MEDIA RELEASE
2 DECEMBER
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITY
The RTA is proud to be involved in the 2009 International Day of People with
Disability.
“On December 3 every year, International Day of People with Disability is celebrated
worldwide, recognising the achievements and contributions of people with disability,”
RTA Director of Corporate Services Richard Boggon said.
“In partnership with the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management, the
RTA is holding a workshop on Thursday to provide an insight into the design
implications of access for people with disability.
“Practical hands-on exercises will be used to show council and RTA road designers
the sort of barriers faced by people with disability when using roads and footpaths
and how designers can provide improvements.”
Examples include:
Providing kerb mobility ramps to help people with disability cross the road
Controls on pedestrian traffic lights at an accessible height
Audio signals at traffic lights
Tactile markings on the footpath to warn the visually impaired of an approaching
road
Limiting footpath obstacles like bus shelters and sandwich boards
“The guest speaker will be Ben Sgherza who has been legally blind since a motor
vehicle accident when he was two.
“Ben is now a consultant on disability, including overcoming barriers to access.”
Mr Boggon said the RTA takes equitable access for people with disability seriously.
“The steep steps at the Ridge Street footbridge over the Warringah Freeway in North
Sydney have been supplemented with a pedestrian and cyclist ramp. All new
pedestrian overbridges include either ramps or lifts.”
Mr Boggon said the RTA is also involved in several other important activities on
International Day of People with Disability.
Training sessions in Newcastle and Parramatta to help businesses develop
Transport Access Guides. These are designed to help people – including
people with disability - get to a site or venue.
Mobility scooter safety seminars in Lane Cove, Parkes and Forbes and a
senior driver’s workshop in Kogarah.
Hosting a special morning tea event to celebrate the valuable contribution of
our staff who live and work with a disability, in the lead-up to International Day
of People with Disability.
“Professor Ron McCallum AO, NSW Ambassador for Disability Day, and recently
appointed Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of People with
Disabilities, will speak to RTA staff at head office in North Sydney.
"Professor McCallum has been totally blind since birth and is the first totally blind
person to be awarded a full professorship in any university in Australia or New
Zealand. He is considered a 'guru' in the industrial relations and labour law fields,” Mr
Boggon said.
CONTACT:
RTA Media Unit 8588 5999
NEWS 
