Cérge

I’ve always loved going swimming but it’s not something I would want to do by myself. I usually need someone there with me to keep me busy enough not to worry about the bubbling anxiety waiting. Making a mistake that might have me singled out or worrying about people watching me.The ability to write exactly what I wanted during the visit was so helpful. Initially I was a little nervous about writing a short note about my anxiety and my son’s struggles with being overwhelmed by loud noises, new places and lots of people, but in hindsight it was amazing not to have to worry about trying to mask how I was feeling. It was also a relief having them know my son may need some extra attention during the tour.Thanks to being able to answer those two simple questions in the Cérge app, and letting the centre know when to expect us, checking in and being welcomed was a very comfortable experience. I was greeted, by name, by a calm and friendly staff member and shown around the spacious new aquatic centre. I believe he also targeted some information towards me such as letting me know their usual quieter times.At the end of the tour my son and I had a great little swim around and Aaron even wanted to explore one of the other pools he had seen during our tour which I definitely consider a win as he doesn’t love stepping outside of his comfort zone.After this experience I feel much more comfortable with the idea of going swimming at the centre on my own as I feel I could do so knowing the ins and outs of the pool area and the process of entering the facility. I would definitely recommend the Cérge app for people that have any requirement for more targeted assistance. Even if it is just needing someone to help you feel at ease in a new and overwhelming environment.

My son lives with Autism and it’s so important for him to fill his bucket of certain sensory needs. In today’s case that bucket was the need to gently pat animals.As a mum, I like to make sure Seth has a mix of exposures, experiences and in an environment that is conducive to him feeling safe to explore and learn. Obviously with animals and excitement this can be tricky to manage and you really need the right place.Edendale Community Environment Farm is this place. Just Awesome!New places are always nerve racking, I’m not going to lie. I never, ever know how the day will go and it can be a challenge.However, I’ve used Cérge at a pool and I trust that if Cérge is there the staff care. It just makes me feel so much more at ease.When we arrived at Edendale they were so engaging and happy to see us, they were great with Seth too. No crappy small talk trying to get him to like them, just lets go see the animal later and have some fun.We saw chickens, roosters, ducks, goats, alpacas, llamas and so many more! It was truly so very cool! Some were super excited to meet us and very keen on some yummy treats.Seth had a full bucket of animal love and I had a full bucket of mum love!So much better than a day of mum guilt.Today was a good day!

My life story is a long one and I don’t need to go into all the details, but I have been diabetic from aged 7. I had a sub arachnid haemorrhage (SAH) two years ago. I have an ABI which caused a stroke and I still don't have full mobility. Because of this I tire quickly when walking. I'm immune suppressed from a double transplant of kidney and pancreas therefore I get anxiety with big crowds. I won’t even start with the 3 emergency c sections. That’s for another day! Due to my immunity choosing adventures outside is always good for me, fresh air is a good medicine and less germs. However,I need to plan my days around my mobility and the access to a venue. I use a walker at times, big days I use my wheelchair. I make the most out of life and enjoy trying new things. It can just be exhausting trying to plan for support workers, access, people staring, people assuming. I also have trouble finding the right words and need people not to slowly talk to me like I’m stupid but also not talk at me at a million miles an hour. Just please have a conversation with me and give me a chance to respond. The world can be so fast and especially when trying to process new information. I saw the social media stories about Cérge and wasn’t sure whether it was for me. I checked it out online and asked some questions to get clarity from the Cérge team. I don’t like to stand out but I do like to get involved in life. I liked that Cérge seemed like a wide variety of people were using it and that you could literally just access the information and go about your day. I like that I’m in control. A support worker is completely different to using Cérge.Using Cérge is like being able to support myself fully because I have the information before I go and then use support for the things I’ve already decided I’d like to do not the other way around. I browsed through the different venues and started to feel very excited, there is an access guide and visual story plus a virtual tour. I get more information about the venue online than even being at the venue itself and missing stuff hahah I chose to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. What a day. Wow! I find it really hard when ppl look at you and see the disability and treat you different. Here I didn't feel that. I felt like everyone else enjoying the animals and the nature. Oh the nature! I saw so many koalas, saw a Tassie devil growl…. And yawn. They aren’t terrifying at all! Hehe I got to feed kangaroos and wallabies. The paths are awesome, heaps of tables for me to wheel up to! We’re cruising along and I saw the dingos being walked. I got to get up close and personal as the handler said it was good training for them to be around wheelchairs. The encounter with the Dingo was pure timing and chance. My lucky day :) Cérge, thank you! Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, thank you. I am so full of adventure and life and feel excited about all the venues I can now try out and add to my life and LIVING! YES!

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 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. There were boxes everywhere, the store was loud as the music was playing through the loudspeaker and Henry had had enough before we even managed to get half way through our list. We left. Again.I don’t know how many times we have had to abandon cart mid shop, mid car park or just plain avoid shopping altogether. When people say “I’ll just pop into the shop on the way home” because it’s just something they can do. I think to myself I can’t imagine that ease as that is not anything like our life.We notified them via the Cérge app an hour before arriving with our must haves - low noise and light levels if possible and plenty of space for Henry to walk, hold (swing around ) a basket and for the pram if required.Henry is autistic and has a walk which requires more space and I have a pram for him as he can tire easily. We entered the store and within minutes had a lovely woman come up to us and explain that they had received the Cérge notification and could see the must haves and if there’s anything further she could do for us to let her know. I was impressed immediately.The music was off and it was quiet with the staff members moving anything out of the way as we approached and giving us a smile, making sure we could find everything and not showing any bother about it. Do you know how good it felt to not feel judged or like we were annoying people!They also did not stare at his AFOs and spoke to him rather than ignoring him like we experience in other places. This was such an incredible and beautiful extra. Instead of “just avoid, don’t look” which I think sometimes is because people don’t know what to do and I get that. But gee it was nice to feel like a part of the community having chats whilst shopping and Henry happy.My anxiety was the lowest it’s ever been whilst shopping! Henry was getting a little overwhelmed by the end of our shop and Jodi (Manager) opened up another register for us so that we could move through faster, including the kids in the process and again asking if there was anything else we needed help finding.So good! This kind of inclusive and also intuitive experience was so amazing! It was a wonderful experience and definitely a place we will shop again! I didn’t feel the usual stress I do when Henry started showing signs of being overwhelmed (which was right at the end this time, not the start!) as I knew we had the support of the staff members and this was such an incredible feeling of comfort.Henry has already asked when we are going again!!Wow!!Wow!!Wow!!

Heidi greeted me with a huge wave as I arrived and I felt a sigh of relief leave my body. It was like I was running into an old friend.  She smiled and grabbed the medications I required.She faced me whilst talking which was my request so that I could lip read. She asked me to teach her some signs and I did, even though I’m a bit rusty myself hehe! Not everyone signs and not everyone lip reads either. I was so scared, I felt a bit raw and vulnerable walking in. I didn’t want a fuss or to feel like a bother like I have so many times before. It was a lot of trust to put into the Cérge app and I wasn’t sure it would truly help. I have to say though I am very surprised. I left Amcal Wilsonton feeling like my friend had just served me and honestly, truly cared. What a difference. It’s one of those things, I didn’t know how much I missed feeling “normal”, how much I craved just feeling like a regular customer who is heard and seen. Thank you Cérge, thank you Amcal Wilsonton, I’m telling all my friends! Incredible.