Cérge Stories of Inclusion Audio Series

As I have had a brain tumour removed, I can sometimes be unsteady on my feet or slur, and then staff of a business think I am drunk, and this is very embarrassing for me and my family. And prevents me from going out... Daniel's Story of Inclusion brough to life by Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters.

I haven’t been in a pool for over 40 years. I can’t swim, I have a heart condition, a lung condition and I have epilepsy. All of this alongside a fear of water. Going to an Aquatic Centre is not usually top of my list, truth be told, it’s never on my list. Reading about Cérge I was intrigued, terrified, but intrigued to see if Cérge could help me. Geoff's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation.

I haven’t known life without pain. I was run over by a car when I was 3 years old, and spent the next 18 months in a coma. I had a lot of injuries from that accident, including losing a side of my face, and my scalp ripped off. It was a miracle I survived. Add to that I have liver cancer, and have already outlived the months they gave me to live... Elizabeth's Story of Inclusion brought to life by White's IGA.

Sometimes it feels like when they gave out disability I got the buffet.  My body aches because I have fibromyalgia, my joints and muscles don’t do as I say due to my Ehlers Danos (EDS).  I have FND which is Functional Neurological Disorder and means my body and brain can do things that I don’t realise they are doing, from tics to seizures to random movements or even shutting down... Sarah's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation.

We avoid the shops like the plague, as Henry (autistic), normally is overwhelmed within minutes of arriving. To be honest, sometimes even before we’ve made it through the car park, to get to the shop. This happened a few weeks ago, when we had to leave mid shopping experience. I thought we would be ok, but it was a disaster. Henry's Story of Inclusion brought to life by White's IGA.

As a family with a neurodivergent child, we tend to avoid going to places, that will overwhelm our son. We have never been Ten Pin Bowling, because it feels like more of an effort, when we know that our son will be judged for his behaviour, without anyone knowing there are reasons for his idiosyncrasies. I often let the fear of being judged, hold us back from taking the whole family to places Lachlan's Story of Inclusion brought to life by TenPin Bowling Australia.

My name is Kellie and I work at Suncity Tenpin and we recently adopted Cérge, a companion app for people with disability. I wasn’t sure how it all worked at first and didn’t think it would do much because we have lots of people with disability come and try Tenpin. I honestly didn’t see how it would really do anything different for us as staff or the customers. When the notification came through from Hannah in the Cérge app and she stated her “Must Know” info for Lachlan, her son with ASD. It clicked! Kellie's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Tenpin Bowling Australia.

As a double amputee, swimming can be terrifying. What if I don’t float? It’s been ten years since I got in a pool, and I had my legs back then. So this is a big deal... Tony's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation.

I'd just had an upsetting specialist appointment, and so wasn't really in the mood to push my comfort levels and shop, but I shouldn't have worried. I notified them 10 minutes before I arrived on the app, and by the time I'd walked in the door, a lovely person (Candace) called me by name to greet me and introduce me to the shop. I was so touched that she'd read my bio, and brought a chair to sit near the exit in case I needed it, that I nearly started crying... Narissa's Story of Inclusion brought to life by White's IGA.

As a mother of two neurodivergent children, the thought of going to a festival is as far fetched as costing the moon. My girl gets overwhelmed, and my little guy runs off and I loose him easily. It’s terrifying at times... Karen's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Nurture Festival 23.

I have widespread psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease, and a permanent user of bilateral forearm crutches. I personally, am not able to bowl due to physical limitations, but wanting to take the kids. I haven’t done so, due to not being able to help them, if they required it. I simply cannot hold the ball. Carolyn's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Tenpin Bowling Australia.

After surviving breast cancer, and it being 12 months since finishing my radiation treatment. I was keen to see if a pool would help my aching bones. I have PTSD, and can get a bit anxious trying new things and places, so going to Tobruk Memorial Pool was a little daunting. I had heard about Cérge, and it was new in town, so I was eager to see if it could help. I wasn’t sure if I would “fit” in the category, but I realised I have a barrier to swimming, with it being over a year, and with PTSD... Lydia's Story of Inclusion brought to life by Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation.

My son Harry is autistic and has very poor proprioception, and muscle tone, so he doesn’t go to a lot of places. Often because it is usually far too much sensory input for him. His “wet noodling” around the place, can crash into things. This causes extreme frustration and embarrassment for him, and sometimes staff can be rude at times like this, or not know how to help. It’s frustrating and my heart breaks for my son! Harry's Story of Inclusion brought to life by White Ridge Farm.

When Harry came to visit us at White Ridge Farm we were excited to have him join us for the day and meet the animals. Henry’s mum sent a notification through the Cérge app to let us know their arrival times, that Henry needs some space on paths due to the way he walks, and that they would appreciate people not staring at him. The last part was heart-breaking, that a mum would need to ask people not to stare at her son! Katrina's Story of Inclusion brought to life by White Ridge Farm.

Having an assistance dog can be daunting sometimes, as I’ve been asked numerous times by security for ID for Buddy, and it can be scary and anxiety producing at the time. I struggle with a condition called dysautonomia, which causes chronic fatigue and fainting episodes, if i stand or walk for too long... Buddy's Story of Inclusion brought to life by White's IGA.