Mobility Challenge

Having a mobility challenge is certainly a wake up call. Myself and Mayor Reg Kidd became involved in the recent mobility challenge held here in Orange. We were told we would be blindfolded and need to make our way through a shopping centre, across the main street and then return back to the starting point. We were given a brief on how to use the vision stick to take note of changes underfoot and note noises that we heard.
After being blindfolded the challenge was on and it was not easy by any means. We had a person stay with us to help guide us when needed. When I had my eyes covered there was a real sense of fear when first starting to move. I hadn't realised how much we relied on our eyes.
Our other senses really came into play and touch and sound became the major senses we used. Getting out of the shopping centre had its challenges as the elevator was the mode of transport in getting to the next level. That in itself made you feel disorientated.
On arriving at the opening to Summer street the noise made it difficult to get orientated. Even though you could hear the traffic there was no real way of telling how close it was. When coming up to the traffic lights there were the markers on the footpath and the raised arrow and tone on the traffic signs which allowed you to know when it was clear to walk. The hard part here was hoping that the road users respected the signs themselves before you stepped out onto to the road.
Trying not to run into people and being guided by the walls along the footpath became tricky especially when business owners had signs along the walk way. It was quite a relief to return back to the starting point after having better understood the difficulties for blind people.
There were other disability challenges that other people who attended the day had to get through. For me it has been beneficial in gaining a greater understanding in my Councillor role when making decisions in our environment for our community.