Disability and Inclusion in the Outdoors
Welcoming people living with a disability into your program – a Resource Hub for outdoor providers and educators
Welcome to Outdoors Victoria’s new Disability Hub – a resource aimed at outdoor recreation and outdoor education providers to help them welcome people living with a disability.
This project builds on our previous work that delivered the FREE downloadable Toolkit, that supported providers to welcome people living with a physical disability. This new Hub aims to provide resources for providers to welcome people living with a wider range of disabilities, for example intellectual disabilities, neurodiversity and other hidden disabilities.
| Why do we need to adjust our programs to accommodate people with specific needs It is a fundamental right that every person should have the same opportunities as their peers, with the Disability Discrimination Act making it against the law to discriminate against anyone because of their disability. In an education setting, the Disability Standards for Education and the Victorian government’s website on disability rights make it clear this extends to school excursions and camps. With over 15% of the population aged from 0-65 years living with a disability, it is also a smart business choice. |
Widened scope – 3 fundamental challenges
In widening the scope of this toolkit to include a wider range of disabilities, we aim to take a broader view and address three key challenges experienced by people living with disabilities:
1 – Physical challenges
2 – Communication challenges
3 – Expectation challenges
| The initial content included in this Hub will include resources that address the needs of participants with a wider range of disabilities. This includes adaptations to physical facilities for participants with a broader range of disabilities, for example sensory spaces. In addition, significant elements of this new resource are in response to communication barriers, for example early information on what the nature of the experience and training for staff on the different ways people living with a wide range of disabilities will communicate their feelings about undertaking new experiences. It will also aim to address the way programs and facilities are set up so that, where possible, your existing programs will already accommodate the additional needs of the person living with a disability (i.e. applying Universal Design to program design). |
Low Hanging Fruit
One of the key feedback topics from providers on the first toolkit is that we need to add easy to implement measures and low cost suggestions.
In response this Hub aims to provide day to day templates such as risk assessments, SOPs, and staff training documents. It also has resources to help providers apply for grants for equipment.
| Do you have suggestions to improve this resource? This resource has been designed to evolve as we, as an industry, take forward steps in our ability to offer truly inclusive experiences for all. In order to continue this process we are keen to hear your suggestions, examples, resources and case studies. Tell us your stories of inclusion, what has worked well for you. What can we add to these resources that will be of most benefit for you? If you think you can help, have suggestions for additional resources or can provide a case study we would love to hear from you. Please email Andrew Gooday on: careerscoordinator@outdoorsvictoria.org.au |
The information published in this Disability Hub and accompanying documents, is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for, or intended to replace, independent, professional or legal advice. It is intended as a guide only. Activity providers and any other person accessing the information and documentation should consider the need to obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular circumstances, including the specific adventure activities and needs of the dependent participants. The information is subject to change from time to time. Outdoors Victoria gives no warranty that the information is current, correct or complete and is not a definitive statement of procedures. Outdoors Victoria reserves the right to vary the content contained in this Hub as and when required. Activity providers should make independent inquiries as to the correctness and currency of the content and use their own skill and care with respect to their use of the information. This information and accompanying documents do not replace any statutory requirements under any relevant State and Territory legislation and are made available on the express condition that Outdoors Victoria together with the authors, consultants, advisers and the Working Group members who assisted in compiling, drafting and ratifying the documents:
- are not providing professional or legal advice to any person or organisation; and
- are not liable for any loss resulting from an action taken or reliance made on any information or material contained within the Hub or accompanying documents.
| Website Accessibility As this website develops, we intend to make it as accessible as possible, including considering the Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) Standards. If you have any suggestions or feedback please get in touch with Andrew on the email above. If you are considering an accessibility review of your website, as well as information on the WCAG above, this organisation supports accessible menus for websites and has been used by other organisations in the outdoor industry. https://userway.org/ |
