Riad is using NDIS support to help people with disability achieve travel goals

It was a road trip from Brisbane to Adelaide that reignited Riad Jaber’s love for travel.

During the 21 hour drive, Riad stayed at a variety of motels and guesthouses, noticing that many did not offer adequate facilities for people with disabilities.

“I noticed that some places in remote locations did not have disability rooms, wheelchair access, or showering facilities to assist people with disability,” Riad said.

“A lot more places are putting in facilities for people with disability, but there is still a way to go. Some places have got the hand rails set up, but they don’t have flat floors. The next place you go might have decent floors and no rails. We are half way there but it’s good to see businesses trying.”

Several years ago, Riad had a fall from two stories, resulting in an acquired brain injury and vision impairment.

Prior to his accident, Riad travelled regularly and owned his own business in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.

In August last year, he applied for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and was accepted.

He joined the Scheme with two main goals in mind, to improve his fitness, and to work on his long-term goal of creating a travel blog where people with disabilities could share their experiences.

Riad’s NDIS funding allows him to hire support workers Mark and Hannah to help around the house, in the community, and with his budding travel website, TravelAbility.

“I am really happy with my supports now. I am learning a lot about websites. There is a fair bit of work in it. Mark, Claude and Hannah have done a great job in helping me out.

“What we are trying to do, is get the best deals we can for clients and carers. Air trips, boat trips.

“The first thing we did was ask businesses if they have existing deals, apart from just recognising the companion card. A lot of places already had offers in place.

“There is also a blog where people can write their stories. I want people to be able to tell their stories of travelling with a disability so they can encourage other people to try.”

Riad says the amount of support he now receives has been life changing.

“It has been helping me out a lot. I have been going to hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and I have had more carers around.

“If I can work on my website and go to hydrotherapy, that’s a really big thing for me, it has been five or six years since I was able to go regularly.

“I don’t think I would have been able to achieve any of this without the NDIS and l am still in the process of achieving these goals.”

Riad now hopes his website can become a go-to for travelers with a disability.

“I love hearing ideas and suggestions from people who have travelled somewhere interesting. Some people might have had a great holiday and we would like people to share that.”

Riad would like to encourage other people with disabilities to apply for support through the NDIS.

For more information about the scheme and how to access it, please contact Carers Queensland your NDIS Partner in the Community.

For details of your local Carers Queensland office please visit –carersqld.com.au/ndis-local-area-coordination.