Celebrating Ability and Inclusion: Highlights from Newstime

In this special episode of Newstime, host Naz Campanella—an ABC National Disability Affairs reporter who is blind and lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease—curates a series of stories celebrating the International Day of People with Disability. The episode emphasizes the importance of representation, accessibility, and community, showcasing how individuals and organizations are breaking barriers across the globe.

The Wheelaroos: Redefining Wheelchair Rugby League

One of the most compelling stories focuses on The Wheelaroos, Australia’s national wheelchair rugby league team. Unlike wheelchair rugby, this sport requires specific arm strength and agility, as players must navigate the court and handle the ball while strapped into wheelchairs. What makes the sport particularly inclusive is that it is played by both people with and without disabilities. As highlighted by players like Baily and Brad, the sport serves as a bridge, allowing them to compete alongside family members or friends, such as Baily’s father Darren and Brad’s friend Jason. The team’s goal is to increase the sport's popularity to secure funding for international competition and global outreach.

Media Representation: The Power of TV Bra

Representation remains a critical theme, illustrated by the Norwegian TV station TV Bra. As the program's reporter Sven notes, the station is vital because it addresses the rights and lives of people with disability from their own perspective. By producing a weekly one-hour show covering news, entertainment, and sport, TV Bra ensures that its audience sees themselves reflected in media. The station serves as an empowering model for international equivalents in countries like Iceland and Denmark, proving that media tailored for and by people with disability is both necessary and impactful.

Bridging the Accessibility Gap: Hearing Aid Banks

In Tasmania, Sarah Dockrell is addressing the significant financial barriers to hearing health. Hearing aids can be prohibitively expensive, costing thousands of dollars, and government support is often limited for those in the middle of the age spectrum. Sarah’s initiative, a hearing aid bank, collects and refurbishes second-hand devices to provide them to those who cannot afford them. This grassroots effort has had a profound impact, as evidenced by beneficiaries like Steve, who describes the transformative experience of being able to hear the world—specifically “birds chirping”—thanks to the donated devices.

Creating Inclusive Social Spaces

Social inclusion is the focus of Emma Shores’ work in Wales. Recognizing that many autistic adults find typical social environments “overstimulating” due to bright lights and loud music, Emma established a monthly meet-up group at a local cafe. By adjusting the environment to be more sensory-friendly, she created a space where autistic individuals can socialize comfortably. Her motivation is simple but powerful: she wants to ensure that no one feels “lonely” and that everyone has a place where they feel comfortable to “just be themselves.”

Innovation in Accessibility: 3D Printed Experiences

Finally, the episode highlights a technological breakthrough at Seahorse World in Tasmania. To make their aquarium more inclusive for visitors who are blind or have low vision, the staff collaborated with a local company to create 3D printed seahorses. These models allow visitors to physically explore the “ridges and bumps” of a seahorse, including its “pointy nose and flappy fins.” This innovation proves that inclusive design, as manager Rexie Grey suggests, allows everyone to gain a deeper understanding of the world, regardless of their ability to see.

In conclusion, this episode of Newstime serves as a testament to the fact that when we design for everyone, we enrich the lives of all. Through sport, media, community initiatives, and technology, these stories show that accessibility is not just about accommodation—it is about fostering genuine participation and connection.