Can you believe we are about to hit the middle of the year? Where has 2022 gone? Well, this means that winter is fast approaching and we want you prepared for some exciting and accessible activities in Brisbane that will keep you warm this winter. 

Living with a disability can come with various challenges, one of those challenges is having to plan and consider if facilities and events are accessible. But what does this mean? Unfortunately, to most (often non-disabled people), accessibility is taken to mean that a building or space has a wheelchair ramp, wheelchair friendly carparks and suitable seating areas that are wheelchair friendly. But it means so much more than this and while those things are essential, they are often simply not enough. 

Accessibility and types of accessibility considerations 

Accessibility is the design of not only places and environments but services, devices or vehicles and transportation so they are able to be utilised by everyone. While most businesses and facilities do want to be compliant, it takes more than putting in a wheelchair friendly carpark. 

There are many types of potential accessibility considerations, some common barriers being: 

• Mobility (e.g., Using a wheelchair) 
• Visual (e.g., Blind, visual impairments, colour blindness) 
• Seizures 
• Learning/cognitive (e.g., dyslexia) 
• Auditory (e.g., Deaf, hearing difficulties, sensory difficulties) 

Accessibility is about providing the same opportunities to all to be able to participate in community life, addressing the access requirements of anyone living with a disability. 

So, let’s have a look at some venues and things to do this winter in Brisbane that cater for people with disability and go above and beyond a car park space and wheelchair ramp. 
 

Indoor activities to keep you warm 

Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art 

A great treasure of Brisbane is the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) which is a great experience for the entire family. Located in South Bank, QAGOMA offers customised guided tours for visitors with a disability, providing a range of services that allows everyone to enjoy their experience. This includes audio-described tours for visitors with limited or no vision, Auslan (Australian sign language) tours for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, including anyone who may be utlising a cochlear implant or hearing aid. 

For more information and to book one of these tours, contact the Group Bookings Office between 8.30am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday on 3840 7255. Click here to see what’s on at QAGOMA right now. 

Queensland Museum and Science Centre  

Another great spot where you can stay warm indoors, in South Bank, is the Science Museum at the Queensland Museum and Science Centre, which is home to amazing exhibitions and facilities that are changing all the time. The museum provides accessible parking, with lifts to take you to the main entrance. All entrances and areas in the museum are wheelchair accessible and lifts are located centrally inside the building to enable access to all levels of the museum. You are also able to borrow a wheelchair for use within the museum. They offer accessible and spacious areas to move about freely, and their events and activities, including workshops, shows and lectures are set up to guarantee space for visitors in a wheelchair. 

The museum also offers sensory resources. Check out the Cloak Room on level 2 for noise cancelling headphones and Sensory Kits. You can download their sensory map of the museum before you visit. If any visitors are hard of hearing, using hearing aids, the Cloakroom desk and Theatre on level 2 (and entry desk found on level 0) are equipped with induction loops that transmit directly to hearing aids with T-coils. 

PDF versions of some of the exhibition content can be found here. They allow visitors to enlarge the font of exhibition displays or for text to speech on your personal device throughout your visit. If you would like to borrow a device while you are at the museum, please speak to the cloakroom staff on Level 2. 

Planetarium at Mount Coot-tha 

Take yourself to new heights! Head on up to the Planetarium at Mount Coot-tha Gardens where you’ll find the Cosmic Skydome, which is a circular theatre giving you a 180-degree view of the sky and space. Please ensure you check out the mobility map prior to your visit which provides information on the ground's accessible toilets, buildings and pathway gradients. Book your tickets for the Planetarium here. 

If you’re looking for some accessibility-friendly things to do this winter, be sure to check out these places in Brisbane! Great for all ages, families or with your Support Worker. If you do head on over to one of these places, we would love to know. Tag us @nnadirectsupportservice and let us know what you think. Stay warm! 



NNA Direct Support can provide in-home disability and nursing support services across Brisbane. To learn more about our supports or to chat with one of our friendly team members about how we can work with you, reach out to us today.