Things to do at home

10 fun accessible game and activity apps

Disability Horizons put together a list of 10 fun accessible game and activity apps for people with disabilities.

Ready to explore? Check this page for more information.

Easy-to-Read magazine for people at home

Easy for Me is a new magazine released by The Information Access Group, designed to give people ideas for keeping busy and staying connected while they stay at home.

Read the first edition of Easy for Me.

Cheers! The (virtual) happy hour connecting the blind community

Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is launching daily virtual happy hours to connect community members who are blind or visually impaired. The Happy Hours will run from 11am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 7.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

You can read more about this initiative, including how you can join, on the BCA website. For future updates check the BCA Facebook page.

FriendLine conversations

FriendLine is a free volunteer operated chat service for anyone who wants to connect and have a friendly chat.

Find on more on the FriendLine website.

Angel Next Door

A free community platform has launched to help people help their neighbours who are isolated during COVID-19. 

Angel Next Door is designed to assist people with grocery shopping, help around the house, dog walking and other general tasks.

Find out more on the Angel Next Door Website.

Events and activities

Escapades

Milparinka provides recreational respite programs for people  who live in the cities of Yarra, Darebin, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley. 

Escapades programs provide planned respite through recreation and leisure activities during weekends, holidays and some evenings

Bush Connections: linking people with disabilities to the bush

In Melbourne disability service Milparinka based in Brunswick and Richmond uses forest therapy for people with a disability.

Bush connections currently run on Mondays and Sundays and individual arrangements are by appointment. If you are interested in joining the program or find out more, contact bush.connections@milparinka.org.au

YMCA camping escapes

YMCA offers the chance for everyone to travel and experience active recreation 

Inkrewsive

Inkrewsive is a very unique program which supports artists to gain skills, become independent and receive occasional payment from performing in public gigs etc. Participants engage in professional art making experiences working with rap, beat making, dance and making music video clips. If you’re into hip hop and you’re looking for a crew to make friends, learn skills and be part of Melbourne’s most accessible hip hop team Contact inkrewsive

Services

Changing Places - Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library

Changing Places toilets have extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with severe and profound disabilities.

Each Changing Places toilet provides:

• a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench
• ceiling hoist to help lift the person out of their wheelchair and onto change table or toilet
• a spacious area for a carer and person with a disability
• a safe and clean environment

Users need to bring their own sling for the hoist.

Find out more about Changing Places.

National Relay Service 

TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 9205 5555.

Speak & Listen users (speech-to-speech relay) phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9205 5555.

Internet relay users connect to the National Relay Service online and then ask for 03 9205 5555 

For further information call Yarra City Council on 03 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au.

 

Information on programs and resources

Hidden disability program

Airports can be very stressful for all of us, particularly, if traveling overseas. For community members with invisible disabilities, including autism, anxiety issues, mental health conditions, dementia, visual impairments, deafness and hearing loss this experience can be even more stressful. 

Melbourne Airport has recently implement Hidden Disability Program to support community members through journey through their International Airport. 

Choice Mentors Program at VALID

Victorian Advocacy League for Adults with Intellectual Disability (VALID) is looking for participants and mentors to join their Choice Mentor Program. This program helps empower people with intellectual disability to have more choice and control.

Interested in becoming a mentor?

Do you know a person who could be referred to the program?

Check VALID's program page or contact Josie Cohen, the Program Coordinator, by calling on 0459 070 913.

Melbourne Disability Institute

The One in Five podcast, launched by the Melbourne Disability Institute last year, gives voice to people with disability and asks about their experiences with employment, housing, the law, supporting families and early intervention. Over seven episodes, a range of experts, including people with disability, researchers and people working in the sector, talk about what we can do to improve the lives of people with disability.

An Australian first autism education campaign: Change Your Reactions

No one wants to feel judged and unwelcome in their own communities – but many autistic people and their families experience this every day.

Changing your reactions can make a more inclusive and welcoming world for all.

Learn more about autism, as well as support and services available in Victoria by heading to the Amaze website.

Developing the capacity of people with disability in the City of Yarra

Some of the things programs we offer include:

• Tips for making your business more accessible to educate and support local businesses to improve accessibility in their premises
• Providing recharge facilities for motorised wheelchairs and scooters in local libraries and encouraging businesses to install similar recharge facilities
• Assisting community groups that apply for our grants to make their event or community program more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.

For more information call 9205 5555 or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

City of Yarra Annual Grants 

Assisting community groups that apply for our grants to make their event or community program more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.

For more information call 9205 5555 or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund

This education fund is about helping Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people with disability to undertake, and participate in, formal and informal education programs.

For many people with disabilities from both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous backgrounds, education can go a long way to developing skills, self-esteem and pride in their families, friends and community.

To this end, small six monthly grants of up to $2,500 are available to assist people with disabilities to continue learning.

This fund was established by Frank Hall-Bentick and friends in 2008. Frank has a life-long disability and along with other members of his family has experienced many years of hospitalisation, special schools and disability services.

For the last thirty-eight years Frank has been involved in disability advocacy and the empowerment of people with disability locally, nationally and internationally. Realising that the work to empower people with disability is ongoing he has long considered the best way to support this is through further education and learning.

For more information go to the Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples' Education Fund website.

Closing 30 September 2020