A digital platform is being developed to assist individuals with disabilities and their unpaid carers by providing readily available information about accessible venues and aiming to shift perceptions of carers.
The platform, referred to as Blue Badgers, is designed to function as a resource for users to share details about accessible locations through an interactive map. Stephanie, a key figure in its development, stated that the platform collaborates with businesses to offer discounts to users. She expressed hope that Blue Badgers would also contribute to changing how unpaid carers are viewed, emphasizing their crucial role in supporting disabled people.
Stephanie shared her personal experiences as a mother of a child with additional needs, describing the anxiety she often felt when taking her son, Ben, out. "Not knowing what's going to be provided at the venue, if the sort of facilities of the changing rooms are going to be nice, or whether I can change him in there, or if he's just going to react terribly to it," she said, highlighting the challenges of navigating public spaces without adequate information.
Ben's own journey involved significant health hurdles, including feeding difficulties, delayed developmental milestones, and surgery to remove cataracts. The platform aims to address such challenges by making information about accessible features easily accessible to the community. "We want to do is make sure that this information is readily available to our community, so wherever they are they can see what's around and what venues have accessible features," Stephanie explained.
The initiative seeks to empower individuals and families by reducing the uncertainty and fear associated with accessing public spaces, fostering greater inclusion and support for disabled individuals and their caregivers.