Roll, Stride, Ride & Glide – Making Brisbane 2032 the most accessible games yet!

Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability research alliance were proud sponsors of the Committee for Brisbane, ensuring people with disability are involved at all levels of 2032 Brisbane Games legacy planning to achieve maximum accessibility.

Hon Dr Steven Miles, Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning described the government’s plan to build wide, unobstructed footpaths outside of venues, precincts and public spaces, with full accessibility and accessible transport to drive inclusivity and employment for people with disability.

Inclusive Futures Engagement Council member and Paralympian Katie Kelly said the event is a tremendous opportunity to challenge the status quo.

“Accessibility goes beyond our physical space – it's also about challenging the deeply entrenched and habitual mindsets and attitudes that hinder people with disability,” Katie said.

“One way we can challenge our thinking is to ask whose voice are we not listening to? Then we must ask ourselves why aren’t they at the table?

“We must find ways of bringing those people into the conversation because the best solutions will come from people who are most affected by the problem and live with access barriers on a daily basis.

Working to improve sport participation for women, gender diverse individuals and people with disability, Griffith Inclusive Sport and Recreation program lead Professor Simone Fullagar said major sport events can be a catalyst for addressing stereotypes about disability.

“The event highlights the need to ensure people with disability are involved at all levels of legacy planning processes to contribute expertise and design insights from lived experience,” Professor Fullagar said.

“Pursuing opportunities to change our city requires an understanding of how different bodies navigate sport spaces and what inclusion feels like, as a sense of belonging, safety and being heard.”

Highlighting the potential and complexity of issues we face as we move forward towards the Games, Vice President of Griffith Industry and External Engagement, Dr Peter Binks delivered a rousing acknowledgement of Griffith’s The Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability team, researchers, citizens with lived experience of disability and Director Professor Elizabeth Kendall.

“The core of our research is citizen-led co-design and the solutions (and in fact the questions) are so different when they are led by people with disability,” Professor Kendall said.

“Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability members are willing to help the Committee For Brisbane to adopt a solid co-design approach to inclusion and accessibility.

“Thank you to the Committee For Brisbane, the Panel and audience who contributed such impactful discussion.”

If you’d like to work with Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability or connect with citizen scientists and co-designers with disability, please reach out by emailing: inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

Authors: Monique Mita and Jo Kek-Pamenter

Image Description:

A montage of colour photos taken at the 'Roll, Stride, Ride & Glide: How to make Brisbane 2032 the most Accessible Games Yet" conference on Tuesday 18 April. This assortment of images shows the panel of speakers, and guests of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University enjoying the event, including (1) Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Director IFRD together with Brad Kinsela GAICD, (2) Panel speakers on the stage, (3) Paralympian Katie Kelly OAM PLY with Paralympian Michael Dobbie-Bridges PLY (Panel Moderator), (4) IFRD table including Coral Gillet, Researcher, (5) Brad Kinsela with Prof Simone Fullagar, (6) Peter Binks from Griffith University addressing the congregation and bottom right the Griffith University logo on a red background.