People with disabilities should be able to join in mainstream society, have fun and enjoy cultural activities like anyone else.

We’ve recently celebrated 2010 International Day of People with a Disability and of course the safety of everyone, particularly those who rely on others, such as wheelchair –bound people, is always a priority.  

I read that growth in the number of people in Australia needing support – 1.2 million at present - is increasing at three times the rate of population growth.  This is going be a  challenge for all of us, because I also read that the majority of care is provided unpaid and the number of carers is decreasing.  

I was pondering the idea that making life easier and more enjoyable for people with disabilities is good for everyone because more happy people means more creativity in how we do things.  More freedom for people with disabilities means more independence for disabled people - it has to be a good thing for them and society in general.

So how much social infrastructure should there be and who should pay for it? 

Do individual businesses have a social responsibility to provide, or is it the responsibility of govt ( taxpayers )? Perhaps all businesses can chip in to help those that need to make special provisions?

Theatres and other venues that hold large numbers of people in confined spaces, for a long time now, have been very diligent about keeping aisles clear in case an evacuation is necessary and that’s a good thing.  Safety in any situation has to be a priority and in recent times even walkways outside of buildings are kept clear for safety reasons.

Some venues, I’ve noticed, have taken out a few chairs to make spaces for wheelchairs and it makes me feel good to see that.

Places that welcome wheelchairs could become a drawcard for more wheelchair bound customersand their supporters - this could be a problem or it could be a good niche business because the number of disabled people is rising as the population ages.