A group of people from across Australia with disabilities say they feel empowered after participating in a camping tour of Broken Hill in far west New South Wales.
The meeting stemmed from a social media page allowing carers and people with disabilities or serious illnesses to exchange ideas about ways to make camping and caravan travel more accessible.
The group has more than 800 members, and about 20 of those from around the country travelled to Broken Hill for a gathering this week.
Allen Farnham, who has a spinal injury as well as severe arthritis, travelled from Pittsworth in Queensland and said the gathering created a sense of community and acceptance.
“I haven’t really been able to sit down and talk to people about things that have happened to me,” Mr Farnham said.
“I also have PTSD, type two diabetes, and I have found I can sit down with any of these people here and freely talk about what my pain is, what my pain does to me, and they sit and listen [and] they don’t judge.”
Camping brings sense of freedom
Stephen Crocker has fibrosis in his lungs, and travelled from the state’s central coast.
He said his disability does not stop him from doing what he loves and he was pleased to have the chance to camp with others who felt the same way.
“We’ve always enjoyed camping with the family, so we just wanted to continue doing it,” Mr Crocker said.
“Sure, I’m a bit slower, but to this day it hasn’t held me back.
“My wife and I both went out and did courses so that she knows exactly what I need to do as far as hooking the van up … so if I ever become incapacitated my wife can do it.
“All of us here have different types of disabilities and I sit down and talk to them and ask them how they do things.”
Helping fill the gap
Lyndal Wood, who has chronic arthritis and travelled from Melbourne, has lived in her caravan with her husband for about a year.
Ms Wood said the pair took up a nomadic lifestyle because her mobility was becoming limiting, and she did not know how long it would be before she had to use a wheelchair.
“I have handles all around the van to help me move around and as I lose more mobility we’ll just keep adapting,” she said.
“It takes a lot less to do it bit by bit than do it in all in one hit. It’s also a lot cheaper than living in a house.
“I [couldn’t] afford some of the medications and the doctor’s fees and stuff if we were living in a house and having to pay the bills all the time.”
Ms Wood said the group offered much-needed support to people with disabilities who wanted to travel, but there was a still a long way to go.
She said there needed to be an easier way for doctors at different locations to access medical records, and that more caravan sites should advertise whether they had disabled amenities.
Ms Wood also hoped to one day see a range of caravans designed for people with disabilities.
“Caravans are made for able-bodied people; there’s not much space in a lot of them,” she said.
“Anybody who staggers or falls easily or needs to use a wheelchair or walking stick … they have a lot of trouble getting around in the vans.
“When you try and do a mod to your caravan, it’s hugely expensive, and there’s very few people out there doing it, and there’s really not the technology or anything to help you do it.”
By Sofie Wainwright
Posted November 10, 2016 18:53:31
