after daily battle to complete everyday tasks

A Dalby woman with cerebral palsy is pleading for change as she shares the daily fight she faces to complete simple tasks like shopping or simply buying herself a drink. Read her story:

A young Dalby woman who says she is exhausted by being unable to experience the little things in life such as buying a drink, browsing a shop or doing the groceries due to a lack of wheelchair-accessible spaces is pleading for change.

Aleisha Grigg uses a wheelchair and said the amount of tasks she completes in town on her own is limited because of the shortcomings.

The 22-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, has started a petition to raise awareness of the difficulties she and others faced due to a lack of access.

“If I don’t have someone with me, basically the town is inaccessible,” she said.

Ms Grigg recounted a recent experience with a shop she frequents that does not have a wheelchair ramp.

“It has this giant ledge at the front (of the shop). In the beginning, I was all right with sitting at the door but after a while I said to them, ‘Hey what do you think about getting ramp, because I kind of feel like an animal not sitting inside,” she said.

“Every time I brought it up they gave me excuses, like ‘that’s a landlord issue’, ‘we might be moving so there’s no point’, or ‘we were going to get a ramp but it just never happened’.”

Ms Grigg said she was also dismissed with the comment, ‘We thought you liked sitting outside’.

She said providing access to businesses and other spaces was important in giving wheelchair users freedom to live their lives and avoid segregation from able-bodied members of the community.

“People don’t expect a disabled person to be independent, which is probably why there isn’t much accessibility,” she said.

“I still want to enter a building and experience things like everyone else.”

The lack of accessibility through town also has an impact on parents who say they and their children are missing important experiences.

Aleisha Grigg started a petition to make Dalby more wheelchair accessible. Picture: Emily Devon

New mum Gina Grant said a lack of access for wheeled devices was difficult for her as she fought to overcome serious health concerns after giving birth.

“When I became a new mum, I unfortunately had post-partum depression and one of the suggestions with helping me cope was exercise and to go for daily walks, so I relied on my pram a lot,” she said.

“Unfortunately with the lack of access into my regular stores and favourite cafe, I’d feel defeated, frustrated and angry.”

Ms Grant said the layout of the storefronts made it exceptionally difficult for a new mum to gain access to a shop while pushing a newborn baby in a pram.

“They would have one or two steps that were too high for my pram, in the early months of motherhood when I physically wasn’t allowed to lift anything larger than my daughter, I’d avoid those businesses,” she said.

“Now I pick up my pram and carry it over the steps, (but) unfortunately that’s not an option for someone in a wheelchair.”

Ms Grigg said she had previously reached out to Mayor Paul McVeigh, who listened intently to her concerns.

Mr McVeigh said he certainly supported the enhancement of mobile accessibility in town.

“One of the challenges is there are uneven slopes on the footpaths and sometimes going into shops, so we encourage everyone to have disability access into shops. They have to be accessible for everyone,” he said.

“There are challenges sometimes with ramps, on the other side of things there’s trip hazards. These sorts of changes that need to be installed need to be well thought-out and well planned.

“Council would expect all businesses to have access for everyone.”

Ms Grigg said providing access didn’t have to be a burdensome venture for businesses.

“When I ask people about putting in a ramp they’re worried about theft or fire hazards,” she said.

“Because there is an issue with people being unable to get permanent ramps, there are a lot of foldable ramp options.

“If people can take in tables and chairs, why can’t they take in ramps as well?”

Ms Grigg has 85 signatures on her petition so far and those who want to sign it can do so here.