Cérge

I made a trip down to White’s Supa IGA on Monday, the newest partner addition to the Cérge app and wanted to share my experience.The whole team were fantastic I sent my notification with a request to please lower the music and the lights, I was lucky enough to have my peer worker with me for the day so I didn’t need as much assistance as I would if I was to go shopping alone.I checked in as we parked the car and by the time we got to the front door a manager was there to welcome us by name, how fancy!They had turned the music off completely which was lovely however due to the building being owned by Stockland they were unable to adjust the lights as it is seen as a health and safety issue. As they are now the store is well lit but certainly not anywhere near as bright and glaring as the big box stores. They are working hard to find a solution for this whilst still keeping everyone safe, so hopefully it will be an available option in the future.We also discussed what assistance is available for those of us shopping solo and I was pleased to hear that they will do everything they can to help, including having a team member shop with you if they are free.The manager gave us a tour of the store, asking questions about my dietary requirements and what I enjoyed eating then pointed out specific isles that met my needs. I know for some people this can be triggering but please know that I am sure my boundaries would have been respected if I had declined to answer.After confirming that everything was ok, she left us to shop in peace with the reassurance that if we needed anything all we had to do was ask a team member.Their product range is extensive with many unique options that you don’t see or are difficult to find in larger stores, including a wide variety of gluten free and vegan products, some of which I had never seen before and I will be going back to purchase later.I did not need my stick on Monday but the isles are wide and easily accessible for those of us using mobility aides.All in all a wonderful shopping experience and great to see local businesses joining Cérge so we can support them in return.

You need to start taking care of your mental health”We hear it all the time and of course everyone would love days of eating healthy food, long showers, yoga and a full night sleep, right? That would be a good start to helping my “mental health” and “anxiety”.What I’ve learned as a mum, with a toddler, and my partner and I both working full time in stressful jobs is that “mental health care” starts with small steps first.It also starts with accessing supports. Which in itself can be daunting and tike consuming If you had of told me previously that I would go swimming for fun I would have laughed at you.ColdWet SwimmersMirrorsPeopleThat’s a recipe for an anxiety casserole twice baked.Learning about the Cérge app and starting to use it in local Cafes, then taking our son to some tourism venues and now the pool has made this such an easy transition. I trust the app so therefore I now trust any business on the Cérge app because it shows they actually care. They want to help people feel better and more included which makes them my first choice.It’s like seeing a rainbow sticker in a business window shows you that business is LGBTIQA+ friendly and having Cérge shows you they are inclusive and care about being as accessible as they can be. It also means they have a website with an Access Guide, Visual Story and Sensory Guide which means I can get any answer I need beforehand usually.I saw Deception Bay Aquatic Centre had just adopted Cérge , it’s not the closest pool to me but I was happy to drive a bit further as it’s a super great venue and I really enjoyed it. I asked the staff to show me quieter areas for me to be able to bring my toddler. The staff were so friendly and nothing was a bother at all.The family area is great, it was very welcoming and I have to say cheap entrance fees! I went before work because this is part of how I can add extra self care to my day. The good thing with Cérge is it’s takes a lot of the anxiety and wanting to bail out of the equation.I’m so glad to have Deception Bay Aquatic leading the way in my local area! Thank you!

I have anxiety, fibromyalgia, issues with sensory overload ADHD 
and rheumatoid arthritis. So I have quite a few barriers to 
accessing an aquatic centre and feeling comfortable.
In my daily life for work, I support clients include mature-aged 
women with chronic pain and health conditions; and stroke 
survivors requiring minimal support.
So using Cérge to visit Watermarc Banyule yesterday was a 
tremendous experience as a user but also seeing the benefits for 
the people I work with. My own intrinsic experience in two 
varying ways yet both amazingly complimented each other and 
how this can change so many lives and enable me to support my 
people SO much more.

As I drove towards the venue there was some construction near 
the venue with some of the area out of street view. I was a bit 
anxious but having read up in the app I remembered that it was 
said the venue is on a hill and there is underground parking; with 
direct access to the venue with a lift!!
Yay no stairs!
It helped to know it would be a big building so you knew what to expect. Not 
all people with disability need lifts, or ramps. But today, for me. I did.
I did not get lost and nervous as I usually do when going to a new 
place, so it was a nice experience. It’s actually incredible how just 
being able to mind map a venue from looking at all the 
information beforehand seriously relieved so much for me. The problem- you have to literally scour multiple websites to try 
and get the information you need.
I need more than a car park, opening times and a pretty webpage.
I need to see the toilet.
The change room
I need to know the smells and noises.
The stuff that isn’t pretty on a website is usually what most people 
need but can’t find, so they stay home. Trust me.Noah told me where the change rooms were and they were clean 
and not crowded. I had seen them in the Visual Story and they 
looked the same which is always comforting.
I used the exercise equipment as stated in the app to use in the 
pool; I always thought people had brought their own! When I 
asked when are the usual quieter times, Noah understood that I 
would enjoy a time when the water slide closes in the late 
afternoon and then the rest of the facilities are still open to be 
used. Noah felt like a friend. I think me using Cérge kinda made it 
feel like we had a mate in common so we had rapport quickly.

