Whangarei District Council is looking for people, particularly disabled people, to join its Disability Sector Reference Group (DSRG).
Updated:
4/02/2011 3:32 p.m.
This highly effective group of people has worked with Council over several years now, ensuring the voice of people with disabilities is heard and taken into account, and many successful projects have resulted.
This year it will be involved in preparations for the Rugby World Cup which is expected to attract thousands of visitors, many of whom will have disabilities of one sort or another.
"Many of us are unaware that one in five people have a disability of some kind, and once people are over 65 years old that statistic increases to one in two," says WDC sector liaison, Kim Silvey.
If you would like to make a practical and useful contribution to the wellbeing of people with disabilities you are invited to put your name forward to join Whangarei District Council's Disability Sector Reference Group.
Kim said the group's successes included establishing a parking permit for disabled people working in the District, improving the walkway at the Whangarei Aquatic Centre, increasing the number of disabled car parks within Whangarei's central business district, highlighting a number of them with bright blue paint and printing the Access Whangarei map that highlights accessible buildings and car parks.
The group has also worked with Council to provide a mobility scooter at the Central Library, establish the Liberty Swing at the Town Basin children's playground, to make part of the Hatea Walkway wheel-chair friendly and instigate accessibility audits of Council buildings.
"The group also increases awareness of the disabled sector by organizing and promoting events and activities such as Sailability, the International Day of the Older Person celebrations and the Seniors Expo. We work collaboratively with government and non-government groups including the Tiaho Trust, Manaia PHO, Northland DHB and Sport Northland.
If you wish to receive an information package and application form, please contact Kim Silvey at Whangarei District Council, phone 09-430-4255, or Tiaho Trust Chief Executive Jonny Wilkinson on 09-430 3406.