FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...

1. WHO ARE YOU?
2. WHY THE D-ABILITY SITE?
3. WHY FOCUS ON LEISURE, ARTS, SPORTS AND LIFESTYLE?
4. WHY D-ABILITY? DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WORD "DISABILITY"?
5. WHAT DON'T YOU HAVE ON THE SITE?
6. WHY THE...?
    ‘COMMERCIAL SITES’
    ‘ORGANISATIONS’
    ‘WHAT'S NEWS!’
     RANGE OF DISABILITIES.
    ‘PEER SUPPORT’ INFORMATION.

7. HOW CAN I HELP?

1. WHO ARE YOU?

This site has been put together by the recreational therapy service (RTS) team working through the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Sydney, Australia. Though we hope this site will have value to people everywhere.

The RTS are specialist staff working in traumatic brain injury, spinal injury and general adult rehabilitation (stroke, amputee, burns, etc) and community based rehabilitation and disability services.

Recreation therapists focus on assisting people with individual leisure goals, choices and interests so that they develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to actively participate in leisure activities at home and in the community.

The service recognises that following a disabling injury or illness, an important issue for many people; their families and friends can simply be knowing ‘what is possible’.

Often the best way of knowing what is possible is by drawing on the knowledge of others who have had similar experiences. This is an important starting point for many people in the process of rebuilding abilities, leisure interests and lifestyle.

2. WHY THE D-ABILITY SITE?

This web-site is designed to show you what’s out there, to provide a window onto a wide landscape of ability and what is possible. You can learn about your own abilities and potential. You’ll see how other people have created new lifestyle opportunities for themselves following a disabling injury or illness. You can also find out about the many products, services and organisations available.

We do this by giving you direct links to other websites that provide opportunities to be inspired so you can resume or ‘kick-start’ your own leisure interests and pursuits.

3. WHY FOCUS ON LEISURE, ARTS, SPORTS AND LIFESTYLE?

Recreation and leisure interests are often at the core of what we think of as our lifestyles and quality of life. They give us opportunities to develop personal interests, talents and abilities as well the chance of connecting more closely with family, friends and the community.

We hope this site will give you new ideas or more quickly reconnect you with the things you love doing. Recreation and leisure interests are an important way of enhancing self-confidence, self-esteem and self-image.

4. WHY D-ABILITY? DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WORD "DISABILITY"?

We have no problem with “disability”. It’s just a word after all. We only have a problem with it when it’s used by people to limit others or even themselves.

A disabling illness or injury often means people have to adjust their personal expectations in everything from relationships to hobbies. Does this mean people stop having an active and fulfilling life? No, it doesn’t.

That’s what this site is about - not giving up old interests but embracing them in a new way or channelling that energy and passion into new things.

“d-ability” is just our way of making people stop for a moment and think about the word and focus positively on abilities.

5. WHAT DON'T YOU HAVE ON THE SITE?

Rather then supplying information first hand, the d-ability website only links through to other existing websites. This means we can’t directly function as a ‘what’s on!’ guide for your local area, city or region.

Sites may exist that can supply that information for you but we won’t necessarily carry their link. It’s always well worth contacting local services, community organisations or other individuals to find out more about what’s happening in your own area. If you discover a useful website in the process that we should know about, please send it to us.

Keep in mind that many of the people featured throughout this site have had to use their own initiative in forging leisure and lifestyle activities in their area. Hopefully you can do the same!

6. WHY THE...?

‘COMMERCIAL SITES’ sites…

Wherever a commercial website has disability information specific to a particular recreation activity, then we will include a link to that site.  You may find links ranging from reading aids to equipment for mountain climbing!

These links are here to promote awareness. There is no monetary gain in this for d-ability or the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney.

You should always exercise due diligence when dealing with commercial enterprises found via the d-ability site – please refer to our ‘disclaimer’ for more.

‘ORGANISATIONS’ websites…
The ‘organisations’ website links are another way of learning what other people, communities and services have achieved in disability leisure/arts/sports initiatives.

In other words…if someone, somewhere else has already ‘invented the wheel’ then this a way we can all benefit from their achievement!

For example, it may be that the windsurfing program run by ‘Access Sport America’ in Florida (USA) helps people establish a similar community program at an Australian surf club.

Again, we hope you can use these links to your advantage whether you are an individual exploring your recreation options or you belong to another similar community service.
 
‘What’s News!’ links…
The ‘WHAT'S NEWS!’ links connect you to items that have appeared in the media and relate to information for leisure activities or other relevant categories on the site.

Invariably media segments feature the individual achievements of people with disabilities and we aim to feature these wherever possible. 

RANGE OF DISABILITIES.…
Just as there’s a lot to be learned from people with the same specific disability as yourself, there’s equally a great deal to be learned from the experiences, achievements and knowledge of others with different disabilities.

Keep an open mind, explore the site fully and take the opportunity of directly contacting people to find out more about who they are and what they do. 

‘PEER SUPPORT’ INFORMATION
This is about going to the source. Who better to learn from and be guided by, than someone who’s faced the same challenges you’re now facing and asked the same questions you’re now asking?

While everyone’s experience of disability is different, the guidance and insight of people who’ve travelled the same road can add incredible depth and value to the journey.

Peer support links are fundamental to the aims of the d-ability site in assisting people to take a constructive, informed, positive approach towards life’s possibilities and opportunities.

7. HOW CAN I HELP?

We’ve worked to make the d-ability website a place that provides easy access to the real-life experiences of other people and supplies information about leisure, arts, recreation and lifestyle resources.

As we continue to build this site we hope you too can assist us in opening more ‘windows’ into the world of ability.

We welcome constructive input regarding any aspect of the site you feel warrants attention. As well, if you find relevant websites that you think we should include, then please send us a web link or e-mail.

Alternately, you can become a web ‘surfer’ for us and send in links as often as you like, it’s all for the common good!

Please get in contact anytime, we appreciate hearing from people and will do our best to continue to improve the site.

For any further questions or comments please click here or use the ‘contact us’ option on the bottom of screen…

For now, thankyou for visiting d-ability.org.