Overall a very pleasant experience that I would do again and 
recommend using the app to clients, friends and family. I would 
actually go to places mostly that are on the app as I will feel less 
anxious and I will know before I arrive if physically I can use the 
facility or not.

Last week, one of our support workers and participants used the Cérge app for the first time! Entering in access needs and support information needed to support Carol was quick and easy. Upon arriving they were greeted and a water wheelchair was waiting at the accessible change rooms.Carol is vision impaired and has a physical disability. Carol looks forward to her weekly outing at TRAC but at times her needs are not met with limited access to the bathroom and often Carol needs to wait for the shower commode chair.Through using the Cérge app, Carol was treated as an individual that relies on support to access the community and on arrival everything was ready to go! Thank you Cérge and TRAC for helping our community to achieve its health goals!Support Your Way recommends checking out the Cérge app & TRAC! Join the Cérge Community and find out more!

We are on a family holiday at the moment, myself, my husband and our two teenagers. We are driving from the north of New Zealand to the south.
I am a person who is Deaf and so travelling comes with its challenges. Some tourist attractions are just completely inaccessible to me. We can travel to a place and be very excited and then when we arrive we realise I can’t hear the tour guide or hear the show.
I can’t tell you the continuum of disappointment at times.
I’m a very positive human and with my disability I make the most of every encounter and communication. Sadly the frustration can build up at times.
I communicate via writing, lip reading, New Zealand Sign Language, which is an official language in NZ since 2006, however it doesn’t mean everyone knows or utilises it.
When I saw on the Cérge app that Trust House Recreation Centre has Cérge and was almost in our direction I was so incredibly excited! It’s 30 degrees here today and for us Kiwis that’s an oven. So a swim was the perfect idea!
I notified Trust House in the Cérge app that I would be arriving in 40mins, that I am a person who is Deaf and I would like the staff to communicate via writing, text, signs and gestures!
As soon as I arrived I had two staff members give me the biggest waves and smiles! They had great eye contact with me as I asked questions about the gym and sauna (way too hot for a sauna today hehe). Their enthusiasm to try and to do their best was so appreciated!
They wrote me a note, gave me a timetable and I went off into the pools to enjoy and look around! Trust House Recreation Centre is a great centre, the facilities are amazing and the staff were very friendly.
I read the note, it was about the prices and then a bit that said there was no visual effect for a fire emergency but that the lifeguards were aware of me and the staff member would sign to me if there was a fire.
This made me feel so incredibly safe, I can’t hear fire alarms or sirens and yet never has this been incorporated into a visit to any venue ever for me. I knew, they knew who I was and they would keep me safe.
Above
And
Beyond!
Being able to have inclusive customer service like this means I can visit places without needing a support person to assist with communication and that is a massive plus for me.
I just love that even on a family holiday I can use Cérge to help find inclusive venues and therefore visit them! We enjoyed going to a whole new town because of Cérge! 
Thank you Cérge and thank you Trust House Recreation Centre

Today I met a new friend named Cérge……The Cérge app worked perfectly and it’s a great service… even my Support Worker was impressed… lolI arrived at Peregian Beach IGA to meet Cérge and do a little shopping, having advised them earlier I was on my way.As I use a wheelchair when in shopping centres due to balance issues, I had my Support Worker with me on this visit.At this time of the year, people are usually tense and somewhat short-tempered, so yes, I do avoid shopping centres approaching Christmas season… funny that Christmas brings out the worse in people at times (lol), so I hoped today using Cérge would ease some anxiety and I could have an enjoyable shopping experience.Unfortunately one small concern. The footpath leading to IGA’s front door was completely blocked with trolleys (who didn’t quite make it to the trolley corral) requiring my Support Worker to round them up and send them “home” so I could keep wheeling past.Once inside the store I was greeted by the lovely Amber who couldn’t have been more helpful, asking what I needed to make my shopping experience the best possible and assuring me that she would be happy to assist me in any way I wished.When I explained I had my Support Worker with me for assistance, Amber informed me she was happy to help in any way if needed.I did tell Amber about the wayward trolleys and she apologised and said she would advise management about that issue, which was the perfect response!At the checkout Jake did a great job in processing my groceries and he actually talked to me rather than my Support Worker, which I really appreciated as all too often, people talk over you when you are in a wheelchair… good job Jake!As it is approaching Christmas, it’s understandable there is a little more product in the aisleways than usual, but everywhere was accessible. As I was departing the store, there was one section where my wheelchair barely fit between the wall and some flowerpots, but a staff member ensured I could fit through and was prepared to move the flowerpot if needed, much appreciated.On my way to the car I noticed all the trolleys were happily in their paddock, so perhaps Amber followed up?My SW is a needed support because Cérge isn’t everywhere yet, but certainly Amber and Jake (particularly Amber who said she would be happy to accompany me and assist me with my shopping) gives me total confidence that I wouldn’t need my SW at an IGA store now that Cérge is “on duty”.All in all, a wonderful shopping experience… and I’ll certainly be back again for the free coffee