Cérge

We are teaming up with a new initiative, Cèrge. Cèrge is a communication platform created to help people with disability connect with local businesses in their community. It allows organisations to provide personalised services to customers with disability with the aim of reducing the fear, anxiety and discrimination individuals with disability go through as customers. Through the Cèrge app, the customer can notify participating businesses that they will be arriving, giving staff awareness of what the customer may need while in the store.Today our customer visited the Swan Hill Leisure Centre to have a shot of basketball with his support worker. He was able to communicate through the app notifying the leisure centre of when he would be arriving and what he was planning on doing while there. Upon arrival he was met by staff who greeted him by name creating a welcoming experience for our customer. This helped our customer feel very comfortable and he went on to enjoy a shot of basketball while there! Swan Hill Leisure Centre Cérge Cérge Community

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!

Truthfully, as a parent of a child with ASD it takes planning. The mental load can often be the thing that breaks me. Thinking, planning, preventing, pre-empting and the plot twists. 
For me, it’s all about calculating his level and where he is at, watching as things add to his load and watching him relax as things become less. It’s a huge mental game at the best of times. I just want the best for my son. 

I guess usually the thought of a loud pool with the echoing of excited children and splashing would be something I wouldn’t often consider, however I know that water is great for him and he enjoys it. For us to have a success it’s all about the layering and expectations. 

Layer 1, talk to him about what we are doing today and give him a slower morning and breakfast. 

Layer 2, use Cérge as I was able to show Seth the Keilor East Aquatic Centre on the Visual Story, I showed him the car park, the entrance, the reception and the pools. 

Layer 3, prepare him to leave and explain to him I am letting the pool know we are coming. I put in the “Must Know” that it is VERY important not to bombard Seth with long conversations and questions but he does love a “hello” and smiles. 
This part is SO important for me because it’s this part that will get us to Layer 4 and a home run for the outing or it will take us all the way back to zero. 

Being able to share this information meant that I was much more confident in getting through reception with a happy child. Often staff try to do the right thing by talking to him because they don’t have the insider knowledge to say “please don’t”.

When we arrived at Keilor East, we were greeted and efficiently moved through the payment process. Everyone was pleasant. it not over the top which was perfect. Yes they were at tad busy at the counter upon arrival and yet they were lovely to deal with. 

The staff explained swimming lessons were occurring but there was an outdoor pool that was quite and not too many people so we could enjoy a swim without too much noise. Layer 5 done for me! Explained, efficient and quiet place! 
My anxiety was so much less on this outing just because I felt like I had back up, like a silent mum army behind me. 

I’m so glad we decided to attend again and used Cérge, we had a great experience and look forward to many more visits like this one! 

We ended up home, fulfilled and smiling! Home run! 

Thank you

As a Paralympian who has travelled to many parts of the globe I know all about access or lack there of. I am wheelchair user and access to me is very important. I can arrive at a destination and literally not be able to get in and access it. It’s very very frustrating.I know Cérge isn’t about making sure every business is spot on with their access but what Cérge does is gives you all the information on the venue so that you can make an informed decision. This just makes sense. Kinda like being a vegan and looking at a menu before you go to a restaurant to make sure you can eat something.As a Paralympian I have spent my fair share of time in gyms and rec centres. Many, all over the place. Good, bad and ugly.Today I visited Michael Clarke and used the Cérge app to let them know I was on my way and what I required. The staff at the centre were wonderful, they were friendly, helpful, polite and could not have done more for me. I was given a grand tour of their lovely premises and I felt welcomed and very at eased. To be honest I could not rate them highly enough 10/10 for today's visit.My lovely tour guide was Jerson and he was such a lovely friendly person, he made me feel very comfortable, there was no rush and he was happy to take as much time as I needed. He was informative and so very polite and happy.Usually going to a new venue I would feel very nervous because I would have some anxiety that I may not be able to access the centre. I would have million things going around my mind and also hoping I will be treated respectfully.Today after using Cérge and looking at all the information I felt very calm and relaxed, everything about my experience there was amazing.I felt like a VIP from start to finish.Having information before I went to the any new venue and having the staff prepared and welcoming before my visit would make all the difference if Cérge was in places like cafes, restaurants, the theatre! Oh it would be so helpful to my life!Today was really great, as a person who owns a company - "Wheelie Essentials” to help wheelchair users with accessories when travelling I’m certainly not new to understanding the challenges we encounter daily but gee it’s refreshing to have such amazing and innovative technology breaking into the world! How truly exciting!

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!

"As I have hereditary nerve deafness I would normally feel a little bit anxious about going to a brand new venue. I would normally feel frustrated if there was a communication barrier, or hopeless at having to rely on my husband to communicate for me.I have a two year old who is also Hard of Hearing and I want her to be able to learn how to communicate and see inclusion not frustration.In past experiences, if the first person I deal with has a thick accent, I can be there for ages with us trying to work each other out. It’s time consuming, frustrating and sometimes embarrassing for us both. I had put in my “Must Know” that I needed the customer service person to not have an accent please.When I arrived the first person who served me had an accent. I pointed to the sign and said Cérge app, and he immediately grabbed the Manager as they knew I was arriving and that was their plan.Other times, I normally just divert to my husband and let him talk for me which is irritating and not sustainable long term as I want to be able to communicate for myself.When we arrived at Stromlo Leisure Centre, the Manager, Bianca looked after us. She spoke clearly to me, introduced herself, showed us where to go, and went through what the different pools were.It was such a nice feeling to feel like we were looked after and not a bother. We were able to get what we needed seamlessly. Bianca was professional and kind.We would certainly normally visit these kinds of venues as we do take our daughter to swimming lessons and as mentioned above, if there is a communication barrier, I let my husband talk for the both of us instead.If Cérge was more available, it would certainly make things easier for our family, especially in areas where it's normally a noisy environment.We had a wonderful time at Stromlo and it is a great place, so many things to do! I felt quite happy leaving and would happily drive out of our way to come here again for the simple fact I felt included.I would love for Cérge to be in some local Canberra cafes, even the local clubs (Vikings, Southern Cross Club, etc) that would make so much difference to me and my friends Looking forward to our next visit!"