Service with a smile: Kyabram cafe owner Jen Pyke, from Allan St’s Jen’s Cafe, with What We Can do disability group members Jim Hilder and Brian Croucher.
Kyabram’s newly formed What We Can Do group is focusing its attention on improving access for the disabled to businesses and community facilities in the town.
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The group, which has a charter of positive outcomes for Kyabram district people with a disability, have a number of focuses.
Allowing people safe and easy access to businesses, along with community facilities and transport, are part of the assignment for Kyabram District Health Service’s innovation project worker Kerrie Reardon and disability liaison officer Candy Fanning.
Last week the group was at the Allan St cafe owned by Jen Pyke as part of its monthly meeting process, which started three months ago after the success of last year’s International Day of People with a Disability event at Kyabram District Health Service.
The eight-member co-design group is planning to visit a number of businesses to promote how access can be improved and what other services could be made available to assist people with disability.
Following the success of December’s disability day event on the lawns of the KDHS the key organisers of that event decided that continuing to support vulnerable people in the community was a priority.
Since then they have met once a month, while also considering future projects in conjunction with the KDHS staff.
A Kyabram Recreation Reserve program and support of disability services at Kyabram and Community Learning Centre are also discussed at the monthly lunches.
The What We Can Do group is also interested in becoming involved with the proposed planning for improved disability access at the Wilf Cox Community Centre.
Discussions for the inclusion of a ramp or life in the refurbishment of the facility are key components of the building’s re-design.
As for Jen’s Cafe there was a thumbs up from the group members, who had access challenges at the venue of their first meeting.
“The signage is good, there is access to the toilets and the staff are really friendly,” one member said.
In 1981, which was declared the International Year of the Disabled, a group in Kyabram was formed to raise the awareness of access problems for the disabled.
They worked their way through cafes, hotels and public buildings like the Plaza Theatre to discuss improvements that could be made.
“This is the third place we have been to,” Ms Fanning said.
“There were good discussions between the group and the owners of the cafe where me first met about things that could be done to help.
“Access was difficult at first cafe. That owner offered a lot of assistance to access the building.”
The group is also planning to address the condition of Kyabram’s public toilets and availability of parking for disabled people in the town.
“The aim is to provide our disabled people with a voice,” Ms Fanning said.
The group has thrown its doors open to other disability groups, or individuals, to provide feedback about access or bring ideas to the program.
For more information, phone Kerrie Reardon on 5857 0242.
Lunch meeting: Kyabram District Health Service staff Candy Fanning and Kerrie Reardon with members of the What We Can Do group.
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