‘Council need more forethought when it comes to disabilities’

A disabled Toowoomba resident and care service providers say an NDIS forum is exactly what Toowoomba needs to make the city more all-ability friendly. Here’s why.

DISABILITY FRIENDLY: Magenta Community Services client Peter Christison and Magenta team leader Gerald Sullivan both agree a disability forum is a great way for the different services to address some of the shortcomings in Toowoomba.

Toowoomba might be one of the most beautiful regional cities in Australia, but it’s certainly not on top of the list in terms of being disability friendly.

Peter Christison has been deaf since birth and legally blind since 2005 due to a rare genetic condition called Usher’s Syndrome, but the trained carpenter and UK native doesn’t let that hold him back from much.

“My vision is steadily getting worse, and while there are certain challenges that come with living in any town or city, there are a few aspects of living here that make navigating Toowoomba with a vision and hearing disability more difficult,” he said.

Mr Christison isn’t alone, and with more than 5800 Toowoomba people NDIS approved, disability support carers like Gerald Sullivan from Magenta Community Services said much more needed to be done to make the community a safer place for people living with a disability.

“Some of the pedestrian crossings in town don’t even make a noise,” he said.

“And there are a number of places where council really needs to address a number of different footpath issues that make navigating the streets with a cane very difficult. I think Council need to have a bit more forethought when it comes to people with disabilities.”

Both Mr Christison and Mr Sullivan hope several of these concerns can be addressed at the upcoming Magenta Community Services inaugural Toowoomba disability forum next month.

All local service providers are invited to attend the forum, with tickets available online via Eventbrite.