Tag: Safety
Please Don’t Grab: How to Really Help a Blind Person
Lilly is confident, independent and knows her way around. Whether she’s catching a tram to university or navigating a busy train platform she knows what she is doing and how to do it. But for a good while something has been happening far too often. Strangers approach her silently and grab her arm, shoulder or
Braille in Public Spaces: Why It Matters
A supporter recently shared a video by Molly Burke, a blind advocate and digital creator. In it, she stands outside a Female Ambulant Toilet at Guide Dogs Australia, showing a braille and tactile map legend designed to help blind users find their way.
Nick McGowan MP: Advocating for Accessibility
Following our recent Invitation to Experience Barriers to Public Transport, we were contacted by the Hon. Nick McGowan MP, local member for Ringwood, who has a strong interest in advocating for accessibility as well as a personal connection to our local area. Nick has previously raised the issue of Accessible train stations in the Victorian
Advocating for Change: My Letter to Government Ministers
Recently, I sent an email to several government ministers and other officials, advocating for the installation of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs) at Ivanhoe Station. As a blind university student, these simple yet essential accessibility features would enable me to travel independently and safely, without relying on the unpredictable availability of station staff. In my
Invitation to Experience Barriers to Public Transport
Lilly’s campaign for greater accessibility at Ivanhoe Station continues to gain momentum. Her Orientation and Mobility instructor, Marnie from Confident Steps, has recently extended an invitation to several politicians to travel on public transport blindfolded. This practical experience aims to highlight the challenges faced by people with low vision or blindness when using inaccessible stations.
ABC Melbourne: Blind student says Ivanhoe station is ‘impossible’ to use
ABC Radio Melbourne recently interviewed Lilly on Melbourne Breakfast, where she shared her experiences navigating public transport as a blind university student. Lilly described the challenges of using Ivanhoe Station, which lacks the tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) that are essential for her safety and independence. Instead, she is forced to walk 30 minutes to