This is the first issue of Rolling Inspiration published by Charmont Media Global, and we wish them good luck as we take this awesome magazine into the future
It is always good to celebrate new things and to embrace change. I want to share my views on two new things that I experienced recently.
The Airports Company of South Africa has recently created a waiting area specifically for persons with disabilities who use the Cape Town International Airport.
The entrance to the Assisted Passenger Area is strategically situated next to the boarding gates and opens up to a large room with a welcoming atmosphere. It contains a couple of comfortable light-coloured couches, a useful desk mounted to a wall and an inviting wall-to-wall bookcase, in which a big-screen TV is mounted. The floor is covered in dark wooden laminated flooring, which is very user-friendly for wheelchair users.
The couches are low enough for an easy transfer from and into a wheelchair, and some are even large enough for an average-sized adult to stretch out on and sleep. They can be accessed from any direction, depending on the agility of the person concerned.
A large collection of popular book titles can be found in the bookcase. What really intrigued me was the selection of Braille books for readers with sight impairments. On one wall is what looks like a long sentence that is written in Braille. If only I could read and understand it!
The area is very user-friendly, and is a safe place for people to wait comfortably while in transit through Cape Town International Airport. It is perfectly located – far enough from the bathrooms to be discreet, yet close enough for ease of access.
The other new thing is something I experienced for the first time in my life. I could ride a scooter while seated in my wheelchair! Easy Drive, the company that provides adaptations to vehicles, has recently imported an accessible scooter. The owner gave me the opportunity to get a feel for this machine. It was quite easy for me to get onto it and, after a quick explanation of how it works, I was buzzing around the parking area. It even comes with a reverse gear; and with its 125cc engine it can easily keep up with the traffic on the roads. It is an ideal mode of transport, as it is cheaper to run than a car and, I imagine, much kinder to the environment. Contact Easy Drive at www.easydrivewc.co.za for more information.
These experiences give me new hope for the future as I see how people with disabilities can easily integrate with society and be mobile on a par with everyone else. It is innovative ideas such as these that will empower people with mobility impairments and enable us to reach our full potential.
QASA ceo, ari seirlis, welcomes Charmont Media Global
“QASA is very proud to welcome our new publishers, Charmont Media Global. We look forward to exciting new columns, interesting inserts, fresh insights, and a new look and feel. We are thrilled at the opportunity to grow our readership, expand our advertising support and provide excellent material and information. We will continue to be guided by the voice of our readers, and value the support and investment of our advertisers. Charmont promises growth, positive change and brand-building for our publication. We think we have found the ‘A team’ of publishing in this niche and believe that not only will they deliver on our expectations for our constituency, but they will also have a life-changing journey with us.”
Raven Benny is the chairperson of QASA. He has been a C5, 6 and 7 quadriplegic since 2000. He is married with five children, is mad about wheelchair rugby and represented South Africa in 2003 and 2005. He also plays for Maties. email: rbenny@pgwc.gov.za
